10 safety tips to remember if you’re traveling abroad for spring break
Planning to hop on a plane and fly somewhere outside the United States over spring break?
Maybe you’re going to Mexico, Jamaica or even the Bahamas?
If so, you’ll want to consider these safety tips before heading out anywhere outside of your home.
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Here are some safety tips to keep in mind.
- Book a reputable hotel
- Remember beach safety
- Make transport plans, especially if you drink
- Beware the ATM
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast
- When it comes to social media, avoid posting personal information and information about your location.
- Keep your valuables safe, including your passport and any other IDs
- Use the buddy system and look out for each other
- Learn the laws of the country you are going to and memorize some emergency words
- Try not to act like a tourist, even if you are one
Try to book a hotel that is central to the places you will be visiting. It will make it easier to get from place to place if everything is within walking distance. (Cedric Ribeiro/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal)
1. Book a good hotel
It is important to book a safe and reliable hotel, whether you are traveling to the United States or another country. You can reduce the risk of unpleasant surprises when you arrive at your hotel by checking reviews beforehand. That should give you a pretty good idea of the type of place you might choose. You can also scroll through the photos and see what people have rated the hotel.
It’s also wise to try to book a hotel that’s close to where you plan to go during your trip, according to the American Safety Council. With most things within walking distance, you won’t have to worry too much about finding rides from place to place.
The ideal floors for staying in a hotel, according to the site, are between the second and fourth floors. Being on ground level makes you more vulnerable to a break-in compared to those on higher levels. On the other hand, if you are too high in the building, it could be more difficult to reach the bottom in the event of a fire.
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2. Remember beach safety
During the month of March, beaches around the world are heavily congested with spring breakers.
Be sure to pack your sunscreen and plenty of water – and be mindful of your alcohol intake at the beach to avoid dehydration. (Stock)
Be sure to choose a supervised beach. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration in the sun.
Avoid going too deep in the water and be aware of the rising tide. If you happen to get stuck in a rising tide, the American Safety Council recommends swimming parallel to the beach rather than against the current, as this will cause exhaustion very quickly.
At the beach, pool, or outdoors in general, be sure to wear sunscreen at all times. Try not to drink too much, especially in the sun.
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3. Make transport plans, especially if you drink
Make sure you have plans for how you will travel once you reach your destination. If you’re planning on consuming alcohol, you’ll especially want to make sure you have a ride.
If you must travel further than walking distance, have a plan in place for how to get from place to place. (Alberto Ramella SYNC/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
4. Be careful with the ATM
When withdrawing money from an ATM, be aware of your surroundings. Make sure there is no one hiding while you enter your information and collect the money.
The American Safety Council recommends people not to carry too much cash and to pay with a credit card whenever possible. If people see you paying cash, it can be assumed that you have plenty of it – and you could become a target.
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5. Keep an eye on the weather forecast
Be sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast during your trip. If you check the forecast frequently, you can plan accordingly and avoid getting caught in a storm or dangerous weather situation.
6. When it comes to social media, avoid posting personal information and information about your location
It can be very tempting to post all sorts of details about your getaway with your social media followers, but be careful not to share them too much.
You don’t have to post everything on social media while on vacation. For security reasons, keep the specific details to yourself. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Keep your exact location to yourself and avoid putting specific information on your social media accounts. Post all the fun places you’ve been After your trip — to avoid being found while you’re there.
7. Keep your valuables safe, including your passport and any other IDs
Keep all your valuables on your person or locked in a safe in your room. This includes your phone, wallet, passport and any other identification. You will have to leave the country easily at the end of your vacation. Make sure this is possible by keeping the identification hidden at all times.
8. Use the buddy system and look out for each other
If you are traveling in a group, watch each other. Don’t walk around alone and always try to be with at least one other person at all times.
Going for walks and finding adventures can be tempting to do alone, but you should avoid this when you’re in another country.
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9. Learn the laws of the country you are going to and memorize some emergency words
Before traveling to another country, research the laws of the country you are traveling to. Since each country has different laws, it is important to know how they differ from the United States. Make sure you know the emergency number for the country you are in.
When traveling to another country, find out about the laws of the country you are traveling to. It’s also a good idea to learn a few key phrases in the language spoken by the country in case you need to communicate. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
On top of that, if you’re traveling to a non-English-speaking country, ADT recommends familiarizing yourself with some emergency words in the language the country uses, so you can communicate if you need to, at least at a minimum.
10. Try not to act like a tourist, even if you are one
Even if you’re a tourist, ADT recommends that you don’t make it too obvious.
Being a tourist might make you a target – so try to blend in with the locals to some degree.
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