Ten Travel Tips To Keep You Safe

Before you set off for foreign shores, take precautions in order to keep you, your money and your possessions safe and secure!

Last month, a friend of mine jetted off for a stag weekend in the lovely city of Barcelona. Alas, he and his fifteen buddies discovered to their cost that the capital of Catalonia is a European hotspot for theft from tourists. In total, nine of the sixteen (fully refreshed!) stags lost wallets to pickpockets, muggers or con artists. Ouch!

According to American Express Travellers Cheques, one in six holidaymakers (17%) was a victim of theft abroad last year. So, before you head off on holiday, spend some time being safety conscious. By planning ahead, you can be confident that you, your money and your belongings will be safe. These ten tips, courtesy of Fool.co.uk and American Express, will help keep you secure:

1.    Take copies of all your documents

Take two photocopies of important documents, including your passport, flight tickets and hotel-reservation confirmation. Leave one set at home, in case your family need to come to your rescue. Take the other set with you, keeping its separate from the real documents.

2.    Send yourself an email reminder

Send all emergency information to your Inbox, such as insurance details, helpline numbers, Travellers Cheque numbers, and emergency numbers for lost or stolen plastic cards. This will enable you to get hold of this information should you lose your paperwork.

3.    Play it safe with your money

Don’t carry a wallet or purse stuffed with cash around with you. Instead, spread your spending between cash, Travellers Cheques and plastic cards. Unlike cash, Travellers Cheques are insured, never expire, and can be cancelled and replaced at short notice if lost or stolen. By all means, have some cash in your pocket, but keep the majority in the hotel safe.

4.    Buy a padlock and chain

A sturdy padlock and chain can come in handy when you are waiting around with your luggage. Chaining your cases to a secure point will give you peace of mind when your back is turned.

5.    Read the guide book

In order to make the most of your trip, learn as much as you can about your destination before you arrive. Read a guide book, such as the excellent Lonely Planet series, or swot up online. By acquainting yourself with local customs and behaviour, you can avoid putting yourself into a vulnerable position.

6.    Keep a close eye on your cards

When paying for goods or services using a credit or debit card, don’t let your plastic out of your sight. Make sure you watch the transaction go through and check the amount carefully before entering your PIN (making sure that no-one can see it). Although you are only liable for the first £50 of fake transactions on your credit or debit card, it still makes sense to minimise the risks of fraud.

7.    Be a good Boy Scout

In other words, be prepared! If things do go wrong and you end up losing your wallet or purse, make sure that you’ve got some emergency money to fall back on. Tuck some cash, a credit card or some Travellers Cheques into a safe place deep inside your suitcase. This emergency fund will come in handy if things take a turn for the worse.

8.    Keep your wits about you

When abroad, take the same precautions as you would at home, and keep your wits about you. If you wouldn’t walk alone at night in the UK, then don’t do it in a foreign country. Likewise, check how the locals dress, so you can blend in unnoticed and not stand out like other tourists. Also, find out where the no-go areas and crime hotspots are and avoid them whenever possible.

9.    Use the hotel safe

If you have a safe in your hotel room, then make full use of it. Your valuables will be more secure inside it, so you can relax and enjoy yourself when out and about. Also, your insurance cover for money and valuables may offer higher payouts for items kept in safes.

10. Don’t go without insurance

If something does go wrong, then you must have travel insurance to rely on. Each year, around 500,000 Brits travelling without insurance come a cropper overseas. With over 170 different firms offering travel insurance, there’s simply no excuse for going abroad uninsured. By the way, never buy this cover from travel agents and tour operators, as they charge extortionate premiums!

Finally, if you do need help and assistance beyond that provided by the local police, then contact the British Embassy or Consulate. British officials will do what they can to get you home safe and well.

More: Avoid These Holiday Nightmares!