Saturday 26 September 2015

HOW TO TRAVEL SAFE

Unwary tourists make easy targets for con artists and thieves because they stand out in foreign places. While most areas you travel to are likely to be safe, it helps when you take the necessary steps and precautions to ensure your safety. Talk to friends and colleagues who've been to the location before, consult with the travel agency, and keep an eye on any official communication.

Ramona Maharaj City of Hamilton


Learn about the place

Before you leave, know how the particular destination is faring, especially on the economic front. In many instances, Americans are used to a higher standard of living than some of the places they visit. Where unemployment and petty crime are an issue, be particularly careful with your luggage.

Leave the expensive stuff

You make yourself a target when you wear expensive jewelry and watches or carry fancy cameras and other digital equipment in the open. What might be normal to carry around back home may not be wise to display on your trip. Focus on enjoying the trip and leave the expensive stuff at home.

Be wise with cash

Split your money so you don’t have to carry all your cash or travel cards in one purse. Take advantage of any hotel safes to store your emergency card and only carry the amount of cash you estimate will be enough for the day. Should you lose one card, you will still have the means to make purchases with what you didn’t carry with you.

Digital copies

Before you travel, make digital copies of your travel documents and visas. It’s easy to have them stored on a cloud server that you can access should the originals get lost on your trip.

Ramona Maharaj City of Hamilton from the City of Hamilton has spent a big part of her teaching career overseas and is well versed in some of the ways to stay safe while traveling.