How to Stay Safe on a Summer Vacation
For many, the summer is the best part of the year and indeed summer vacations are a lot of fun, especially if you plan to travel to the seaside or a foreign country to experience different cultures as well. And while this is all meant to be an extremely relaxing and fun experience one does need to focus on safety and security. As we are all aware there are just a lot of dangers out there, however, with a bit of precaution I have no doubt that you will be able to avoid them. Theft, assault, natural disasters, human trafficking in foreign countries - all of these things could happen to you and you must be prepared to face them!
Money, Credit Cards and Documents
It is critical that you keep track of your spending, especially if abroad. You should always make sure that you have enough money to get back home and/or to provide for any medicals costs should something bad happen to you or your loved ones.
If you are carrying a lot of cash it is a good idea to split it and keep it safe in several locations. Using the official Hotel safe is also a good idea as it is not extremely expensive. Be careful around ATM machines and if your credit card should be stolen or missing, call your bank to report the issue and cancel the card so that no money could be withdrawn from it.
Your personal documents, such as your ID, driver's license and especially you passport (if going away from the US) should be kept safe and secure. Once again, renting the Hotel safe isn't a bad idea for this. You shouldn't keep these documents in your wallet either because no thief will be good enough to take the money, but return the documents to you.
Keep Your Children Safe
If you have children and are traveling with them on vacation then you should keep a close eye on them. While the chances of your child being abducted are relatively small, they are still present and a mindful eye is always welcome. However, other dangers are present as well, and they don't always have to be so obvious. For example, is your child a good swimmer? Can you trust them at the beach or pool? Don't just snooze off hoping they won't wonder off somewhere on their own!
The Sun and the Summer Heat
Make sure you are prepared for the summer heat and the burning sun! Use the proper sun creams and lotions and control your direct exposure to the sun, especially white sunbathing. As for the heat, it is very important that you stay hydrated. Always have enough water with you and enough money to buy another bottle or two in case you run out at the beach.
Know Your Location
If this is your first vacation in a particular city or country it is extremely useful to research the area before actually getting there. Buying a map or at least downloading a GPS app for your tablet/mobile device is also a good preparation strategy. If going outside the USA you should also inform yourself about the US embassy in that city/country and write down the phone number and the address should you ever need it.
Money, Credit Cards and Documents
It is critical that you keep track of your spending, especially if abroad. You should always make sure that you have enough money to get back home and/or to provide for any medicals costs should something bad happen to you or your loved ones.
If you are carrying a lot of cash it is a good idea to split it and keep it safe in several locations. Using the official Hotel safe is also a good idea as it is not extremely expensive. Be careful around ATM machines and if your credit card should be stolen or missing, call your bank to report the issue and cancel the card so that no money could be withdrawn from it.
Your personal documents, such as your ID, driver's license and especially you passport (if going away from the US) should be kept safe and secure. Once again, renting the Hotel safe isn't a bad idea for this. You shouldn't keep these documents in your wallet either because no thief will be good enough to take the money, but return the documents to you.
Keep Your Children Safe
If you have children and are traveling with them on vacation then you should keep a close eye on them. While the chances of your child being abducted are relatively small, they are still present and a mindful eye is always welcome. However, other dangers are present as well, and they don't always have to be so obvious. For example, is your child a good swimmer? Can you trust them at the beach or pool? Don't just snooze off hoping they won't wonder off somewhere on their own!
The Sun and the Summer Heat
Make sure you are prepared for the summer heat and the burning sun! Use the proper sun creams and lotions and control your direct exposure to the sun, especially white sunbathing. As for the heat, it is very important that you stay hydrated. Always have enough water with you and enough money to buy another bottle or two in case you run out at the beach.
Know Your Location
If this is your first vacation in a particular city or country it is extremely useful to research the area before actually getting there. Buying a map or at least downloading a GPS app for your tablet/mobile device is also a good preparation strategy. If going outside the USA you should also inform yourself about the US embassy in that city/country and write down the phone number and the address should you ever need it.
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