photo credit: DentalSmurf
It is surprising just how often things go wring when you travel, perhaps through unfamiliarity but nevertheless these can be minimized by using some basic tips. The annoying thing is that a few bad situations can spoil a whole week or two week vacation. Situations like this can even escalate and it is not uncommon where people are reluctant to leave their room or even have to spend time in a Police station trying to explain the problem. It doesn’t matter if you are visiting a local market or out for an evening meal, traveling safely is about the application of common sense when you are in an unfamiliar location.
Whatever it is you are doing or wherever you are, when you get that feeling that something doesn’t feel right, that is your instinct; learn to listen to it. Always be careful about traveling with all your documents and money if you are just going to town to see the sights or have a meal. You know that when you go out for the day or evening there are only certain things you need, so just take those and leave the rest behind in the safe or security deposit box. A handy tip is to place a small amount of money in a number of locations like bags or pockets then if you happen to lose a bag, visa card or money, you will still have something there to keep you going until it can be resolved.
Unfortunately, the convenience of having two credit cards on the same account in your own country can be a problem in a foreign land so another travel safely tip is to use two completely separate accounts; this provides a back-up should one be lost or stolen. A big thing now is bag and camera snatching from people strolling along, often in the road and unaware of the potential danger so make sure you wear the backpack on your back and sling your camera over your head and shoulder. Always avoid letting something hang from your shoulder next to the road as it is easy to grab something from the back of a motorbike as it passes you. We have all read about the different scams that people have fallen for and the truth is people continue to fall for them because the scammers are professionals and they’re good at it.
It is often our arrogance that lets us become victims of theft and other deceptions because we do not believe that anyone will pull the wool over our eyes but this is how the criminals earn their living. One way to help reduce the chances of things being stolen is by using a back pack with a padlock, this makes it more difficult to get into and therefore acts as a deterrent.
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