When people travel to new locations in pursuit of expanding their horizons, it can be an amazing experience. However, it is important that you do not get swept up in the moment and forget that you are in uncharted waters.
Many people associate traveling and holidays with positive thoughts (and they should), but this does not mean that they should be negligent of the dangers that they may face during their journey, even in the most exotic of locations.
In order to truly travel and enjoy the experience of embedding yourself in new cultures and new experiences, you have to travel with safety as the number one priority on your mind. Oddly enough, many people make safety an afterthought when they travel, and this leads to several preventable outcomes.
In my experience, it doesn’t hurt to give a little bit of attention to safety practices when you are globetrotting, so here are 4 safety devices that every traveler should aspire to have when they set out on their life-changing expedition.
#1. Personal Alarm
Personal alarms are popular among many people, including travelers. Unlike some other safety devices, you will be hard pressed to find any laws that ban you from traveling with a personal alarm.
Personal alarms come in handy for travelers that love to stay active and explore different locales. They are best suited for people who are constantly on the move. This is not to say that a personal alarm won’t come in handy if you happen to be in your hotel room. Many personal alarms are operated through the removal of a pin on the device, which engages the alarm.
Travelers should compare the cost of personal alarms before buying one, but they should pay more attention to the range that the alarm has. Most of these personal alarms emit loud noises when they are engaged which are meant to startle any attackers or thieves. In an ideal world, these alarms will deter any further incidents, but in the worst-case scenario, it will give you the much-needed opportunity to either run away or to find help.
In the event that you are flying to your destination, make sure you find out from your airline whether it is ok to fly with your personal alarm system. If not, you can always stow it in the bags that you check in.
#2. Portable Door Jammer
This device is extremely beneficial to travelers who either make use of hotels or Airbnb accommodations on a regular basis. Portable door jammers are used in conjunction with the locks on your doors to provide added security. It is important for travelers to realize that most hotels, hostels, and other varying accommodations do not have restricted key systems and that there have been several hands that have possibly exchanged the key to your door.
I am sure that it does sound slightly paranoid, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Door jammers are easy to travel with, and they do not take up much space at all. In addition to this, they work on most standard doors and they are effective at preventing unwanted intruders from entering any room that you are in. It is definitely a safety device that travelers should make use of to ensure that they remain secure.
#3. Safety Spray
The most common safety spray on the market is undoubtedly pepper spray, and it works wonders for anyone who might be stuck in a hairy situation. However, I opted to use safety spray as the general term because there are some airlines that do not allow you to fly with pepper spray, and there are some places where pepper spray is illegal.
The last thing any traveler would want is to be kept in a holding cell in a foreign country simply because they were trying to keep themselves safe. (Talk about irony.) In lieu of pepper spray, there are other safety sprays on the market that can still startle attackers and visibly mark them so that people can see that they did something wrong.
It is important that travelers do the necessary research to find out if the spray they want to travel with is the appropriate one and if it is, then go ahead and grab one. There is no doubt that these will help keep you safe, should the need ever arise.
#4. Concealed Wallets
Every avid traveler knows just how important it is to keep your money safe while you travel, and it is important that you have a safety device in place that can help you do just that. In addition to helping you conceal your cash and your cards, wallets can also help you store important travel documents and information that you would not want falling into the hands of the wrong people. These concealable wallets come in all shapes and sizes so they can meet the needs of different types of travelers. There are wallets that can be concealed behind your calves, under your bra, and some that can even be concealed around your waist. These wallets are designed to hold several items and they will definitely prove to be beneficial for travelers.
Additional Safety Tips
- Make sure that you do not advertise your travel plans and details to people that you do not know. Be wary of divulging information to strangers.
- Leave your contact information and your travel details with family members or trusted friends so that someone can reach you or point the authorities in the right direction, should the need ever arise.
- It is imperative that you properly research the location you are traveling to so that you know the best way to prepare and can stay safe once you get there.
Conclusion
Traveling is undoubtedly fun, and it opens up your mind to the many wonders and charms that the world has to offer. Staying safe while you travel is equally important, and it is key that you don’t get caught up exploring and push safety to the back of your mind. Hopefully, these safety devices and tips will make your experiences much more enjoyable.
Author Bio
Ralph Goodman is a local locksmith and an expert writer on all things locks and security over at the Lock Blog. The Lock Blog is a great resource to learn about keys, locks and safety. They offer tips, advice and how-to’s for consumers, locksmiths, and security professionals.
