7 Ways to Be Prepared for Anything While Traveling
Traveling is all fun until you find yourself in an emergency- thousands of miles away from home. Even though increased internet connectivity has made it a lot safer to travel across the world, you still cannot ignore the need for sufficient pre-planning in readiness for any unforeseen emergencies. After all, not all regions have internet connectivity, plus not all emergencies can be fixed by Google. One way of preparing for emergencies when traveling is having a number to call when things don’t go as planned. Here are 7 more ways of readying yourself for anything that could happen to you while on the road:
Have an itinerary
Having an itinerary is an essential requirement for most visa application processes. Besides that, the itinerary guides you through your trip. You will, for example, have an easy time making restaurant and hotel reservations when you have an itinerary. However, you don’t have to pay for plane tickets in order to get your visa approved. You can book a dummy flight itinerary with a reputable travel agency, just in case you like your travel options open & travel. A reputable agency will use real flight data to generate the dummy itinerary, so you can rely on most of the information contained in the itinerary.
Pack enough
Carry with you multiuse gear so that your activity bucket list can be a bit flexible, without forcing you to overpack. Multiuse clothes and shoes will also help you easily adjust to changing weather conditions abroad. For example, if you pack pants that zip off into shorts, you will not have to pack an actually short, but you will be set for both warm and cold temperatures. The same with packing walking shoes that you can wear for an evening out.
Read up about your destination
Doing sufficient prior research about the customs and cultures that define your target destination will help you cope with the culture shock that comes with international travel. Understand the destination’s accepted social etiquette; know what to expect in order to avoid costly misunderstanding. For example, knowing how to dress appropriately while traveling through a neighborhood- or the political discussions to or not to involve yourself with- will save you a lot of trouble. Know which areas are safe for tourists and which are not. Have a list of the emergency numbers that you can call in case you need help.
Pack a first aid kit
Of course, you can find modern medicine anywhere on the planet, but that is not to mean that you should take a leap into the unknown without the essential items to keep you safe and healthy. Your small first aid kit should contain essentials such as eye drops, Tylenol, antibiotics, stomach illness medicines, eye drop meds, and a small supply of malaria drugs. Ensure that all these drugs are approved by a medical practitioner. Tools such as band-ids and scissors are also essential.
Have an insurance plan
Trust us, accidents do happen and when they do, they don’t only ruin your vacation but your financial status too. Imagine having a jet skiing accident in Europe or hurting your head during a scuba diving trip in Indonesia. The medical expenses that would stem from such accidents can be too huge to bear. Having travel insurance allows you to engage in as many activities as you wish without worrying too much about accidents. Also, you could lose your luggage or fall victim to ATM fraud. Your insurance cover will take care of that.
Learn the basic local lingo
It feels better when you say “hello,” “thank you”, and “goodbye” in the local lingo. This is also one way of speaking to the hearts of your hosts and making local friends. What’s more, knowing basic terminologies and phrases will encourage the locals to teach you more of their language. The more the local lingo you understand, the harder it will for you to get lost and the easier it will be for you to bargain for items.
Always have emergency cash on you
Always have about $200 USD for emergencies. Don’t carry too much cash because of pickpocketing risks, but have enough to get you back to your hotel in case your ATM card fails you.
Conclusion
You can never be over-prepared for a vacation abroad. Take all the precautions you normally take back home and then top that up with all the extra precautions you read online. Lastly, remember to make copies of all your important travel documents just in case some of them get lost and you need to prove your identity. It is good to be prepared for Anything While Traveling.
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