Traveling anywhere can be extremely exciting, nerve-racking and life changing. Whether you plan on backpacking Europe for a summer, teaching English abroad, or taking a road trip cross country with your besties, make sure you always travel safe and travel smart. As mom’s would always say, “rather too safe than too sorry”.
1. If you are cautious or nervous about traveling, consult with a travel agency. It may be a bit more expensive, but saves you major time and can aid you with any problems that may occur during your trip.
2. Buy a universal outlet adapter. Simple.
3. Make sure you consult your doctor before traveling. There are many medical precautions including shots and medications you may want to have before traveling.
4. Keep your passport, ID and credit cards in a safe place at all times. These are very important items you do NOT want to misplace these or get stolen while traveling.
5. Make sure you consult your credit card company before doing ANY sort of traveling. The last thing you want is for your card to get declined due to “suspicious activity” in a place far away from home.
6. Take photographs of you and your friends’ luggage- that way if it ever gets lost you have that as a reference.
7. Buy maps. You might not always have your smart phone to refer to or depend on. Plus with a map, it is easy to work with locals about your destination or plans by pointing if there is a language barrier.
8. When exploring, pack light. The less stuff you have the easier it is for you to look after. Best suggested is a small cross-body purse that will always stay close to you. Keep it zipped and in front of you.
9. Check the weather! You don’t want to get stuck in a rainstorm with no umbrella or a cold-front in a tank top.
10. If you are traveling abroad, make sure you check out their local social norms and body language before traveling. For example in Iran the “thumbs up” gesture can be seen as obscene.
11. Become a “germ-a-phobe”. Stay healthy and sanitary while traveling. Wash hands even more often that you are in daily life at home.
12. Double check your seat in any cabs, trains or airplanes you may be in. Hopefully then you can help avoid accidently forgetting something.
13. Keep a blog, stay connected with email, or update your Facebook as much as you possibly can. Then, it is easier for family and friends to always keep track of your location. In the extreme case something tragic happens this could be very helpful (we pray it doesn’t though!)
14. Assemble a first aid kit. It can be simple- a flashlight, Advil, sunscreen, eye drops, chapstick, hand sanitizer, band-aids, safety pins, antiseptic ointment, and an EpiPen. You can never be too careful!
15. If you plan on backpacking or staying abroad for a while, consider learning how to drive a stick shift. Many foreign cars are stick shift cars and can be difficult to drive if you just try to “wing it”.
16. Lastly, download helpful Apps on your smart phone that could aid in your safe traveling experience. These apps include Google Translate, so you can try your best to speak like the locals, WebMD, in case of any medical questions or emergencies, and WorldMate, which is basically your personal mobile travel agent that keeps you organized with your itineraries and schedules. Also include downloading a weather app, a photo editor, and Skype.
Safe travels Her Campus-ers. Traveling can be some of the best memories of your life. Ciao!