During an unusually cold winter cooped up in your house, it’s understandable to want to travel once it becomes safe to do so again. Nonetheless, just because coronavirus may wind down by the summer, this doesn’t mean that travelling will be without its risks. Thankfully here’s a guide to make your journey as safe as it can possibly be. Read on for five of our essential travelling tips.
Emergency Fund
If your car breaks down, you get a sudden medical bill or you need to get home, having a wad of emergency cash will help you in any situation. It may be something less dramatic like that, such as a hotel bill that can only be paid in cash instead of card, or simply paying back a friend in the moment, but its always worth having cash in hand — ideally US dollars, as they are the gold standard — to get you through any difficult moments. Additionally, when considering sudden bills, it’s recommended getting:
Full Travel Insurance
You never know what might happen, which is why a policy that covers any disaster is more than recommended. It’s essential to have full insurance to cover medical issues such as sudden sickness or medical malpractice; travel issues such as cancelled or delayed flights; and simply events that you cannot control, like a country experiencing sudden political upheaval. Chances are you won’t have to use it, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Full Mobile Coverage
The romantic idea of a traveller includes checking messages and emails at an internet cafe. While this is a solid enough option for an extended city stay, we would recommend getting full mobile coverage to cover any issue travelling might throw at you, covering everything from a lack of available taxis to a full-blown emergency. There are companies available that can offer full mobile data and text plans no matter where in the world you might be travelling.
Check Government Websites Beforehand
Just as you probably don’t visit a restaurant without reading the reviews beforehand, it makes no sense to go to a foreign country without being fully aware of the dangers that you might find there. Government resources, such as from the Canadian government, have in-depth assessments of different criteria such as social norms, threat of crime and terrorism, health risks, possible vaccines needed, hostility of the police and xenophobia (if you are from a minority background).
Avoiding Tourist Traps
Don’t be a stupid tourist who gets fleeced at every possible opportunity, like these travellers to Venice.
From pickpockets to dodgy bars to overpriced restaurants, there will always be people around who want to take advantage of your good nature and full wallet. We recommend researching city centres in full to know if these schemes exist and then to avoid them like the plague (something you should be well-versed in these days anyway). By thinking like a local, you will be able to enjoy foreign cultures like a local too!
