All work and no play make one dull. Nothing’s more repulsive than a person who lacks luster and is buried in boredom. One sure way to add dimension to anybody’s personality is travel. Visiting places you’ve never been to before helps develop your character and builds confidence in ways you never thought imaginable. But before you head out and pack your bags, do remember to be secure; financially, emotionally and physically. Make sure that you have enough to spend and if not, try to raise a bit more so that you don’t go short on cash. It is best to scour your unused stuff and maybe have a garage sale or sell some to get cash for phones and other gadgets that you are not using anymore. Make sure that you have packed enough pieces of garments for your travel – but make enough room for souvenirs and what other things you may buy. And of course, never be neglectful while there, here are some of the safety tips we can all observe to make travelling enjoyable.
Don’t be flashy. This is hardly the time to display your new Rolex or that stunning necklace from Tiffany’s. You stand to attract way too much attention than you’d like if you come off as wealthy. People will get the impression that you’re swimming in money. Play it low, and keep the ostentatious display under wraps- at least for now.
Keep a close eye on your belongings. The common mistake among tourists is that they’re too trusting and haphazardly leave their stuff alone while they’re in a restaurant, for instance. Always remember to keep your bags on your lap, or sling the strap around your leg. Just keep your bags close to your body, so nobody else has easy access to it. Protect your precious laptops or phones as much as you can. Sad it is and this is reality – bad people might want to steal your gadgets, handy and anything of value and in turn get cash for those precious stuff being resold.
Divide and scatter. Don’t put all your money or credit cards in one place. Put some in your front pocket (never in your jeans’ back pocket. That serves as an open invitation to pickpockets!), or inside the pocket of your jacket. That way, if you lose some, you still have some left to use.
Make copies of your important documents. Scan your passport and other papers, and print or email them to yourself so you’ll have them handy in case your bag goes missing.
It’s a jungle out there. It’s so much fun and exciting to visit new places, but remember to take heed when going to foreign lands. Better to err on the side of caution than be terribly sorry in the end.