Traveling to a new place can be a lot of fun, but it can also be very dangerous! There are a lot of things that can go wrong, and you need to keep them all in mind when planning your trip. Read on for some tips on traveling safely.
If you’re traveling with kids, it’s tempting to let them all tune out with their own mp3 players, but consider bringing along some books on CD. Having something literate and interesting for the whole family to listen to is not only entertaining and interesting, but provides a common experience that each family member can take forward with them into life (“Hey, remember when I was ten, and we listened to Black Beauty on the way to Maine?”). It’s the stuff of which fond memories are made.
If you are planning a trip abroad, it is important to make sure you obtain the necessary vaccinations beforehand. When you are in the planning stages of your trip, take note of any vaccinations that are required or recommended. Failing to do so could leave you open for dangerous exotic diseases that could ruin your trip, or worse, ruin your health.
Pack an extra bag for dirty clothes. No one wants to pack their dirty unmentionables in with all their nice things. Pack a small, collapsible bag to pack dirty clothes in for the return trip. Alternatively, bring a garbage bag. You can wrap dirty clothes in the garbage bag to keep them separate from everything else.
When planning an overseas trip or any kind of dangerous outing, check with your health insurer to see what you’re covered for. Most health insurance companies will not cover injuries incurred during a wide variety of dangerous activities, and many will not cover health costs incurred overseas. You might need to purchase special traveler’s insurance for your health.
Try using bubble wrap when packing. There is a good reason things get mailed in bubble wrap. It keeps fragile objects very safe. When you travel, your luggage goes through a process very similar to being sent via the postal service. Bubble wrap isn’t difficult to come by and is a great choice when packing breakable possessions.
If you are traveling to the beach or staying at a hotel with a pool, pack your swimsuit in your beach bag. It can sometimes be difficult to sort through everything you have packed. To save time, pack your swimsuit, sunscreen, and anything else you might need for the beach or pool in a beach bag.
Because security does not allow you to lock your luggage, you run the risk of the zippers coming undone and your belongings leaving a trail across the country and around the baggage claim. To help prevent this, use zip ties, which hold the zipper together, but can easily be cut off (with little cost to you) by security, if necessary.
When traveling long distances by airplane, make sure to get up and walk around every hour or two to stretch your legs. Staying seated for too long can lead to medical issues such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), so take a stroll up and down the aisle every once in a while.
To help you lighten your luggage, use sample size cosmetics and toiletries when you pack. If you don’t need a full size bottle of shampoo, there is no reason to carry it across the country. Most drugstores have a travel section where you can purchase travel-size shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste and more.
As you can see, there are a lot of things to think about to stay safe when traveling, whether you’re planning a trip or are already at the destination. Make sure to keep this article as a checklist so you can be sure not to forget anything you need to stay safe.
