10 Journey Security Tricks to Assist You Keep Secure Overseas (Up to date 2023)

Posted: 12/15/23 | December fifteenth, 2023

Staying protected on the highway is a high concern for….nicely, everybody. Nobody desires to get scammed, damage, or sick on the highway. Nobody desires to get robbed.

And, if you find yourself going someplace you could have by no means been earlier than, it’s regular be cautious. You don’t know what to anticipate or learn how to play it protected. There’s a whole lot of unknowns.

Whereas each nation on the planet is totally different, there’s some customary practices and customary guidelines you should use to remain protected if you journey. A few of these guidelines are frequent sense, some have been sadly discovered from first hand expertise!

Listed here are my 10 security suggestions to make sure every thing goes easily if you journey:

1. Find out about frequent scams

Whereas scams are uncommon, they’re on the market, ready for unwitting vacationers to stumble into them. Most will solely price you a couple of bucks and a little bit of embarrassment, however others can fleece you. Make sure to learn up in your vacation spot to see if there are any frequent scams to pay attention to.

On my first journey to Thailand I used to be scammed a number of instances on my first day. It was just some bucks, happily, but it surely was nonetheless awkward and unsightly. Since that journey, I’ve all the time made certain to be vigilant and analysis scams earlier than I journey.

Widespread journey scams embody taxis not utilizing their meter as a result of it’s “damaged,” individuals attempting to rope you into signing a petition (after which demanding a donation), or individuals promoting pretend (or overpriced) tickets to points of interest.

Assessment this record of frequent scams earlier than you go so that you simply’re prepared for no matter is thrown your method.

2. Purchase journey insurance coverage

One of many very first issues I do as soon as I e book a visit is purchase journey insurance coverage. I do know, it’s not a enjoyable a part of journey planning and it’s a boring factor to learn (and write) about. However shopping for insurance coverage early ensures I’m lined in case I must cancel my journey, if my flight is canceled or delayed, and far more.

For simply over a greenback per day you get peace of thoughts, figuring out that, ought to one thing go unsuitable, you received’t need to cope with it (or pay for it) alone.

I by no means depart house with out journey insurance coverage. You shouldn’t both.

In the event you’re on a price range, SafetyWing is my go-to firm for reasonably priced plans.

In the event you’re actually involved and wish somebody to name in an emergency, try Medjet.

Medjet has a safety response membership, MedjetHorizon, with 24/7 safety groups prepared to assist (and extract you if needed). It will probably additionally get you moved house when you’re hospitalized. Most journey insurance policy simply transfer you to the closest hospital, however Medjet will get you to your most popular facility in your house nation, no questions requested.

If you wish to study extra, you possibly can learn my full assessment of Medjet right here.

You will get a Medjet quote right here (there are tremendous reasonably priced short-term and annual memberships).

For extra info on journey insurance coverage, right here’s an inventory of all my really useful journey insurance coverage firms.

3. Know what your insurance coverage will and won’t do

Earlier than you allow house, learn over your insurance coverage coverage once more. Each firm is totally different, so it’s good to know precisely what’s and isn’t lined.

For instance, many vacationers assume that in the event that they break their leg overseas, their insurance coverage firm’s medical evacuation advantages will get them house. That’s not all the time the case. Likelihood is, they may solely get you to the “nearest acceptable facility” and just remember to’re handled there. You’ll then be by yourself to get house.

For safety threats and pure disasters, insurance coverage firms usually require what’s known as a “laborious set off” earlier than they’ll or will help you. Which means the federal government should declare an emergency or evacuation order. If that doesn’t occur, you may be anticipated to get house your self, even when the scenario is dire (and even when it prices 1000’s of {dollars}).

That’s why I all the time counsel Medjet to vacationers who wish to make sure they get house it doesn’t matter what. It’s the last word in safety and disaster response. There’s a 24/7 disaster line that may reply to a wider vary of security threats with out the necessity for a tough set off.

4. Save your emergency contacts

After getting journey insurance coverage, save the contact quantity in your cellphone. Save the emergency contact e-mail in your inbox too. That method, you’ll find it shortly when you have a query or want help.

In the event you assume you may not have Wi-Fi or cellular phone service throughout your journey, write the quantity down in your cellphone on a notes app simply to be protected. You may additionally wish to hold a bodily copy of each in your pockets too, simply in case one thing occurs to your cellphone.

Make sure to additionally e-mail your self copies of all of your necessary paperwork, reminiscent of your passport and license, in case you lose your pockets. Having printed copies of them isn’t a nasty concept both.

5. Put together a Google Map

When you’ve booked your lodging, put it aside on Google Maps. That method, you’ll find your lodging must you get misplaced and want to point out the tackle to a driver. You would possibly wish to additionally take a bodily enterprise card out of your lodging when you arrive (it’s going to have the tackle and phone data on it, which could come in useful).

Moreover, save different necessary locations in your Google Map, reminiscent of the closest hospital, pharmacy, grocery retailer, and embassy/consulate. In the event you really feel comfy doing so with a trusted particular person at house, you too can share your location via Google Maps. For many individuals, particularly solo vacationers, this gives peace of thoughts, figuring out that somebody on the planet is aware of their whereabouts.

6. Obtain the Secure Traveler App

When you’ve determined the place to go (and when you’re from the US), join the S.T.E.P. program. It alerts native embassies that you simply’re within the space in case a scenario arises. Subsequent, obtain the State Division’s Secure Traveler app. You simply punch within the locations you wish to go to, and it’ll ship push alerts to your smartphone relating to any necessary safety considerations. That method, you’ll be forewarned ought to something occur that you need to be conscious of.

7. Observe embassies on Twitter

In the event you use Twitter, comply with your nation’s embassy within the vacation spot nation. It is not going to solely point out necessary native occasions and holidays however, ought to a scenario come up, additionally publish updates and data there. Be sure to flip your notifications on so that you don’t miss something necessary.

Following native information firms on twitter can also be a good suggestion, particularly if there’s a native english-speaking web site that has a Twitter account. That method, you undoubtedly received’t miss any necessary happenings.

8. Separate your money and playing cards

When touring, don’t hold all of your money and playing cards in a single place. Maintain some in your pockets, some in your day bag, and a few in your lodging. That method, when you lose your pockets or in case your bag is stolen you continue to have money and playing cards to fall again on.

It’s not unusual for banks to cancel or put a maintain on a bank card when you’re overseas both, so convey multiple simply to be protected.

9. Ask locals for recommendation

Once you examine right into a lodge or Airbnb, ask if they’ve any security recommendation to share. Are there neighborhoods value avoiding? Are there any scams they assume you would possibly encounter? Possibly some areas are protected throughout the day however not at evening. Ask for enter from locals; they’re in the very best place to assist.

That stated, it by no means hurts to get a second opinion. Some locals would possibly think about an space unsafe, whereas others don’t. Make sure to store round for recommendation so you possibly can keep away from any biases. Journey is subjective, in any case, so the extra opinions you will get, the higher.

10. Don’t share an excessive amount of info

In the event you’re posting on social media, don’t submit in actual time. Wait a pair hours after which submit. That method, would-be criminals can’t use that info to get your location and rob you or stalk you (that is particularly necessary for solo feminine vacationers).

Furthermore, don’t give away an excessive amount of data to random strangers. Keep away from sharing your lodge identify, and, if doable, avoiding telling individuals it’s your first time visiting town/nation as they could use that as an invite to try to rip you off.

It might appear to be the world is a harmful place, with hassle lurking round each nook, however that’s solely as a result of worry sells. I’ve been touring for over 15 years, and 99% of the time, issues go easily.

However for the remaining 1% of experiences, it’s greatest to be ready. By arming your self with data earlier than you go and guaranteeing you could have complete insurance coverage and security protection, you’ll have the ability to journey with confidence, figuring out that you simply’re prepared for regardless of the highway throws your method.