There are different types of travel, car, plane, train and maybe a cruise. They all have different things that you need to consider depending on the type of trip. For this article, I will talk about trips that take you to another country. I have written about travel in the past, but I thought this would be a good time to visit this again.
First make sure your passport is more than six months old before it expires and that it has enough blank pages for the customs stamp. Then make copies and leave a copy at home with family members or a trusted friend. You should also bring multiple copies with you. After arriving in a foreign country and clearing customs, leave your passport in the hotel safe and bring the copies with you.
Don’t dress in a way that screams “I’m a tourist.” Be respectful of the customs of the country you are visiting, remember that this is your country, not yours. Don’t wear flashy jewelry or carry large, expensive cameras. Smartphones take great pictures these days. Speaking of smartphones, carry yours at all times. Keep the cash you have with you to a minimum. If you use your credit card, make sure it’s the new chip cards. Keep it in place at all times. Do not use debit cards.
Before you leave your hotel, ask for a business card at the front desk with the hotel address in the language of the country you are visiting. With this, you can always show it to a taxi driver or someone else for directions to your hotel.
If you don’t feel comfortable, due to recent events, then either don’t go to that country or else check out of your hotel. If you go out, be aware of where you are; again, if you don’t feel comfortable, leave. In other words, listen to your gut.
Make sure you arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare, especially for international flights, the lines will be long.
If you’re taking a cruise, don’t let the relative safety of the ship make you think you’re totally safe. If you take a tour, it is better to use the tours that the ship organizes. Yes, they are more expensive, but the cruise lines usually have some kind of control.
