Travel can be a lot of fun, but it also has its risks. Whether you’re going abroad for the first time or have been to many different countries, it’s important to keep your head on straight and make sure you’re following all the safety tips that are out there.
Here are some top travel safety tips for students who want to make sure they stay safe while traveling!
1. Register with the government before you go
For your next trip, consider registering with the government before you go. It’s easy to do; simply contact a government-approved travel agency and tell them where you plan on going and for how long, be it for a day or a year.
Next, find a tour guide who works for one of those agencies (they’ll have signs saying as much). Once that’s done, register with all the following:
- A government-approved travel insurance provider
- A government-approved medical insurance provider
- A government-approved security company
2. Don’t pack more than you can carry
When it comes to packing for a trip, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to bring your whole wardrobe. You’re only going away for a few days or weeks, so you don’t need five outfits per day (not even if you’re heading somewhere tropical).
Instead of packing your entire closet and kitchen sink, pack just what you really need for the journey. This will save room in your bag and keep everything organized if something does go awry.
3. Keep your passport/visa in a safe place
Keeping your passport in a safe place is the most important thing to do when traveling. Your passport should never be put in your checked luggage, wallet, purse or pocket. Make sure you have your license on you at all times as well—but not in the same place as your passport!
The safest places for you to store your passport and other valuables are inside a money belt that goes under clothing and around the waist or inside an anti-theft bag (you can buy these from any travel store), or locked away at all times when not being used.
4. Keep emergency contact information with you
Keeping contact information with you is important, but it’s also important that the information is up to date. Make sure your parents’ numbers are current and they know where they can reach you.
You should also have the contact information for a friend or family member who lives in another city or state, just in case something happens while traveling and you need help right away.
If you’re traveling with a group of people (or if there’s one person who knows everything), make sure each person has a copy of this information so everyone will be able to get in touch with loved ones quickly if necessary.
5. Pay attention to local health and safety rules
Before you travel, understand the health and safety regulations of the country you are visiting. For example, some countries require that all students be vaccinated against certain diseases before entering their borders.
Furthermore, while in your host country, follow local laws and customs as closely as possible. This will help ensure that you do not become a victim of crime or jeopardize your ability to return to school for future semesters abroad.
6. Look up local laws beforehand
Before you go, make sure you have a good idea of what the local laws regarding alcohol consumption and public nudity are. This can be found online or simply asked at your local embassy.
A good rule of thumb is to know what the laws are in your destination before you leave, especially if there’s anything that could potentially get in the way of your trip (like certain types of drugs).
However, if you’re taking a tour with an organized group—like one from a school trip or study abroad program—you can certainly ask them about any specific questions.
7. Keep friends/family updated regularly
Keeping your friends and family in the loop is essential. They may not know where you are, so let them know what kind of trip you’re taking and when they can expect to hear from you next.
If something goes wrong, they’ll be able to help out. This also gives them a chance to ask questions or share advice if something comes up that’s unfamiliar to them (e.g., “if I’m lost in rural Japan, what kind of things should I be looking for?”).
If everything’s going well, let your loved ones know! It will make them happy and give them peace of mind that everything is going smoothly.
8. Back up/save important documents online
To protect yourself against losing your travel documents, it’s important to make backup copies. You can do this online by saving the following documents on a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive.
- Your passport
- Your visas (if any)
- Your health insurance policy number
- A copy of your itinerary and confirmation number
9. Do your research before traveling
Researching the culture of your destination country will help you to know how to behave appropriately in public and avoid any possible misunderstandings. It’s important that you learn about the language, too. Many countries have their own national languages and if you want to be understood, it is worth investing some time in learning a few phrases.
When researching weather conditions ensure that there is no heatwave or cold snap likely to occur during your trip – this can make a difference as it relates to dressing appropriately for different times of day and night as well as how much sun cream/sun block should be packed with you!
The next step is researching safety measures at each place on your itinerary – do they have armed police like in Britain? Are there regular demonstrations or protests? Is it safe for tourists or could it be dangerous?
10. Learn some key phrases in the local language
You’re going to be in a new country. You probably don’t know the language. There are some key phrases that will help you get out of trouble and make friends along the way:
- “Where is the bathroom?”
- “I am lost.”
- “Help me!”
11. Be assertive about what you want from travel experiences
Traveling is a wonderful way to learn about different cultures and ways of life, but it can be easy to offend the people you encounter if you’re not careful. When traveling, it’s important that you’re aware of cultural differences that may cause offense and be assertive about what you want from your experiences.
Also, Read “21 Habits of Successful College Students”
Conclusion
Traveling is an amazing experience. But it’s also important to keep your wits about you when it comes to health and safety issues. We hope that you found this article informative!
Very interesting points noted here. Great article by the way