You’re desperate for a vacation, and you want to relax and reconnect with your family by taking them on a fabulous international trip.
And while you’ve always been a fairly savvy traveler, you want to make sure that you know the top travel safety tips that you can share with your family.
In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to have a safe trip when you and your family are taking a vacation abroad.
Read on to learn how to travel safely without having to make compromises on your agenda.
1. Know the Places to Avoid or Visit with Caution
One of the best ways to ensure that you and your family have a safe trip is by doing your research ahead of time.
No, we’re not talking about finding the best pasta restaurant in Italy or making a list of the most breathtaking sites in Paris.
Instead, we mean studying up on areas that are a bit more dangerous than others. Of course, we understand that, just because an area comes with a certain amount of risk, doesn’t mean that it’s always possible to avoid it.
For example, pickpockets and scammers love to hang out in front of the Eiffel Tower, waiting to trick or threaten a tourist — but that doesn’t mean you’re not going to visit it.
Focus on getting more information before you travel, so that you’ll know common tricks (like asking you to try on a ring or starting to shine your shoes without asking you) before you go.
If possible, ask a tour guide or a local about areas to avoid or be on higher alert in. Know the signs of potential trouble, as well.
Make sure that everyone in your family is on the same page when it comes to these scams and neighborhoods, especially if you’re planning on splitting up for a few hours during your trip.
2. Develop a Check-In System
You don’t want to feel like you’re being paranoid when you’re on vacation, but you also want to know how to travel safely.
Before you leave, make sure that you’ve taken the correct precautions to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
For example, tell your friends and family where you plan to stay, and even give them your flight number and the contact information of anyone you’re visiting at your destination.
Additionally, develop a buddy or a check-in system with your family members who are on the trip with you. Set ground rules about how often people should check in via text, and choose a meeting point in case you get separated.
Come up with a code word, or another phrase that you can all remember, that indicates that you’re in trouble. This way, if the worst happens, only you will know that a family member is asking for help.
3. Know Local Customs
One of the most important travel safety tips we can offer?
Make sure that, in addition to learning about potentially dangerous neighborhoods and creating an emergency safety plan, you’ve also studied up on local customs.
First of all, doing so shows that you’re a respectful traveler. But in terms of your safety, the ability to blend in — or at least to avoid sticking out like a sore thumb — is a great way to stay safe.
For example, wearing a flashy outfit in a more conservative country could make you a target as an obvious tourist. Not knowing tipping customs or using a gesture you didn’t know was offensive can also land you in hot water.
If possible, especially if you’re in a high-traffic area, avoid speaking too loudly in your native language.
Above all, just use common sense.
Don’t wear flashy jewelry in an impoverished neighborhood. Don’t yell for your family across a crowded marketplace, or open your wallet in the middle of the train station.
Staying safe while traveling abroad isn’t as difficult as you might think, as long as you take the time to adequately prepare for your trip and teach your family the rules.
4. Invest in the Right Insurance
The truth is that, even if you’ve done everything possible to ensure that you have a safe trip, sometimes, things still happen.
Maybe your child took a nasty fall and ended up with a broken bone. Perhaps you had a flare-up of a pre-existing condition on your vacation. Maybe something a bit more serious has taken place.
If for no other reason than your own peace of mind while on vacation, you should always invest in traveler’s insurance and overseas health coverage.
This way, if your plane is delayed or canceled, you won’t have to worry about losing your money. If you have travel health insurance, you know that you’ll be taken care of in the event of a medical emergency.
You’re Ready to Have a Safe Trip Thanks to These Tips
We hope that this post has helped you to understand the steps you can take both before and during your vacation to have a safe trip.
You don’t have to be paranoid, you simply have to be aware.
When in doubt, just keep on going! Remember that making mistakes and even getting lost is all a part of your travel experience. As long as you keep communication open between yourself and your family members, you truly shouldn’t encounter a problem.
Now, it’s time to pack your bags and pick the perfect destination. Check out our blog for more travel tips to make sure you have the vacation of a lifetime.