If you’re about to go travelling. Whether alone or with friends or family. You need to find ways to make sure everything goes as smoothly for you as possible. This was made VERY important to me last year when my luggage didn’t follow me to Boston (USA). But instead went to somewhere in California and had to be sent back – which took DAYS! The staff at the hotel we were staying at were amazing. Giving me all the toiletries I could possibly need while my bits were travelling around the world on a solo trip. I did finally get everything back but it did but a bit of a downer on the holiday. Here are some of my top tips on how to stay safe while travelling.
The Journey Of The Suitcases
This turn of events actually got me wondering about the journey our suitcases take when we drop them off at the airport. I always thought you drop them off and they go straight on to your plane. Then you meet them off the plane on the other side. However, thats not actually the case at all. Apparently some of the larger airports have conveyor belts for your luggage that span over 8 miles. So it’s easy to see how things could get lost. Or be accidentally placed on the wrong plane. Below is a video showing you the journey of your luggage through an airport.
The tags that get placed on to your suitcases when you check them in have a barcode on them. This tells the system where your bag has come from and where it’s going. So I guess it could be quite easy for a machine to misread the tag or not to read the tag at all. Which is why it then goes off somewhere completely different by mistake.
After it leaves the conveyor belts, the bags get placed on to those trailers you see whizzing about on the tarmac. Going off to find your plane to be loaded on. I guess if a bag falls off one of these or gets mistakenly placed on to the wrong trailer, it could easily go to the wrong destination.
Human Error?
No matter how much you do to stay safe while travelling, you can’t do anything about other people’s errors. After the airport staff place tags on your luggage and get passed from conveyor belt to conveyor belt, there isn’t much you can do to ensure your bag goes to the right place.
Other than maybe putting a huge sticker on both sides saying where it’s going and where it has come from. In the hope that some one sees this if it does go the wrong way. However, I’m not sure how effective this would actually be but it could work?!
Read Up On Travel Advice For Your Chosen Destination
There is travel advice published by the government regarding each destination out there. This helps you to learn about the potential threats and dangers associated with visiting a particular place. As well as that, you can do some reading on the destination on blogs and other online resources. You can even watch travel videos on sites like Youtube. You can never learn too much about where you’re heading to.
Buy Travel Insurance That’s Right For You
Travel insurance is one of those things that people so often forego. Don’t allow yourself to be put at risk by a lack of insurance. How will you feel if you go abroad and come back with a massive medical bill because you failed to take out insurance. And if you compare options online, you’ll find a good deal pretty easily.
Plan Out Your Travel Route In Detail & Time Everything Precisely
The last thing you want is to miss your flight or a connecting train. Your route should be planned out to the tiniest detail. So you know where you need to be at any time. The timings should be as precise as they can possibly be.
Keep The Absolute Essentials In Your Hand Luggage
If you’re travelling by plane, there’s always a chance your stowed luggage could get lost. That’s why you should keep the absolute essentials in your hand luggage. Then if something gets lost, you’ll still be able to enjoy the trip to some extent. Ever since my bag went on a solo mission, I always keep a change of clothes, any tablets, my phone, travel documents, tickets for excursions, money…etc with me in my hand luggage.
Keep Money & Valuables Safe At All Times
One great way to stay safe while travelling is to keep all your valuables with you. There’re probably going to be lots of things you take with you that you most definitely don’t want to lose during your trip. Keeping money and other valuables, such as your passport or any other travel documentation safe at all times should be your top priority. Find a room that comes with a safe. Ensure that when you’re carrying these things with you, you keep them in a zipped and shut part of your bag.
Stay Hydrated Throughout The Day
If you’re visiting a hot country, it’s vitally important you stay hydrated. Carry a bottle of water around with you and know the warning signs of dehydration your body gives off.
We all know that there are plenty of things that can go wrong when you’re travelling. You don’t want your memories to be soured by a bad experience.
What are you top tips on how to stay safe while travelling?
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