Heading off on your holidays soon? Preparation is key to staying safe.
In this article, we’ll discuss some travel safety tips and give you handy advice for all kinds of travel security.
A safe trip starts long before you get on the plane. So, we’ll start with proper planning. Then, we’ll cover health and medical concerns, being aware of local customs, staying safe when you’re out and about, and finally, what to do if you end up in an emergency.
Proper Planning
Before you book a beautiful destination, it’s a good idea to check the Australian Government Smartraveller website for any important information or updates. This site has travel advisory pages for more than 175 destinations worldwide, giving an overall advice level to each. This advice level ranges from ‘do not travel’ and ‘reconsider your need to travel’ to ‘exercise a high degree of caution’ and ‘exercise normal caution’. If your chosen destination is in either of the first two categories, maybe you should choose somewhere else!
Once you’ve chosen a location, you need to get your important documents in order. This might include:
- Arranging travel insurance
- Arranging a VISA
- Ordering a new passport (if yours is due to expire soon)
- Making copies of your passport (in case you need to leave these with a hire company)
Some destinations will also require proof of onward travel, so make sure you’ve booked a return flight if that’s the case!
Health and Medical Checks
Before you travel abroad, you need to arrange appropriate medical care. From travel vaccinations to health checks, there’s a lot to think about!
Routine travel vaccinations include:
- Hepatitis A and B vaccination
- Yellow Fever vaccination
- Rabies vaccination
- Tetanus
- MMR
- Typhoid
And more! Head to our travel vaccination clinic to check which jabs you need before you travel. This might change from month to month, depending on reported cases of certain diseases or viruses.
However, vaccinations need to be supplemented by some common sense, too. For example, avoid drinking tap water, wash your hands regularly, and use bug spray to keep the mozzies away.
It’s also worth doing some research so you know where the nearest hospital and police station are, in case you need emergency medical attention or need to report a crime.
Brush Up Your Local Knowledge
Understanding local laws and customs can help you stay safe. Accidentally breaking these customs might lead to hefty fines or even arrests, which is the last thing you want when you’re on holiday.
For example, those travelling to Bali should know that recent regulations have made it more difficult to hire a moped. Travellers need either an international driving permit or a valid motorbike license from their home country. Driving without a license is punishable by up to four months in prison or a fine of 1 million IDR.
Learning some basic language and communication skills can also help you. Key phrases like please and thank you will go a long way when spoken in the local language. You might also want to practice key phrases that you might need in an emergency, so you can speak to the locals better.
Staying Safe in Public Spaces
As much as you need to enjoy your holiday, you also need to stay safe in public spaces. Here are some ways to protect yourself when you’re out and about:
- Carry valuables and personal belongings, like your phone and cash, in a money belt to reduce the risk of theft
- Try not to wear flashy clothes or jewellery, as these can attract attention
- Don’t leave your drink unattended when in bars or clubs to protect yourself from drink spiking
- Try to remove yourself from social situations if you start to feel uncomfortable
- When using public transportation, keep your bag on you or in your sight at all times
- Be actively aware of your surroundings, make sure you are scanning your environment and keeping an eye out for anything that might cause you harm
- Identify a safe place that you could go to if you feel uncomfortable, this could be a hospital, police station or a place of worship
- Try not to get lost in an isolated area or separated from your friends
Using Tech to Protect Your Safety
Phones have come a long way, and nowadays, they’re a saving grace when travelling.
When abroad, you might want to buy a local SIM card so you can stay connected at all times. And we don’t mean updating your Instagram story and WhatsApping your family!
When you have data, you can use Google Maps, currency converters and language translation apps. These can be a lifesaver for international travel. You can also keep your ‘Find my Friends’ location turned on so your family know where you are. And, of course, having data means you can get in touch with your emergency contacts if something has happened.
That being said, if you don’t have a local SIM card, you can also download offline maps to your phone, as well as offline translation apps and currency converters. There really is an app for everything.
When travelling with your tech, though, you need to be extra aware of online security. Public WiFi networks are open to anyone, so if you’re logging in to take care of some banking, you could be making yourself a target to hackers.
Staying safe when using public networks:
- Always make sure you are accessing the right network; if there are 2 that look similar, double-check with the staff which is the right one
- Try to resist the temptation of checking your banking app when you’re logged into a public network
- Always ‘forget’ the network from your phone/laptop after you are finished using it
- If you want to be extra prepared, you might want to use a VPN
- If you can stay away from using public networks, do. Using your phone’s hotspot offers much more protection
Prepare for an Emergency
In an ideal world, you’d have an amazing trip, make loads of new friends, and experience loads of new things, and nothing would go wrong.
But, unfortunately, that’s not always the case! If something does go wrong, you need to know what to do.
Here are some ways you can prepare yourself for an emergency when travelling abroad:
- Australian travellers should know where the Australian Consulate-General is. This is a state department run by the Australian Government that you can go to in case of an emergency
- Travellers should stay up-to-date with any local events, like political unrest or civil disturbances. Checking the Australian Foreign Affairs site can help with this.
- Travellers should check the news for any signs of natural disasters. To be specific, Bali is one of the highest-risk destinations for tsunamis. Those travelling to this Indonesian island should keep an eye on the news and keep a look out for the ‘tsunami evacuation route’ signs that are dotted around the island. You could set up news notifications on your phone for real-time updates
Final Thoughts…
When you’re getting ready for foreign travel, don’t get too distracted by the beautiful hotels, stunning sunset spots, and best eats. These are important parts of your travel plans, but so is your safety.
Plan your trip properly before you arrive. Take out insurance policies, make sure you have the right travel documents, and avoid destinations on the State Department’s ‘do not travel’ list.
Once you’ve chosen your spot, check if you need any travel vaccinations and make sure you’re aware of any outbreaks in the countries you’ll be visiting. Then, while you’re there, practice good hygiene!
Stay aware in public spaces, use common sense and learn some of the local language so you can communicate with those around you. Also, see if there are any local customs you should be aware of so you don’t offend someone — or worse!
Your phones, smart watches, tablets, laptops and tech can be great for staying in contact with friends and family but try not to draw unwanted attention to yourself. And if you do access public WiFi networks, be extra cautious.
Finally, make sure you’re prepared for all eventualities. If an emergency does happen, you should know who to contact, where to go and what to do.