Travelling, to some, can be a daunting experience. There have been horror stories about how your belongings can mysteriously disappear the moment you are unguarded. Here we offer 10 tips to make the best of your experience travelling abroad from someone who has been there and done that. Whether you are travelling on your own or with a group, travelling on a long-haul or for a short getaway, these 10 tips would definitely come in handy for every type of traveller.
Tips for pickpockets and valuables
All of this talk about pickpocketing is not unfounded. Keep your belongings close to you, do not be ostentatious about them, and have your camera safely strapped over your neck. Never carry your phone or wallet in your back or front pockets. Pickpockets are well-trained to pull them out, particularly in crowded places or when you are distracted.
Have your belongings tagged with your name and contact number, in the rare chance it gets stolen, and in the rarer chance someone decides to return them to you. To prevent such unfortunate instances altogether, carry a small bag that you can retrieve items easily from, such as your passport, gadgets, and wallet. Always keep it within sight, and check that your bag is always fastened.
Tips for luggage
Limit the number of bags you have to bring. Some roads may be rough, sandy like Cambodia, grassy, or even hilly like Lisbon. Public transportation in some countries may not have lifts or escalators to serve commuters. Having to carry baggage that is more than you can handle would then be extremely inconvenient, especially if you are travelling on your own.
Never leave your keys in your checked baggage. You may risk being locked out of your own apartment if your luggage gets misplaced in transit. You never know when the odds are against you, and trust me, it happens.
Tips on electronics
Carry a fully charged portable charger with you, especially if you rely on your phone for navigation. That being said, don’t forget to bring along a universal plug converter for recharging your gadgets across different countries.
Sync important documents in your Dropbox for emergencies, and ensure these documents are available offline. Documents such as your visa, photocopy of your passport and identification card may come in useful in the event you lose these documents, or forget to bring them.
Tips for planning
Make it a habit to check the weather before you head out for the day. It is best to be prepared with gear for poor weather just in case.
It is alright not to plan for everything. Sometimes the best things come unplanned, so leave room for surprises and unexpected events.
Tips for travelling
Travel on your own when you can. It opens up more opportunities to meet new people, be it locals or other travellers. It also forces you to be street smart, which is an essential survival skill to have.
If you are hesitating whether or not to go somewhere new or try something different, remember, this moment will pass, and you may never get the same opportunity again. So live each day as if it were your last, but remember to be safe.
Enjoy your trip with these safety tips!
Travelling should be done to unwind, relax, and experience something new, not be wary and paranoid. As long as you travel with these 10 tips in mind, you’ll find discovering a new city to be an enjoyable experience — addictive even!
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