Travel Fans

You can almost guarantee that if there is going to be a problem it will be when you are on vacation in an unfamiliar place but by following a few simple rules, the consequences can be minimized. The last thing any traveler wants is to dislike a location because of a bad experience which could have been avoided and possibly saved some money in the process. Or worse still, a situation that sees you locking yourself in your hotel room, afraid to go out, or even spending time at the local Police station. The most important weapon in your armory to travel safely is your common sense so don’t dismiss this invaluable ability if you want to enjoy your vacation.

Whatever it is you are doing or wherever you are, when you get that feeling that something doesn’t feel right, that is your instinct; learn to listen to it. If you are heading out on the town to discover new bars or taking photos at the local fish market, do you really need to carry your passport, traveler’s checks, extra cash, credit cards and plane tickets? You should only ever take just what you need for the day and safely store the remainder (essential travel documents and cash) in the room or hotel safe. There is nothing worse than having to cancel credit cards on vacation so to protect your assets further when you are out and about, hide them and the cash in different areas about your person in small amounts; that way a possible thief would not get much.

The thing is that it is not uncommon for married people to share the same credit card account, but a piece of traveling safely advice says that two separate credit card accounts should be used; if something should happen to one of them, there is another one to fall back on. Some people just make it easy for snatch thieves who specialize in grabbing bags and cameras from unsuspecting tourists who have them hanging from their shoulder; to prevent this make sure the strap is over the head as well. When you walk out make sure you are on the sidewalk as motorbikes and cars can’t drive here and if you have your bag or camera dangling off the shoulder furthest from the road it won’t be so easy to take. Criminals love tourists as they are usually considered easy prey and we all underestimate how very proficient they are at relieving people of their personal belongings.

Complacency is a dangerous trait and we have all been guilty of it when we are on vacation, remember this is what they do every day to make money and feed their families. If you carry a bag of any kind, buy yourself a small padlock or combination lock as the few dollars you spend will be well worth it as it will deter the majority of sneak thieves.

It is almost a certainty that it is when you are traveling or on vacation that things will go wrong. This often means that the memories of the holiday are tainted as sometimes the local people are blamed for something which could have been prevented. Or worse still, a situation that sees you locking yourself in your hotel room, afraid to go out, or even spending time at the local Police station. Perhaps it is just that traveling safely requires some common sense and most of the time these days, we do not require it as someone else is always responsible for our mistakes!

People often neglect to trust their instincts in a situation which can lead them into unnecessary trouble. When you go out to discover new places, bars and restaurants, think about what you are taking with you; are all your credit cards, passport and airline tickets for example necessary where you are going? Expensive and necessary items like identification tickets for example should be left at the hotel in their safe or the room safe if you have one; it is much easier to recover your vacation if you only lose a few important belongings instead of all of them. One tip that has saved many travelers hassle is placing money in various locations so it makes it harder for thieves and pickpockets to get it all at once.

Unfortunately, the convenience of having two credit cards on the same account in your own country can be a problem in a foreign land so another travel safely tip is to use two completely separate accounts; this provides a back-up should one be lost or stolen. Some of the easiest possessions to steal are bags and cameras owing to the way people carry them without even recognizing that they are an easy target for thieves; ensure the straps are over the head and across the chest if you want to hold on to them. Try to be aware of where you are when you stroll around and don’t make an easy target for the snatch thieves on the back of bikes. There are many ways to scam tourists and you are vulnerable when you are on vacation so it is an easy task as these people are very good at what they do.

Complacency is a dangerous trait and we have all been guilty of it when we are on vacation, remember this is what they do every day to make money and feed their families. One way to stop some of the pick pocketing is to place a padlock on your backpack as any delay means they will usually try someone else.