International travel is one of the great perks of a global life. There is nothing quite like stepping across a border for the first time and soaking up the sights, sounds, and smells of an old, old place that is brand new to you. I absolutely love that I was born into the most globally accessible time in the history of the world.

 

I love the airplanes and the airports.

I love the unbeaten paths.

I love the tourist traps.

I love the fancy-schmancy, far too expensive cuisine.

I love the cheap, nasty deep-fried street food.

And the people. Don’t get me started.

I absolutely LOVE every part of the adventure of exploring the world.

All of it. As much as possible. For the rest of my life.

AND . . .

Bad things happen.

Those two realities do not (can not) exist apart from each other and they will never cancel each other out. Bad things are a sobering and very real part of everything great about world travel. However, things like safety and common sense don’t have to suck the joy out of trotting the globe.

On the contrary, the world is much more fun apart from bad things.

So for my fellow explorers, thrill seekers, wanderlusters, and risk takers . . .

 

HERE ARE FIVE QUICK TIPS FOR A SAFER (and more exciting) ADVENTURE

 

ONE: NEVER TRAVEL ALONE

Lost you already? Hear me out.

First — It is ALWAYS better to be with someone when you travel. End of sermon.

When that is not possible you should NEVER, EVER be somewhere where NO ONE knows you are. EVER.

• Share your itinerary with a friend, family member or colleague.
• Stay connected while you travel.
• If you’re going offline (even for a little bit) let someone, somewhere know where you will be AND when you will be back online.
• Consider an app like GPS Trax Viewer or My Tracks which allow you to track your movement using the GPS on your smartphone even if you are not online
• Especially if you are traveling in a high-risk area, consider an actual GPS tracker.
  • Click here to read: Top Ten Reviews | Best GPS Trackers of 2018
  • If you are an organization consider an app such as Vismo to protect your traveling employees or team members.

 

TWO: GO KNOWING

It’s an information age. As you are Googling up on sites to see and food to eat, at least get a basic overview of the typical threats and risk – not for the sake of paranoia — just for the sake of traveling with your eyes open. Learn about the place you’re going before you go AND what other travelers do to be safe.

• Register with your embassy or state department to receive notifications regarding threats (for example: US Department of State)
• Check Knoema World Data Atlas for Crime Statistics
• Read up on the places you will stay on Trip Advisor 
• Even a simple Google search or a glance at Wikipedia will give you some broad stroke insight.

SPECIAL NOTE: If your employer or organization is an International SOS member, educate yourself in their services. Groups like this offer SO MUCH assistance from threat levels, to translation services to emergency response.

 

THREE: LISTEN TO THE LOCALS

Tourists (and even seasoned world travelers) are notorious for “knowing better” than the locals. It’s easy to come into a new (to you) country with an attitude of disbelief and arrogance. If these people would just listen to you, you could fix their entire country.

Here’s the thing — write this down — If YOU are new, THEY are not the ignorant ones.

Not only will you do damage relationally and feed the stereotypes about foreigners, you will put yourself at unnecessary risk by not tuning in to what locals tell you.

• Obey the Laws
• Learn the customs
• Follow the signs
• Read the cues
• Find a trusted friend and ask a million questions

If it feels wrong, or frustrating or stupid, guess what . . . it’s probably not them.

Read what happens when you know better: Tourists Strip, A Mountain Shakes and Malaysia Gets Very Angry

 

FOUR: UNPACK BEFORE YOU PACK

Three words.

Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.

Traveling increases the risk of loss. Theft. Damage. Being so excited about the fast pace and the next thing that you leave your expensive DSLR Canon EOS 5D sitting under the seat of your plane to Xian, China (not that that has ever happened to me).

If you absolutely NEED it, take it. If you don’t — don’t.

• Smartphone cameras are better than ever — Consider leaving the camera at home.
• Don’t take credit cards that you won’t be using.
• If you take cash spread it out.
• Leave your computer at home if possible.
  • If not back up all of your files.
  • Password protect.
  • Remove anything you don’t want a thief to have access to.

Things get stolen and lost. They just do. As you pack consider the implications for each item. Worth the risk? Pack it.

 

FIVE: GADGET UP

This sounds like the opposite of simplifying but it’s actually not. Consider taking simple, cheap, highly portable items that decrease risk instead of heavy, expensive ones that would be disastrous if lost.

Here’s the good news. There have never been more resources to keep you safe. A few simple and very mobile gidgets and gadgets can greatly increase your safety and your peace of mind. For example:

• A mobile power bank because a dead phone could change everything.
• A portable lock or a portable alarm because not all hotel locks are reliable.
• A personal alarm which could buy you a few seconds to get away in case of an attack.
• A GPS tracker in case you or your luggage gets lost.

Click here to read: 10 Gadgets for Safe International Travel OR check out Corporate Travel Safety’s Catalog

 

IN SUMMARY — EXAGGERATE YOUR COMMON SENSE

Explorers are risk takers . . . everyone else stays at home. That’s what adds value to the adventure and guarantees a great memory. It’s a mistake, though, to think that risk-taking means ignoring safety. When you are out of your element you are not seeing the full picture. When you are not a local you are traveling with tunnel vision.

Travel with your eyes wide open and have a great trip.

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