Keeping your family safe on vacation is a priority for parents. Nothing beats traveling with your family, but there can be safety concerns when we are away from home. It is important to prioritize the safety of your loved ones even while you are on an adventure, especially if you have kids with you.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE ON VACATION
When you travel with kids, it is important to make sure that the location and activities are child-friendly. This is just one way to keep your family safe while enjoying other cultures.
In relation to this, we have listed down seven more ways to keep your family safe while on a vacation. Each of these tips can have a big impact on issues that are common when traveling domestically and abroad.
AVOID TRAVEL SCAMS
First and foremost, to ensure the safety of the family while traveling, it is important to be aware of the common tourist scams.
As Matthew Karsten of Expert Vagabond pointed out, there are people who will trick you out of your hard-earned money wherever you are in the world.
Some of the common travel scams are broken taxi meters in Costa Rica or the ring scam in Paris. Thus, it would be best to Google the common travel scams in your destination. As well as how you can avoid and apprehend them.
MINIMIZE DISPLAYS OF AFFLUENCE
Speaking of keeping yourself from getting scammed, one way to do that is to minimize displays of affluence. More so when it is obvious that you are a foreigner in another country.
Traveling alone is a sign that you are more privileged than the locals. Hence, you should not flaunt whatever device or jewelry you have. Otherwise, you are making yourself a target of pickpockets and travel scammers.
Here’s a pro tip from the Wagoner family: If you are walking on the roadside, make sure to keep your belongings on the side of your body opposite of the road.
If you want to avoid pickpockets and robbery it is best to leave your expensive purses at home. This easy tip will definitely help you keep your family safe on vacation.
MAINTAIN AWARENESS
Highly congested tourist spots are prone to pickpockets and other crimes. Not to mention that your kids can potentially get lost in such locations.
However, these congested spots are also where tourists flow through. Some examples are airlines and train stations.
That said, Tavia Carlson of Big Brave Nomad advises that you heighten your vigilance when you are in a populated area. More so if you are carrying large bags, as huge carry-on luggage dimensions highlight that you are a tourist.
TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS
In case your kids, or any of your family, got separated, it would be helpful that you have their latest photos. You can show this to the security guards or officers in a nearby police station.
That said, it would be ideal to take a photo of every member of your family each day of your vacation. It is best to just do it in the morning before you leave your hotel.
Doing so allows you to provide a detailed description of a missing loved one, such as the clothes they wore before you got separated. This information can immensely help you in locating and finding them as soon as possible.
KEEP EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Depending on the country you are visiting, and the location where you are staying, it is important to ensure that there is a local hospital near your preferred accommodation.
Aside from that, you should list their emergency hotline. This is in addition to your list of local emergency hotlines. Just because your country of origin is using 911 as an emergency hotline does not mean that it is the same in other countries.
You should also save the number of your hotel’s reception desk, the local police hotline, and your embassy.
DON'T BE COMPLACENT
Sure, traveling allows you and your family to learn more about things that is beyond what the four corners of a classroom can teach. So no matter where you are in the world, it is important that you stay vigilant.
You can do this by learning and understanding the risks you are putting yourself and your family into when traveling. If it is too much of a risk, might as well let it pass. Your family’s safety should be your utmost priority.
This also explains why the next step is equally important.
PREPARE FOR WORST-CASE SCENARIOS
When you are excited about your vacation, it can be easy to forget that you also need to prepare for your safety. That said, it would be best to always include safety precautions in your vacation to-do list.
For example, you should first ensure that everyone has emergency contact numbers in their luggage. It would also come in handy if you orient everyone where they can find it in their luggage.
Teach your kids what to do in case they got lost or during an emergency. If they have phones, make sure the GPS tracker is switched on so you can locate them immediately.
Most importantly, you should check the safety and security and kid-friendliness of where you are going.
YOUR FAMILY'S SAFETY MATTERS
We understand if you are being antsy about traveling with your kids. After all, any parent will always be worried about their children’s safety ‒ whether they are traveling or not.
However, fear should neither paralyze you nor stop you from exploring the world and learning about other cultures with your family. Hence, it would be better to remind yourself of these seven simple ways to keep your family safe on vacation:
- Learn the common travel scams so you can avoid it.
- Minimize your display of affluence.
- Be wary of your surroundings, especially in a densely crowded area.
- Take pictures of family members prior to your departure.
- Make sure everyone has their copy of important emergency numbers.
- Don’t be complacent. Stay vigilant.
- Prepare for worst-case scenarios.
As long as you follow these tips, you and your family will enjoy your vacations and feel more comfortable traveling.
MORE TRAVEL FUN
Be sure to check out these other great travel posts while you are here:
- 10 Places to Visit with Your Kids Before They Grow Up
- Tips for Picking the Best Carry On Luggage
- Colorado Springs Bucket List
- Should You Take Your Kids to Las Vegas on Vacation
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Great content and tips that every traveler can follow through on their next vacation.