10 crucial things to be aware of before you travel outside your country

My traveling advice and what to avoid while exploring other countries and cultures different from yours ♡

As for a person from the European Union, a “safe” zone, I can affirm that it gives us a certain sense of security and the feeling that we know well what to expect. That’s why outside the EU it’s a completely different and distant world for us, we’re full of fear from striding into other natural conditions, or diverse cultures. Sometimes all you need is a little courage because there are some general principles for traveling that everyone, from any part of the world, can follow to stay safe.

1. Search as much as you can

Although I like spontaneous ideas, preparation is important for trips outside your comfort zone. This means “Googling” as much as possible about the given country. Important factors are local laws, criminal activity, possible diseases and treatments, and more. This information is available on the safety websites like those of embassies, or ministries of tourism. I like to add my favorite one where I can get all the necessary information in one place.

It is crucial to know the local restrictions and norms all beforehand because sometimes what are common things for us can be highly punished elsewhere. So how do you avoid problems?

Read recommendations, experiences from others, google reviews, or TripAdvisor comments about each place you want to visit, and mainly find natives. They mostly know how things work in practice and it’s only beneficial to have someone you can turn to in case of need. In some countries, it is even mandatory to travel only with a local guide.

We live in modern times, which means that finding someone on Instagram is the simplest. In addition, there are also sites where you can find a travel buddy. Of course, you always have to be careful about who you trust.

2. Keep the contact numbers

Wherever I go I always have important phone numbers under the cover of my mobile on a small paper. For instance, phone number of your family member, embassy or other institutions, taxis, bank company, hotel, travel agent… You can keep them in two different places in case you lose one. Women know how to protect it from being lost, for example in a bra :)

Don’t forget to learn emergency numbers! To be sure that in case of an emergency, you know how to react as quickly as possible.

3. Watch your important things

And be careful about them, keep them close to yourself. Traveling without documents would be a complete disaster, so keep a copy of your hotel booking, passport, flight tickets, ID card, and other important documents with you in case they are stolen or lost.

Don’t put everything in one place! Thus if someone steals your bag you still have essential stuff (credit cards, money, documents). The same goes with your wallet, you should have a decoy one which is more visible so if they rob you, they’ll take the one with less cash. My trick is to put a no-longer-working credit card in it and also spread the money in different least expected places in your backpack. Consider RFiD bags, it can be a priceless investment.

Don’t pay with a mobile! You immediately make yourself a target. It is easier for you but also thieves.

Or if you don’t have this type of bag, buy a local one! I don’t mean the ones with the sign “I ♥ Cairo”, but traditional handbags or what the locals wear. And that brings us to the next point of the article.

4. Don’t look too much like a tourist

Each of us knows it, we hold a big map or have Google Maps open, and we look around in all directions to catch the right bus or street. We carry a big backpack, wear tourist clothes, stop at every souvenir shop, ask everyone for advice, or even act chaotically. And that’s natural, but at the same time, we’re shouting to the whole world that we aren’t local. And that’s a tempting magnet for pickpocketers.

Therefore, the recommendation is to try to disguise it and blend in with the crowd. Don’t try to attract attention, dress like a local. When someone asks, you’ve been living in that city for some time.

Learn a few sentences in their language! To prove that.

5. Watch what and where you eat

With different cultures come different hygiene standards. In some countries, they’re lower than what we’re used to. Food poisoning — inconspicuous and a threat simultaneously.

My carelessness paid off. In my case, it was a fish they needed to sell and it meant a month of horrible cramps and bloody diarrhea. But there are situations when it turns out even worse, especially for people with sensitive stomachs.

Read Google Reviews! I found the ones of the restaurant where I ate. I wish I had read them before:

When I noticed where they usually fish it wasn’t such a surprise:

Very important advice! Always buy medicines in the country where you currently are at. The medicine I brought with me never worked because every country has different bacteria.

6. Check the taxi driver

While traveling, we have many transportation options and the most convenient are good old taxis. In public transport such as subways and buses, there can be a lot of crazy people lurking and it isn’t so comfortable to stand in a crowd. But are taxis or Ubers a 100% safer choice?

No, and I’ll tell you why. Once again, you never know who you meet. This way, it is much easier to kidnap you.

Fake a phone call! Once I got into a taxi I roughly knew the road where we were supposed to go. I noticed that the driver chose a noticeable detour, he asked me about things that shouldn’t interest him and the road looked scary without any people. That’s when I escaped from the “conversation” by saying that I needed to call my friend, who had been waiting for me for a long time since my train had been delayed. During a call, I described my approximate location, when I should have been there, which taxi company I ordered... So that he had enough information if anything happened. My call discouraged the driver from asking further questions.

Take a photo of the vehicle registration number, a driver’s license, and your outfit, and send it to someone you trust before sitting in! Yes, the outfit will also help in identification by clothing in case you are kidnapped. Sometimes it helps to have two phones if one is taken away from you so you can still call for help.

Check if you can open the door! Check whether there isn’t a child lock on the door.

Always sit in the back seat! You wouldn’t be within reach of the driver and keep your distance.

Agree on the price before! So that you wouldn’t be charged an amount to make your head spin. For example, a taxi from the airport or station can cost 60 dollars, and if you call an Uber or a taxi yourself, it can be 10, depending on where you are.

Never put important things in the truck! If your clothes are stolen, it won’t be as much of a problem as if your documents are.

Other advice: https://www.wikihow.com/Stay-Safe-when-Traveling-by-Taxi

7. Lie lie lie

You never know who you’ll meet in a foreign country. Just as it can be your new kind friend, it can also be a con man who knows his way around people. Some are trained liars. As my older friend says, always trust gut feelings, even with the slightest notion that something isn’t right.

It isn’t your duty to remain in such a situation! Better to stay shamed than dead. Never give any private information about your life, be a big secret. If someone asks you for the address of your hotel, give them the address of a different one, and change the routes you take to the hotel.

As a woman, I have too many experiences with pushy guys or stalkers wherever I go. They crossed the lines and it didn’t just end with questions. Stalkers can be dangerous because such people have no boundaries. Run, run, run. Some people get false hopes even if you don’t give them hope, so stay away, ignore messages, and always carry self-defense pepper spray.

Try to stick to crowds if you come across them. I usually have audio recording on my phone in case I’m walking alone in the dark and I say out loud every street I pass and if I don’t see anyone suspicious. Of course, only record if you feel threatened.

8. Don’t leave your drink alone

Each of us has heard frightening stories about how impostors put strong drugs in people’s drinks at parties. The issue is that in reality, it’s not only the problem of nightclubs. This can easily happen in restaurants or other places when you go to the toilet and leave food or drink on the table.

Be vigilant! Especially if you’re a solo traveler. Sometimes saving on restaurants can really mean trouble.

9. Tracking application

A modern gadget that can save your life is mobile phone applications, which are also commonly available on Google Play. They record your location, which you share with another person, such as your family member, so they know where you are in case something happens.

I know that sharing your location can be also hazardous and therefore you must be cautious in what app you choose so it protects your data safely.

Use a local SIM card! But don’t buy disadvantageous tourist packages, buy it at newspaper stands for a fraction of the price. You can use domestic calls or choose a data package according to your wishes. In some countries, you can download the operator’s application and buy credit or a package online.

10. Animals as a risk

Even if you love them, avoid them. Keep in mind that they don’t live in the same conditions everywhere in the world and hence don’t have enough veterinary care, which can cause fatal diseases like rabies, parasites, and others. I’m not trying to say that if you see a starving dog, don’t feed him. Just be careful.

It’s a matter of course that you use repellants and nets in countries with malaria, or that you get vaccinated ahead. But keep your eyes open if you go outside the city and be careful where you step. Exceptionally when swimming in the sea or visiting the desert outside the tourist area.

My advice is to wear high sneakers and water shoes! I know it sounds ridiculous, but high-platform shoes saved my foot from a 7cm rusty nail and when I almost approached the barb of one of the most poisonous sea creatures.

Don’t touch any! Watch out mainly for bats, monkeys, rats, amphibians, reptiles and insects. Wear layers of clothing if possible to protect yourself from the sun but also from potential bites. Useful is to have a survival guide in case you can’t avoid being attacked so you know what to do. Sometimes the immediate help of a doctor isn’t available, so it’s necessary to study in advance what kind of animals live where you are going to travel, the nearest hospital with antidotes, and also first aid.

Conclusion:

Sometimes we cannot fully avoid problems and difficulties. There’s always a certain risk and chance that our journey will not go smoothly. But if you don’t go, you’ll miss out on a huge amount of experiences and memories that nothing else can replace. Thence you have the exposure of misshape even if you stay locked in your room forever.

Wariness is pivotal in all circumstances and can save our lives which we shouldn’t forget. I hope you remember these tips so you don’t have to learn them the hard way. So please, stay safe, think twice, and enjoy the ride!

I would be glad if you’d share your experiences or advice with me in the comments.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me for more information, questions, or traveling tips♡ Thank you for reading my loved ones.