Preparing for your backpacking adventure takes months of organization and patience. You’ll probably pack your bag three times or more before you’re convinced you’ve got it right; you’ll know your itinerary down to the very last letter and you’ll have your budget meticulously planned to ensure your money will last. But have you given much thought to your safety whilst you’re enjoying your travels?
You might not have considered it until now, and while it’s pretty rare for things to take a dangerous turn, you can still plan and invest in your safety whilst you’re abroad. Read on for four ways to stay safe on your travel adventure.
Your Tech
You’ll want to document your adventures, save memories forever, so taking beautiful pictures is a must. The idea of losing all those beautiful images forever and an expensive bit of tech in the process is certainly heartbreaking. Store your valuables in lockable compartments of your luggage, and make sure you take out a good insurance policy.
Password protect everything and backup everything as often as you can or at least before you leave if you’re able. Some travelers take portable hard drives with them so they can upload all their photographs at the end of each day. Or upload everything to a cloud to keep everything preserved!
Wash Your Hands
It’s not just the threat of theft you need to consider. If you’re traveling to a location that has poor sanitation then you need to remember to wash your hands as often as possible. After handling money, after using the toilet, touching handrails, doorknobs and before you eat.
If the hand washing facilities aren’t up to scratch then take a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you while you’re out and about. The last thing you want is stomach flu to ruin your travels.
Complete Some Research
You might know the area in which you’ll be staying, the places you want to eat and visit, etc., but have you:
- Done much research into the destination?
- Are there any customs you should be aware of?
- How to dress?
- Is your host country conservative?
- Are there any laws regarding drinking?
- Or any other laws that travelers should be aware of?
- Are there any scams you need to know about?
Doing plenty of research into your destination will help keep you safe and out of trouble!
Don’t Overdrink!
Heading abroad and exploring the world means having fun and letting your hair down. However, you still need to apply the same common sense as you would on a night out at home. Don’t leave your drink unattended, hold onto your bag, and don’t feel pressured to keep up with everyone else.
It’s no one else’s business how much you drink. If you start to feel a little tipsy then it’s time to head back to your accommodation. Ask the bar staff to call you a taxi rather than wandering around the streets looking for a ride home.
