There are different types of travel, by car, by plane, by train, and maybe on a cruise ship. They all have different things that you should take into account depending on the type of trip. For this article, I will discuss the 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 again.
First make sure your passport is more than six months old before it expires and that it has enough blank pages for customs stamping. Then make copies and leave a copy at home with family or a trusted friend. You must also bring multiple copies. After arriving in a foreign country and going through customs, leave your passport in the hotel safe and bring the copies with you.
Don’t dress in a way that yells “I’m a tourist.” Please be respectful of the customs of the country you are visiting, remember this is your country, not yours. Don’t wear flashy jewelry or carry large, expensive cameras. Smartphones take great photos 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 your place at all times. Do not use debit cards.
Before leaving your hotel, request a business card at the reception 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 instructions on how to get back to your hotel.
If you are not comfortable due to recent events, then do not go to that country or do not leave your hotel. If you go out, be aware of where you are, again, if you don’t feel comfortable, walk away. In other words, listen to your instincts.
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 lull you into thinking you’re totally safe. If you take a tour, it is best to use the tours organized by the ship. Yes, they are more expensive, but cruise lines usually have some kind of control.