Spring has sprung and we will soon be approaching the glorious summer and itching to be outside and into vacation mode. Whether you travel often or you are getting ready for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, it is important to think about preparations. Travel can be an exciting, eye-opening experience. It is easy to get caught in the thrill of adventure. Here are some tips that can help you plan for a safe and comfortable trip and may help reduce some of the stress.
If you are planning on a Caribbean cruise or a fantastic all-inclusive resort stay on a beautiful beach with crystal waters, you were probably not very encouraged by some of the warnings the U.S. State Department has recently published. If you remember, a few months ago the government issued a Level 2 advisory for the Bahamas and Jamaica all the way up to Level 3, urging Americans to reconsider travel to those places due to rising crime. In both cases, the U.S. did not raise the level of the advisory, but called out criminal activity in both countries.
It is important to put these travel advisories into perspective. Some travelers tend to see tourist destinations with high levels of crime as more dangerous. Most new travelers don’t realize that the travel advisories are always there. The majority of the bad areas in Jamaica will never be visited by most tourists and aren’t close to the resorts. Many countries that most tourists wouldn’t think twice about visiting have similar advisories in place. Countries including Italy, Great Britain, Sweden, Germany, France and Denmark, are under a Level 2 advisory. Honduras, Guatemala and Columbia have Level 3 advisories. That doesn’t necessarily mean you should not travel anywhere with a travel advisory, but do read up on what is going on and why there is a travel advisory in place so you know how to keep yourself safe.
The first place to check is with the U.S. Department of State (website: travel.state.gov.). This site has a world of valuable information. Travelers can sign up for the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. If there is an active advisory in your destination, you will find travel advisories. You will also find information on travel documentation needs, embassy information and passport and visa information. You can enroll in step.state.gov to receive alerts and ensure you can be located in case of an emergency. The U.S. Department of State can connect you with a variety of resources’ help wherever you are.
Get to know your destination in depth before you arrive. As a security precaution, know whom to call in an emergency. Get the contact information for the nearest embassy, police station and other local emergency departments.
Don’t let your guard down to snap the perfect picture for your social media platform. It goes without saying you should keep an eye on your personal belongings at all times. And speaking about posting pictures or comments on social media, consider you may be letting burglars know you will be away from home and you are telling worldwide thieves and criminals where you are. Instead, wait until you are back home to share your adventures online.
Copy important documents. You might need a copy of your passport or another form of identification along the way. Scan these documents to save online and print out several hard copies. And leave a copy at home with a family member or friend. Your favorite travel agent will happily copy your passport for office files and provide several copies for you. This ensures if you lose your passport while out of the country, a call to your travel agent speeds up the process of providing information to the local embassy for a replacement to help you get home!
Beware of Vacation Brain! It is nice to relax and forget about everyday life back home, but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. Keep track of the people around you. Be smart about what you drink and how much. Don’t go into unfamiliar areas, especially late at night. In your own home town, you are aware of where to go and where not to go and when. Remember, when you are in an unfamiliar town, you don’t have that same awareness.
Keep safe, use common sense and enjoy. Have a safe and fun-filled vacation! If you need reassurance of your choice of destinations, contact your local professional travel consultant who will be glad to steer you in the right direction.
