Summer is the perfect season for vacation, whether it’s a road trip to visit family, a flight to a sunny and tropical locale, or a camping trip in the mountains. While summer travel is full of fun, ensuring your safety is pivotal to making your vacation memorable for all the right reasons. Here are some of the most essential safety tips for large groups and solo travelers alike.
Planning is the best way to avoid the usual travel traps. Before you travel, put some serious time into researching your destination. If you’re traveling internationally, look into local customs, laws, and general attitudes to foreigners. For especially busy cities, be aware of common pickpocket traps and general safety information. Researching accommodations, whether you’re traveling within the U.S. or abroad, is a must. With some time, you’ll be able to find the perfect accommodation for your location and price range. Airbnb and VRBO are great options during the summer when many hotels are booked. If you want to maximize your safety, you can purchase a portable door lock that works on most hotel and house doors.
Share your travel plans with friends and family, including a detailed itinerary with flight info, the addresses of any accommodations, and emergency contact numbers. Stay in touch through sending pictures and scheduled check-ins. If you’re traveling internationally, look into your phone company’s roaming rules and what they charge for international usage. Using a messaging app like WhatsApp when traveling internationally is also a good idea- it’s more encrypted than a standard messaging app, it’s free, and it can be used without a data connection.
There’s nothing worse than getting sick on vacation. There’s plenty you can do for your immune system before you travel and for your general health while on vacation. At least a month before traveling, look into whether you need any vaccinations. The CDC has a traveler’s list of prevalent diseases and commonly recommended vaccines for travelers of all ages and countries all over the world. Make sure you pack prescription medications and any pain relief medications you may need.
Summer temperatures often lead to dehydration and heat- related illnesses (HRI), like heatstroke and heat exhaustion. There’s a high chance for this summer to break high temperature records worldwide. The fastest growing international and national vacation destinations for U.S. tourists, including Costa Rica, the Bahamas, Texas, and Hawaii, are known for their warm climates.
HRIs most commonly affect those in large groups, thanks to restricted airflow, decreased access to drinking water, and a lack of shade. Older travelers, children, and those with health conditions like diabetes, kidney, and cardiovascular disease are most at risk. Taking certain medications also makes suffering from a HRI more likely.
Drinking plenty of water is the best preventative measure. While water is free at restaurants in the U.S., most restaurants in Europe charge for it. Know when and where to fill up your water bottles and make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day. Enjoy yourself, but keep track of your coffee and alcohol consumption. Both beverages contribute to dehydration and can raise blood pressure, so make sure you’re drinking enough water in between more fun drinks.
Bring sunscreen with a high SPF and pack protective clothing, like long sleeves, pants, and hats with a large brim. Stay vigilant about reapplying sunscreen, especially after swimming. Packing a mini first aid kit is never a bad idea, either. Include bandaids, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers for any and all minor emergencies.
Invest in the essentials. A pair of quality shoes you can walk around in, bags or purses with zipper closures, and RFID blocking wallets and purses are all good investments to make before going on vacation. Be mindful of your surroundings, especially if you’re headed to any areas known for high tourist traffic or pickpocketing scams. Try to dress like a local and avoid displaying expensive personal items. Make sure all electronic devices are charged each night, and pack any outlet adapters you might need. Avoid excessive headphone and phone use, especially when getting off public transportation. Stick with verified transportation, and always verify your driver’s identity if using a rideshare service.
The group that plans together stays together. If you’re traveling with a group, make sure everyone knows the plan for the day and what to do in case of an emergency. Assigning different roles to everyone in the group helps strike a good balance between activity types and interests. Make sure to plan enough downtime to avoid vacation burnout. Always stick with the buddy system!
Traveling during the summer can be an amazing experience. By planning ahead, staying informed, and taking reasonable precautions, you can ensure a safe trip that doesn’t come at the expense of fun. Safe travels!