With a few exceptions, many criminal organizations aim to monopolize the kidnapping of many prominent foreign business persons and extort cash. Most experienced gangs also target business travelers visiting the country and wealthy locals.
Exploring a new place can also be intimidating because you’re not used to the surroundings. This is why it is vital to stay safe with international travel safety tips regardless of where you want to go. Some of these tips include:
- Document Your Travel Destinations and Identity
It is important to copy vital documents, such as your insurance, passport, driver’s license, and itinerary. Ensure you produce two sets of copies and stash them in different bags, and send others back home in the case of emergency.
Carry important contact details, including phone number, name, embassy number, and address of where you stay. Maps may also be important in a jam. A hard-copy map is a good backup for your smartphone as it reduces the time you spend walking around asking for directions.
- Put Your Hotel Room Safe
Even if the hotel has good and strong security measures, you might take steps to keep your room safe. Dead-bolt and lock the door and keep the windows shut. You may purchase a jammer, which is basically a portable device that slips under your door to add another layer of protection.
In addition, try to give an impression that you’re inside the room even when you are out by placing the ‘Don’t Disturb’ sign and keeping windows closed.
- Get the Right Vaccines and Go for a Checkup
Always understand the health concerns of the country you plan to visit and have a physical checkup before taking your trip to make sure you are healthy to tour abroad.
Many worldwide travel destinations need vaccinations before your departure, so ensure you know all the immunizations you require.
- Reduce Location Sharing
It is common for many travelers to update their social networking platforms as they travel to cities or countries. The issue with this kind of too much sharing is that it can create security threats at home.
Signaling your location will make it simple for criminals to determine that you’re not at home or in the hotel room, making your personal things vulnerable to physical intrusions. Therefore, be sure to limit the details you post online regarding your whereabouts to minimize those threats to your properties.
- Switch Off Your Devices
You never know who might want to access your business or personal information. Like the US Department of Homeland Security, most border control officers have the freedom of search through digital files, at times even without reasonable causes. This means they may check apps, access your data, and even demand passwords.
This is why it vital to power down your devices when going through every security checkpoint. With all the devices switched off, officers will not have an opportunity to access your sensitive details.
However, if you still want your smartphone to be on, ensure to install the best lock screen. With features like two-step authentication options or longer passcodes, you will be able to protect yourself from any data theft.
- Carry a Smartphone That Can Make an International Call
Before leaving, even when you don’t have any plans on making many phone calls, ensure you have an international calling plan or purchase a temporary phone that can work in your preferred destination.
You might be glad to have the ability to make many international calls if you get separated from your traveling group or in the event of emergencies.
- Consider VPN Safety
Among the most airline passenger safety tips is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when going online, particularly if you want to use a public Wi-Fi network at the airport or hotel. A good VPN will enable you to have a safe and secure network connection. Your device or laptop communicates with remote services using trusted keys so as to identify one another.
Once you establish an identification, your connection will be secure, and whatever you send over the internet will be encrypted. Apart from establishing a secure and safe network, you can check out other important things, such as your bank account.
- Drink Responsibly
Many people enjoy exploring local bars or nightlife while traveling. Although there is nothing wrong with this, it is vital to drink responsibly.
When you are far away from your home, you might end up in a dangerous neighborhood or even get lost completely, and being drunk, obviously makes you an easy target for robbery and scams.
Closing Remarks!
Basically, there will never be such a thing as a crime-free destination in this world. Regardless of whether you’re a wanderlust veteran or newbie traveler, the woes of safety while traveling normally worry everyone equally.
This is why it is necessary to take international travel security tips, like drinking responsibly, using a VPN, and switching off your devices, into consideration to stay safe.