On your next trip, keep the following points in mind. Just a
little forethought and planning can vastly increase your
personal safety and security, wherever you happen to go. Below
are a few of my favorites:
* Don't travel with precious possessions and be discreet with
cash and other valuables. Leave sentimental and irreplaceable
items at home preferably.
* Protect your essentials like travel documentation, passport,
traveler's checks, credit cards and more. Concealing them
on-person, in a pouch or somewhere in your clothing is all
accepted practice. I learned this one the hard way!
* Be watchful but not paranoid about being at risk of becoming
or being a robbery victim. You will end up spending excessive
money on cabs everywhere as opposed to taking a gentle troll and
or exploring by foot!
* Keep valuables concealed in crowded places. Don't consider hip
pockets and dangling bags good places for your wallet!
* Don't carry excess cash you don't need, especially at night
and don't flaunt cash in public under any circumstances. Don't
make yourself a visible and easy target.
* Divide and spread your cash and other money instruments like
traveler's checks around your luggage. Don't carry it all in one
place.
* A good security tip is wrapping your wallet with a rubber band
or two to make it harder for pickpockets to remove it from your
pocket without detection! Better yet, don't carry a wallet at
all! Get a money belt.
* Keep your luggage safe, with you and secure at night when you
sleep.
* Never leave luggage and or valuables in a car, bus, taxi,
train or other form of transportation.
* Always watch at security screenings and customs checks to
ensure that your belongings do not disappear. Another
hard-learned lesson. It's often difficult to be on your toes
aftera long international flight. I walked away from a customs
checkpoint without a very important bag, just out of fatigue! Be
alert!
* Speaking about customs, when exceeding the duty-free limits,
know that it will cost you dearly, up to as much as 10 % on the
next $1000 worth of goods.
Here's a few more of my favorites:
* Avoid the duty-free lure and trap. Typically, all shops in
airports and train stations are expensive. It is a myth that you
always save money! Actually, compare the next time you try to
buy liquor or souvenirs against reputable quality department
stores. You might find to your surprise that the prices are
higher!
* Be creative with meals and do not hesitate to improvise and
eat like the locals. For example, a picnic or a quick bite to
eat on the beach or in a park is one of the best ways to keep
your food costs down and save your travel dollar for the
evenings and dinners out.
* Be resourceful and curious. Know as much as you can about your
destination and prepare as well as you can, even for the
unexpected. Read any and all literature you can find on what you
should know before departing, such as facts, warnings,
advisories, entry requirements, crime statistics, demographics,
local economy, attractions and special events for your dream
destination.
* Arm yourself with personal information. Having all your bank
contact telephone numbers written down on a piece of paper,
packed in your luggage and somewhere else on your person or in
the hotel safe in an envelope with your other valuables you want
under lock and key is the best way to protect your financial
interest. Finding out in advance who to call in case your checks
or credit cards are lost or stolen is very important and will
save you time and money and minimize the impact of any theft and
or aftermath of lost, misplaced or stolen cards, wallets and
travelers checks.
So plan a bit, stay aware, and have a great trip.
About the author:
Pete Cullen runs a budget travel tips website. To get more great
travel tips, please visit http://easy-budget-travel-tips.com.
This article may be re-published in any form as long as this
resource box remains intact.
Written by: Peter Cullen
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