Travel Safety

We all know I love to travel and that's what I've been doing this long month away from you. So as I gather my photos and thoughts together for a journey through Scotland, I wanted to share with you a piece by a guest blogger and fellow travel aficionado, KC Owens. He so kindly wrote the article below on a very important subject: travel safety. Thank you KC!

Staying Safe While Globe Hopping

Seeing the world is an enriching, rewarding and exciting experience that everybody should do at least once in his or her lifetime. Unfortunately, despite how much fun traveling is, your plans usually won't turn out the way you wanted them to. Some travel mishaps can even ruin them entirely. If you ever decide to travel the globe, it's important to keep in mind that mistakes and irritating situations can and will occur. Take precautions before your trip to make sure both you and your possessions stay safe.

Avoiding Cash Loss

I have traveled all over and found that keeping money safe is the number one priority while traveling. According to Credit Card Insider, one of the safest ways to carry your finances is by keeping it on a prepaid credit card. They can be secured so that, in the event they're stolen or lost, your money is safe. Most cards don't show your name, which protects your identity and keeps fraudulent purchases from being made. Using a prepaid card is safer because if someone steals it, only the money on the card is at risk and not your entire bank account. If the card goes missing, you can cancel it like other cards. These cards are simple to use and are ideal for student travelers who might be on a gap year or are backpacking through a country. I would also suggest that you ensure the security of your Internet connection before loading them from your bank.

Obeying Foreign Laws

Laws and social rules vary by location and it's important to learn about and stay mindful of them. Although breaking social customs won't get you arrested, it's not fun to be stared at so try to fly under the radar. Depending upon your age, you should be cautious of the area's alcohol laws. In the US, your blood alcohol level has to be below .08 percent for you to drive legally. In Ireland, it's zero. Granted, you shouldn't be driving under the influence, but being legally conscious can keep you out of trouble. Before you visit a city or town, study their laws to see if there's anything you should avoid doing that would otherwise be fine in the US. For example, the US doesn't generally allow open alcohol on public property, but it's perfectly acceptable in many other places.

Preventing Illness

Being sick is never enjoyable, but it can be devastating if you become ill during your journey. If you start feeling ill, look online for the nearest drug store and try to find some medicine right away.

Universal pharmacy logo, look for one of these.

Be aware that many countries feature poor-quality medical care so do everything you can to stay healthy while abroad. Eating healthy is recommended since your body will be more resistant to germs and viruses. Beware of the local water, too. In some places, it's not safe to drink and can make you miserably sick. 

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In addition to KC's fantastic points, I would add: check the State Department's website before you travel. If there are travel warnings about the place you will be visiting, they would be listed there. And also have a look at the CDC website. There you will find all the vaccine requirements or suggestions for your travel destination.

Time to go explore!

**KC Owens is a college student who loves traveling, college life, fitness and a good survival kit. He enjoys studying different cultures, meeting new people and leaving his footprint somewhere most people only read about.