If you are new to travelling you might have questions about protecting yourself, your identity and your belongings. Here are some ways to prepare before leaving home to ensure a safer trip.

Physical Health

Keeping healthy on a trip begins with preparing for travel. Have you been doing a lot of walking, maybe with a backpack to ensure that your muscles are ready for the upcoming adventure? We can easily do 5000 steps a day at home which turns into 10000-15000 as a tourist.
Do you have the right footwear for comfort and weather?
Being as fit as possible before you depart will be your greatest asset while away. Ensure your vaccinations are up to date. We made an appointment at a travel clinic for our multi-country adventure. We received excellent advice for our upcoming trip. We also had a prescription for antibiotics to take with us.

Protecting Finances and Identity

All travel puts you at risk. Here are some ways we reduce our risk of theft when away from home.

• Before we leave home we:
  • subscribe to a virtual privacy network (VPN) through Surfshark. We can now safely use our devices on public or hotel wifi. Use our link to receive a free month when you sign up for Surfshark
  • ensure our credit cards stay in a RFID-protected case to limit any unwanted scanning.
  • create digital copies of our passport pages, cards, and bookings, which are uploaded to Google Drive
  • make sure my phone is set to upload Google Photos over wifi so new photos are saved to the cloud each day
  • Have a trusted friend or family member check on our home once a week

• When we arrive at our destination we:
  • store all valuables in the room safe
  • avoid using open pockets and back pockets for phones. Instead, use a lanyard for your phone and tuck it into a hidden pocket so would-be pickpockets will have trouble retrieving it
  • take city walking tours on the first day. The guides often provide tips about navigating the city, and warn about scams and overpriced venues. We appreciated Maria’s advice when we were in Lisbon. We booked her tour with GuruWalk It was easy to do and easy to rebook if plans change.

What happens if you are robbed or lose your wallet/purse?

Accidents can occur. Often tourist areas have extra security to support you if you have any trouble. We also have had support from our cruise ship or a travel company if there is an issue. Check the perks of your travel credit card as they may also have financial support. We have never had our passports stolen but we have had them get wet accidentally! Hopefully, you have access to your online files to provide your lost credential details to have cards re-issued.

More trip planning ideas can be found on our Before you Go page