Travelling safely: good habits
Setting off. Sometimes on impulse, other times with months of planning behind it. Either way, travel opens a door to something else—new streets, unfamiliar sounds, unexpected pauses. But even the most spontaneous trip needs a few basics in place. To travel safely, it’s not about being afraid. Just prepared.
Every situation brings its own risks—getting lost in a city you don’t know, dropping your phone in the sea, missing a train because the signs weren’t clear. It happens. But with a few habits, those risks shrink, and the rest opens up.
Essentials to Prepare Before Departure
- Back up your essential documents: passport, ID, insurance, driver’s license—anything official. A scan takes seconds. Store them online or email them to yourself. If something disappears, you’ll be glad you did.
- Research your destination: not just what to visit, but what to avoid. The Foreign Travel official website is updated regularly. Some areas aren’t recommended. Others require small precautions—vaccines, dress codes, customs.
- Register your trip: a simple step. On the Ariane platform, for example, travelers heading abroad can log their details. In the event of unrest, accidents, or natural events, local authorities know how to reach you.
- Get comprehensive travel insurance: it’s not just for big emergencies. A missed flight, a sprained ankle, lost luggage—it covers more than you’d expect. And offers a strange kind of calm while you’re gone.
Behavior to Adopt During Your Trip
- Inform your loved ones of your itinerary: especially if you’re heading into the countryside, trekking routes, or low-signal zones. A quick message. A rough plan. Just in case.
- Adopt daily safety habits: keep things split—cards, cash, ID—don’t carry it all in one spot. Keep eyes open, especially in big cities where scams are more organized than they seem.
- Stay alert upon arrival: arrival days are always hazy. Tired, excited, maybe a little disoriented. That’s when things go missing. Airports, stations, buses—places where pickpockets don’t rest.
- Avoid flashy accessories: an open backpack, a neon waist pack, the latest phone out in hand—they all say the same thing. Better to blend in. A zipped bag, worn in front, goes unnoticed. Which is the point.
- Use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi: cafés, hotels, airports. They offer convenience, sure, but not security. A VPN helps protect sensitive data—banking, email, anything personal.
- If faced with a theft attempt, do not resist: objects can be replaced. Your safety can’t. Hand over what’s asked, walk away, and report it. Saving emergency numbers in your phone, and on paper, doesn’t hurt.
Anticipating Incidents: Health and Emergency
- Carry a first aid kit: nothing fancy. Just a few basics—bandages, antiseptic, medication you already use. It might sit untouched, but when you need it, you really need it.
- Keep emergency contacts handy: the numbers that matter—embassy, insurance, a friend or two back home. Keep a copy on paper too. Phones break, get lost, run out of charge at the worst time.
- Avoid posting your location in real-time: it’s tempting. New place, new photo, a quick update. But real-time posts tell more than just your followers. Wait a bit. Share once you’ve moved on.
To Go Further
Do you travel often? For those who like to prepare, or just prefer to know what they’re walking into, it’s worth taking a look at our article on the respectful traveler. It’s about more than safety—it’s about presence, how to meet a place without stepping on it. And for specific needs, our guide on traveling with diabetes offers simple ways to stay ahead of small complications.
Everyone has their habits. What are yours?
Feel free to drop them in the comments.
