How to Travel Safely




No matter where you go or where your trip takes you there is and always will be a need for safety tips and rules. So to travel safely while on your city break you should use some if not all of the following tips:

Know Your Area

It doesn’t matter if you are in Rome or Greece you need to have a good idea of the town’s layout and important features. Some of the important places to know are where you are staying, where the local hospital is, where the police are located and at least one apothecary. Now this may seem hard, but if you have a map and mark them on it then find the center most location you have a start. Once you know what the center of town is find something unique or that will stand out, even a local business will work. Now that you know spot you chose and its local name you will be able to start back there time and time again, and by knowing which important item is in which direction you can get help when needed.

Keep Your Valuables Locked Up

Do not carry everything with you when you travel and what you do carry ensure it. Once you get to your destination many of the local banks and hotels have safety boxes you can rent and store your personal valuables in. You can also keep most of your belongings in your room as well, only place items that cannot be replaced in the safes.

Dress Accordingly

While you are out and about notice how others are dressed and try for the same casual look. Not only will you be able to blend in more and make targeting tourist harder but also you can experience the local country so much more.

Medical Needs

Keep all medicines with you at all times with extra locked away safely, have a list of instructions incase something does happen and make sure to have a list of phone numbers as well. By caring medicine in its prescribed bottle with you, if something happens the local doctor will already know some about you and how to treat you. Also having at the hotel helps to ensure you have a supply if you need it. When preparing for your trip you need to tell your doctor where you are going and for how long also that you want two bottles for your medicines one to carry and one to store.

Being safe and keeping safe while traveling in different countries is no different that when you are traveling to another state. By being prepared and paying attention to what is around you, you will find yourself having a better and healthier time abroad.



Are Hostels, Camps and Private Homes Safe for Travelers




Yes – and no. As with any traveling and staying in an unknown spot, there will be some dangers. Most of them you can avoid. If you know the risks before you travel, you can be prepared for any situation.

 

If you decide camping is the accommodation style for you, you should have a good knowledge of the area you are going to camp in. Will you be staying in a public campsite or will you be camping wherever you feel the need to pitch your ten? If it is the latter, make sure it is legal to camp in the spot you have chosen. Check whether you need to provide your own drinking water. Camp grounds in remote places may require you take in water. If you are using water from streams or creeks, boil it first to get rid of bacteria.

 

Animals can provide a source of danger in campsites. If you are camping in bear country you will need to take special precautions. Take care of how you store your food and where you pitch your tent. You will need to either store all your food in a bear proof box or hang it from a tree. Check the area before you camp to make sure there are no signs of recent bear activity. If there are, move on to another site. Other dangerous animals that you need to be aware of when camping are snakes and spiders. These beasts like to get in and under things so always check before you put on any clothes and shoes.

 

Camping is a good way to meet fellow travelers, but you can not always be sure your possessions will be safe from unscrupulous people. Ensure all valuables are locked in the car or stowed safely when you are not at your campsite.

 

Hostels are a good, safe way to travel, but like any public place, you still need to take precautions. Hostels that are members of a network may provide a safer option as they are well controlled. You can take safety measures by locking up your valuables in lockers if they are provided. Or ask the manager if they have a safe you can lock your valuables in. Sleep with your money and passport at night if you are sharing a room with strangers. Most hostels have bunk rooms segregated by gender. But some don’t. If you are a female traveling alone, it might be wise to stay in a hostel that has only same sex rooms.

 

Staying in private homes with the owners living there as well, (charging you for board), is probably the least safe option when traveling. This is because you don’t know the people you are staying with and in some countries it is actually illegal for residents to hire out their rooms to travelers. If this option is one you want to pursue, try and book your room through the local tourist office or through an agency. At least if there is a problem, you will have someone to lodge your complaint with. In some countries this is a very popular form of accommodation and a cheap one. Make sure you negotiate your price before you agree to stay. Take the same precautions as you would in other styles of accommodations and be prepared to move on if it is not satisfactory or you feel unsafe.

 

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com



This site is sponsored by dedicated servers at Hivelocity.net