“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has courage to lose sight of the shore.” –Andre Gide

While Freya Stark has widely proposed that the idea of awakening alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world (as with one of her maxim about travels) I am unsure if everyone would agree to her. Sure, there is much excitement and thrill to be experienced at the prospect of a spontaneous Travel, but regardless of where you might be going, you should always take the necessary precautions. You might get caught up in your excursions or the euphoria of being in a totally new place, but this is not the time to leave your safety mindsets behind—lest you put yourself in a precarious situation.

It matters not whether you are traveling to a local place such as Makati or somewhere overseas, in a group, with a partner or without. If you are doing any type of traveling, your safety is of utmost importance. You may aspire to get the most out of the trip and make amazing memories out of it, but this could be blighted if you do not take your personal safety into account. In any case, if you intend on traveling anytime soon, here are some of the safety tips you should keep abreast:

Traveling in daylight is always safer than traveling at night

This one is a no-brainer, but you should never travel at night if you are alone. It makes you susceptible to being victimized in criminal activities or worse, abducted. If you wish to make the most out of your trip, put any detours you might have on hold and wait to fulfill them in the morning. Additionally, when it starts to get dark, you better start heading back. Remember, the roads are a lot different when night falls.

 Be sure to get the lowdown on places you should avoid

Once you reach your destination, it is always a good idea to mingle with locals. While you are striking up a conversation with them, they are sure to give you excellent insider tips on which restaurants you should try and what places you should likely visit. While engaging them in a conversation, do not forget to get some information about places you should avoid visiting. They will likely indulge your query with answers, so be sure to stay away from these places at night when warned by locals themselves.

 Always have your emergency contacts stored in your phone

You will never know when you might run into trouble while traveling—even if you do not go looking for it. With this in mind, it is imperative that you always have with you the contact details of your embassy as well as the local police station (which you can ask from your hotel concierge). It is better to be prepared and you will never know when you might need them.

 Avoid flashy clothing

Thieves love tourists. In fact, travelers are often their most favorite kind of victims as they are easy targets and tend not to be mindful of their belongings. In this regard, it is best to dress accordingly and do not wear clothes that are too flashy. Keep your personal belongings within your sight at all times and keep a safe distance from strangers at all times.

 Keep copies of sensitive travel documents ready

It is always a good idea to have copies of your passport, identity cards and other important documents both in your phone as well as photocopies. Keep these in a separate storage area such as the safe box provided to you in your hotel room. Having copies is essential as you will never know when something goes wrong and you would lose the originals.

Image Source

The post Safer Travels: Five Helpful Travel Safety Tips and Precautions appeared first on The Budget Traveler.