Safety Tips for Family Traveling
Vacations are a great way to relax and get a much-needed break from your everyday life. But when you’re out of your comfort zone traveling to somewhere new there are a few things you need to keep in mind in order to explore your destination safely. Here are some ways to keep you and your loved ones safe during your journey.
Take a First Aid Kit
Whether you’re traveling by airplane, train, or car, be sure to pack a first aid kit to take along, you never know what’s going to happen! Pack essentials such as bandages, gauze squares, thermometer, tweezers, antiseptic cleanser, pain reliever medicine, and hand sanitizer. You can find a travel first aid kit pre-packed at your local drugstore, or buy travel sizes for these items and make one of your own. You will never go wrong being over-prepared in this area.
Scan Your Documents
Unfortunate incidents can happen when on vacation. It is no fun to be far away from home and have your wallet stolen. Before you leave, scan all your important documents and add them to an online folder or cloud storage site. This will enable you to figure out quickly what is missing should yours be misplaced or fall into the wrong hands, and you will at least have a copy of your identification.
Take Your Car in for Check-Up
If you’re planning on taking your car for a long-distance drive, take it to the mechanic for a check-up a few weeks before you leave so you have time for repairs of you need them. It’s no fun to be just starting out on a trip and have something go wrong. Many car troubles can be avoided with regular check-ups.
Find Out Hospital Locations Beforehand
Do a little research on your vacation destination before you leave. A quick web search can give you a map of where the closest hospital and emergency rooms would be in case of an emergency. Be sure to read the reviews too! When you arrive, ask a local or the front desk at your hotel to confirm. You don’t want to have a health crisis in the middle of the night and drive around looking for care, especially if it’s for one of your kids.
Get Recommendations on Hotels and Restaurants
Check with your friends where they have stayed and eaten when they traveled to or visited the destination you are headed for. Word of mouth is the best way to find out if hotels and eating establishments are clean and feel safe. You can also read reviews online at travel sites such as TripAdvisor, Expedia, or Yelp.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Well
When you’re traveling, it’s easy to step into a vacation state of mind and throw all of your healthy living habits out the window. You might be putting your body to the test with new physical activities and adventures, or stay outdoors in the sun all day long. Don’t forget to eat well and nourish your body, and be absolutely sure to drink plenty of clean water to keep you hydrated. You don’t want to end up with heat stroke or dehydration when you could have avoided it. And you certainly don’t want to come home from your travels and return to your daily routine while battling a sickness!
Keep Money in More Than One Place
To keep your finances safe, split up your money among several spots. Take only what you need for your daily trip and leave the rest in the safe at the hotel. It’s also a good idea to keep your cash or credit cards in unconventional places. In the hotel, you can keep your cash or valuables in a coat pocket, or in your shoe. While out and about you can stash cards and cash in a makeup bag, a mint tin, or a sunglasses case. This way if something is stolen or lost, you have back-ups to use while you make arrangements to cancel and replace those cards.
Travel can create some of the best memories of your year. With a little planning, you will be able to stay safe and create wonderful moments that will last you a lifetime!
