First time travellers – be safe not sorry!

For those of us who are used to travelling for whatever reason, maybe business, maybe pleasure, or even a mixture of both, we know the ins and outs of the procedures we go through to get where we want to go.  If it’s for the purpose of a business trip, all that’s needed is a place to meet and talk with clients and a room to sleep in for the night.  However, things are a little different when going on pleasure trips or holidays and more than a hotel room is what´s required in this case.  As an inexperienced traveller there are a few things you need to know about and here are some tips to help you make your trip a great success.

It’s always a good idea to find out a little about the culture, customs and history of the place you are visiting.  Take time to learn about their dress manners, their religious practices, their eating habits and their government.

Try to pick up a few sentences in their language, for example, how to greet them and how to say goodbye.  Yes, we all know that English is used all over the world, but the locals will really appreciate you learning a few useful phrases.  You can do this at your library or by using translation websites on the Internet prior to setting off on you travels.

Travel light if you can.  It means you will be able to get around more freely and easily.  This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taking things you want with you; it simply means you need only take the essentials.  You could get away with packing a few toiletries, any medicines you may need, a couple of changes of clothes and different forms of spending power like credit or debit cards, cash and travellers´ cheques. Oh, and don’t forget your camera, of course!

Making sure your travel documents are safe is very important.  You could invest in a body document bag to store your passport, travel tickets, insurance and other valuables and wear it underneath your clothing.  When you arrive at your hotel, make use of the safe facilities on offer whenever possible.

Be vigilant and remember that when you are a tourist in a new place you are likely to get special treatment, but this also makes you a target for theft.

Travel safety is necessary if you don’t want to end up being a victim of crime whilst you are on your trip.  Don’t wear expensive looking jewellery and clothing and don’t flash the latest mobile phone around.  The thieves are obviously attracted to affluence. They will spot you from a mile away and you will soon become their prey.

As far as your luggage is concerned make sure your luggage labels are covered so your details are concealed from prying eyes.

Wherever you are travelling it’s always a good idea to have the address and telephone number of your country´s consul office or embassy, just in case you find yourself in difficulties and need some help.

Whilst the above mentioned tips may initially give you cause for concern, it’s all about keeping safe whilst you are away and as long as you do this, you are sure to have a great time and hopefully not encounter any problems whatsoever.  Be safe, not sorry!

Safety Tips whilst you travel

SAFETY TRIPS FOR WHILST YOU ARE TRAVELLING

There are a few basic rules of staying safe while you are travelling.  First of all you need to know a little about the countries you are going to and the places you intend to visit.  Travelmake’s Destination Guides is a great place to start gathering this information and as well as being able to use these details to plan your trip you will also become familiar with all the local regulations and practices.  Our on line store offers you everything you need from maps to first aid kits as far as making your trip safe is concerned. Here are some of our top safety tips to help you on your way.

• Always take out travel insurance and if you can get cover that pays the medical provider direct, that’s even better.
• Prior to setting off on your travels, take a photocopy of all important paperwork, including tickets, Passport or ID card and travellers´ cheques. This will be useful if you lose anything or it gets stolen.
• Keeping a low profile is always advisable. Leave expensive or showy jewellery at home and don’t take other valuables away from the hotel´s safe. Try to blend in with the people around you and only carry as much money with you as you need. If you have to have your valuables with you then put them in a hidden inner pocket or a money belt.
• Keep your travel plans to yourself, don’t go public with them.
• Be alert at all times, especially when you are visiting high risk countries.
• When you use your credit card, never let it leave your sight and make sure the card you get back is yours.
• Don’t leave personal items unattended.
• Show respect for local customs and regulations.
• Make sure you have the telephone number of the Embassy or Consulate office on you at all times and use it if you get into trouble.
• Write down a few phrases that may help you in the local language.
• If you are unlucky enough to become the victim of theft, you will need a police report number if you intend making an insurance claim. Thefts of travellers´ cheques have to be reported within a 24 hour period of the offence taking place.

TRAVELLING BY AIR SAFETY TIPS

• Don’t hang about in the main terminal area – get checked in without delay.
• Keep your travel plans to yourself. Don’t discuss them with anyone else.
• Familiarise yourself with safe areas and exits.
• Avoid positioning yourself close to unattended baggage or luggage that doesn’t belong to you. Never leave your own baggage unattended.
• Verify baggage claim checks before as well as after your flight.
• Remain calm yet alert at all times.
• If you can, try to sit in a window seat in the coach section as it’s a position less accessible to hijackers.

SAFETY TIPS IN YOUR HOTEL

• Always get a business card from the hotel and carry it with you during your holiday. It helps if you get lost and need to get a taxi back to your accommodation.
• Stay at a hotel in a safe area of the city or town.
• Lower level floors as the safest as far as escaping from a fire is concerned but you will also need to know where the fire escape routes, alarms and emergency exits are located. Avoid first floor rooms as these are the ones burglars prefer.
• Always lock your room door and before answering a caller at your door make sure you know who it is. Keep strangers out.
• Don’t leave valuables like jewellery, cameras or documents lying around – hotel staff may be tempted to take them if they can see them. Use the hotel safe to store items of value.
• Give the impression your room is occupied by putting up a do not disturb sign when you leave for the day. When you are ready for the room to be serviced, call the maid.
• Take your room key with you and keep it on your person all the time. Don’t leave it on reception.
• Don’t answer the telephone with your name – simply say hello.
• When you return to your room in the evening or late at night use the main entrance of the hotel and be observant of what is going on around you if you are using a car park.

HOTEL SAFETY TIPS IN CASE OF FIRE

• If a fire breaks out in your hotel, remember to take your key with you as you make your way to the fire point because the door of your room will lock behind you as you leave more often than not.
• Never use the lift as your means of egress when the hotel is on fire.
• If you meet with heavy smoke on the stairs, don’t try to run through it as you may not make it. Go to the fire exit on the roof. If this is not possible you may be better off staying put in your room.
• If your room is full of smoke, open a window and turn on the vent in the bathroom.
• If your telephone is working, let reception know where you are or call the fire service to give them your location within the building.
• Use a bed sheet and hang it out of the window to signal you need assistance.
• Fill the bath with water to use to fight the fire and bail water onto any hot areas such as the walls or door of your room.
• Place wet or damp towels into cracks where smoke may enter your room from the corridor outside.
• Filter the smoke you are breathing in by placing a wet towel over your mouth and nose.
• If you are two or more floors high, it’s better to fight the fire in your room than attempt to jump to safety out of the window.

SAFETY TIPS FOR ON THE STREET

• Purchase a map and get to know the local area of your hotel.
• Ask hotel staff about unsafe or unsavoury areas of the town or city and avoid these places whenever possible.
• Don’t stay on the streets at night and if you have to be out in the dark stick to wide and well lit streets. Take a taxi rather than walk in areas you don’t know during the hours of darkness.
• When you are being served with drinks, watch the drink being poured. Never take a drink from someone you don’t know however nice they may seem.
• Ask hotel staff for recommendations of places to eat and be entertained.
• Don’t resist armed robbery – you may end up being even more hurt if things become violent.
• There is only one more thing to be said – take heed of the above tips and enjoy your holiday!

Top 21 Travel Tips!

In order to assist you to plan your trip abroad and remain safe whilst away from home we have put together a travel check list on your behalf.  Here are a few things to do before you go.

1. Do some research about the local embassy, where they are located, their opening hours and what services they can provide for you.
2. Ensure you have adequate insurance cover, especially for any extreme sports or water activities you intend carrying out.
3. If you are staying within the EU on holiday you can pick up a free European Health Insurance Card.  With this document, emergency care will be either free or at reduced rates.  It does not however, replace holiday insurance, so make sure you still have normal insurance cover whilst you are away from home.  For your information the emergency services telephone number in EU countries is 112.
4. You will need to visit your doctor to see if you require any vaccinations to go to your chosen destination.
5. Do you have a valid Passport and are any entry visas required?  If you don’t have a passport and it is the first time you are applying for one, you need to attend an interview in person in order for identity to be verified.  This can take up to six weeks and you will find current information at DirectGov.  Some countries require that your passport is good for a further six months after your travelling date so check up on this before you set off on your trip.
6. It always pays to take photocopies of any documents such as your passport when you travel away from home, but make sure you keep them separate from the originals.  You could even opt to store them on line on a secure data storage site.
7. It is also of great importance to complete the emergency contact information in your passport too.   It makes the job of contacting your nearest and dearest so much easier should the need arise.
8. Make sure someone back home has an idea of where you are going and when.  They may not need to contact you but its better to be safe than sorry so if there is a telephone number you are available on, let them know what it is.
9. As far as finances go, you need to take enough to last you for the duration of your trip and to have a little as back up in case you need it.  A combination of cash and travellers´cheques is a good idea, but remember to write down the numbers of the cheques in case you need to make a claim for stolen or lost money whilst away.
10. If you are on a bit of an adventure, it will pay you to take a good travel guide along with you. This way you won’t miss out of any places of particular interest.
11. Your driving licence needs to be valid if you intend to drive abroad.  Please take a little time to familiarise yourself with the driving laws of the country you are visiting as quite often these vary from one place to the next.
12. When it comes to bringing back duty free items it’s up to you to know what you can and cannot import into the UK.; Have a look at the HM Revenue  Customs Travel website where you will find all the information you need on the subject.
13. And now the things to do whilst you are away – be vigilant, trust your gut feelings and don’t take risks you wouldn’t take at home.
14. Keep your valuables under wraps and don’t flash your super duper latest model of a mobile phone or digital camera for all and sundry to see. To keep things really safe, padlock them away in your suitcase or backpack.
15. It is really important to know about local customs, especially dress codes, and behave accordingly.  Carrying out actions which seem of little relevance at home may be mean you find yourself in a spot of bother for breaking the law in other countries. For example, don’t photograph people without getting their permission.  This act is quite often misunderstood and people in other lands may find it offensive. This is particularly relevant close by to military buildings or personnel.
16. Although we have mentioned not to flash your mobile around too much, it’s a good idea to carry a mobile phone whilst abroad. You will, of course, have to check with your service provider that it will work in the country you are visiting.
17. Once you arrive at your destination find out where the local embassy or consulate offices are located.  It’s also beneficial to know where the police station is too.
18. Be careful what you eat and drink while you are away from home.  Stick to bottled water if you are in any doubt and avoid eating any food prepared offered to you on the street.
19. Show the environment some respect and leave the place as you found it.  Litter bugs are not appreciated whatsoever.
20. Make sure you know exactly what you are allowed to take back with you as a souvenir from your holiday.  By being aware of this and following the rules, you will save a great deal of time and trouble at the airport when your trip comes to an end and you arrive back in the UK.