Being spontaneous and even reckless sometimes is thrilling and exciting, but the fun part could easily go away if you get caught up in an unenviable situation while on a vacation. Losing documents or getting food poisoning could happen, too. We hope it won’t though. But the reality is: that trouble could happen and you better be prepared.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It would be silly to talk about travel safety while not having even basic travel insurance. In case you get hurt and need emergency help in the local hospital, lose your camera, or have your flight canceled having travel insurance helps A LOT! All you need to do is contact your travel insurance company and let them solve your problem for you; saving you time and money.
DESTINATION RESEARCH
We already mentioned the importance of destination research when it comes to responsible traveling in our blog post ‘’5 Ways to be a More Sustainable Traveler’’. The same goes for safety. There could be things that are considered normal in your country while in others they could be rude and offensive. The last thing you want is to offend somebody and end up fighting over something you could’ve just learned not to do, wear, or say.
PUBLIC RIDES
When using public transport it is really important to be aware of your belongings and keep them close to you. Make sure to carry your values in your hand luggage rather than the big suitcase you’ll have to leave unattended. Riding all alone at 3 am in the metro is not the best decision as we know that crime rates are higher during the night. But sometimes, you don’t have a choice. Keep your eyes wide open and don’t lose sight of your belongings.
DRINKING
It is okay to get loose while on a vacation, but try not to go overboard. Clubbing safety is of great importance when ordering drinks so make sure your drink is opened by your bartender and right in front of you. And not just that, when you drink you may become an easy target for muggers or worse so stay safe and stay sober.
BLEND IN
Walking around small traditional villages with few local elders in a bikini is not the smartest decision. Nor the most polite one. In the eyes of the locals, entering an old cathedral in transparent clothes is quite rude. Dress accordingly respecting the culture and the people.
DON’T LOOK LIKE A TOURIST
Blending in is of great importance when it comes to small street crimes as well. Nothing says “mug me now” more than Birkenstocks and a huge camera around your neck. Holding a map in your hands while walking around like you don’t even know what planet you are on is a clear sign of vulnerability. This way you became an easy target for pickpocketing. So dress accordingly and act like you know where you’re going.
PRINT, PRINT
Make sure to print all your documents and save them in your email or iCloud where you can easily reach them as long as there is an internet connection. Let’s say you lose your passport which is every traveler’s nightmare. Having a copy of it will be so much faster and will most definitely ease the process of getting a new one at the embassy.
ELECTRONICS TO MINIMUM
The least chance possible of getting your technology stolen is if you are not caring it at all. Keep your electronics to a minimum because honestly; you don’t need all these cameras, laptops, and iPads. It’s a vacation, not a workstation!
MONEY BELT
Maybe the most innovative product lately when it comes to traveling is a money belt bag. If you don’t know what it looks like, Google it right now! You can keep all your small valuables around your waist. Even better; tuck the bag under the shirt since the bag is really thin. Your most important documents like ID, passport, cards, or even phone can fit inside, are easily reachable, and unlikely to get lost.
LEARN ALL THE NUMBERS
Before even coming to your destination make sure to write down all the important numbers or even better; memorize them! You never know when you could need the help of the police, firefighters, or emergency. We hope you won’t, but just in case!
DO NOT HITCHHIKE
This is a brainer. We all heard the horror stories that started with some happy travelers happily deciding to hitchhike. And we sure know how it ended. Seriously though, hitchhiking could be very dangerous. Not to be paranoid or anything but going into someone’s car or a truck is the easiest way for things to end up badly and go out of control. On the other hand, yes, it could be a lovely and authentic experience. But still, we wouldn’t take our chances.
NIGHT OWLS
Walking at 4 am in a foreign city is yet another unwise decision and a recipe for disaster. Always look for a cab, Uber, or any other alternative rather than walking in the middle of the night through the streets you don’t know anything about. A suspicious neighborhood is not the best place for a lost tourist.
ANIMAL SAFETY
Let’s say you are in Thailand surrounded by goofy monkeys or in India surrounded by puppies and cats. We understand they are cute but be careful if petting them since stray animals are known to carry different diseases. If you see an unattended or hurt animal make sure to call local animal rescue centers and see what they can do.
LOCATION BUDDY
You must have someone who always knows your approximate location. Give them the address of your hotel, your agency contact (if you have one), or the phone number of your Airbnb host. It’s okay to be relaxed and disconnected when on a vacation, but try not to go too much under the radar.
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
Lastly, trust your gut. We all know the feeling of suspecting something is not right even when we can’t tell exactly what it is. It’s okay to listen to that voice and get out of the situation. Most of the time, we realize that this feeling was here to help.
We don’t want to make you paranoid. These are just precautious and ‘good to know’ measures that could make your life easier if you find yourself in a situation no one would enjoy dealing with. In the end, we travel to have fun and experience the unknown. So be careful and be smart.
HUCK FINN EXPERIENCE
Traveling in a small group of 10 people with a local guide always there for you is a perfect mix of safety and adventure. Experiencing small villages, intact paradise islands, and scenic landscapes far away from the city buzz could be the best way to see the most while caring less. We do our best to minimize the risks above, allowing you to fully immerse into new experiences and enjoy the benefit to the local community.
‘’I want to see the world. Follow a map to its edges. And keep going. Forget the plans, trust my instincts. Let curiosity be my guide. I want to sleep under unfamiliar stars and let the journey unfold before me.’’ -unknown
