Travelling doesn’t always have to mean a pre-planned trip abroad. It can be anywhere, at any time, even within the local community, or within a new place that’s in the same country. Mostly, staying safe is about trusting your gut instinct and being sensible when it comes to your behaviour and possessions, and you should also pay attention to the following tips.
Ensure That You Know the Rules of the Road
Even if you’re travelling within the same country as your hometown, road rules can change depending on where you venture, especially if you are moving from a busy city to rural roads. New road layouts can be challenging, and it’s important to pay attention to any speed variations, as well as the big differences which come abroad such as driving on the opposite side of the road.
It’s also important to note that if you are renting a car during your travels, whether home or abroad, you may be provided with an automatic model. Especially for new drivers, this can be a tricky feature to get used to. It may be a good idea to take a refresher course with a qualified driving instructor before travelling to ensure that you feel confident and safe.
Check Your Emergency Contacts
You should always research a new place before travelling there, even if it’s local, in terms of relevant contacts. In your home country, you will already be aware of emergency numbers, but should anything happen to your mobile phone, you should scout out public telephone boxes or the local police station in advance.
When travelling abroad, you should always have emergency contact numbers saved in your phone, and be aware of how to inform relevant authorities in that country should the need arise.
Take Out Travel Insurance
This is vital if travelling abroad, as it ensures you are covered for any eventuality and that you are always protected against any accident or emergency. You should plan for appropriate cover before you travel based on the number of risk factors involved in your trip. For example, if you are planning on visiting many destinations and intend to take an activity-fuelled trip with many high-risk activities, then you will need insurance cover which accounts for that.
Plan Your Routes in Advance
A large appeal of travelling is being able to discover unique places spontaneously and explore hidden gems. There is nothing wrong with wandering off the beaten track should circumstances allow, and you won’t ever be able to plan for every eventuality, but having a designated route and plan set in advance is key to remaining safe.
Knowing where you are going, the safest way to get there and the expected arrival time are good planning measures to stay on track. If you happen to make a safe stop off along the way or need to alter your course during the journey, there is nothing wrong with that – as long as your base safety measures are in place.