Are You Putting Yourself in Danger When You Are Abroad?

When you visit a new country, it can be very exciting! A new culture, a new cuisine and sometimes even better weather!

It is so easy to get caught up in the whirl of experience that you can accidentally be putting the safety of yourself and your belongings at risk.

Here are a few small, but very common mistakes people make when they are abroad, and how to make sure you do not make the same mistakes.

You are unable to find your accommodation

There are any number of reasons why you may not be able to find your accommodation. From losing your friends, your phone battery dying or a language barrier.

The best way to make sure you can still get back to your place of stay in any of these situations is to do the following:

• Write down your hotel name and address on your phone
• Also write it down on a piece of paper and pop it in your bag/purse in case your phone battery dies
• Write the name and address down in the local language

Don’t have things in your back pocket

Pick pocketing happens all around the world. You may think you will feel a hand remove your wallet or keys from your back pocket, but not if you are distracted at the same time.

Don’t make it easy for them, put your belongings somewhere else.

Do not have your things in the front pocket of a rucksack either!

You definitely will not feel anyone removing items from there!

How thick is your bag strap?

Does the bag with your belongings have a thin strap? Would it break if someone rode past and grabbed it? Worse than this, do you just have a clutch bag?

I think you can see where we are going with this…

Don’t carry everything together

You may want to take out your cash, credit card, ID etc. all together. You may think it is safer than leaving it behind, but it isn’t. If you lost your bag, or it was stolen, that is everything gone. Leave some of it back at your accommodation.

Have digital copies of your documents

Have a scan or a photo of your ID, cards, passport etc. for emergencies.

Don’t keep all your money in one location

Do not take all your money out at once, if you lose it or it is stolen, you will have nothing! At the same time, do not leave all your money together in one place in your accommodation. If you do happen to get robbed, they may not find it all if it is split up.

Travel Insurance

It is astounding how so many people do not think that they need to book travel insurance when they go away.

There are all sorts of medical issues that can happen abroad. You could catch a bug, get a tummy problem from the change in water and cuisine, you could cut yourself badly in an unfamiliar location, even the air pressure in the airplane cabin can set off a number of health issues. To get any of these things treated can be very costly. 

It isn’t just your health that is covered; delayed, lost or stolen property will also be covered. As can delays to flights and accommodation.

All of these unexpected things could cost a fortune abroad to rectify. Is it really worth it for the sake of a few pounds of insurance?

If you would like some help with getting travel insurance, get in touch with one of our representatives today on +44 (0)207 590 8800 or visit www.healthcareinternational.com