Many people enjoy travelling to learn about new and different cultures, history and traditions. As a result, many Canadians seek out extreme adventures, with their destinations becoming more and more remote. As this type of travel increases, so does risk of kidnappings, muggings, hotel break-ins and other crimes around the globe. Knowing how to protect yourself is the first step in helping you have a safe trip, too.
Health and Safety while Travelling Abroad
- When possible, avoid using taxi cabs. Have your hotel’s concierge service book a driver or car service for you. If you must take a cab, do not provide information about your trip, its duration or its purpose to your driver.
- Place your luggage in the trunk of a cab by yourself after the driver gets out to open it for you.
- When staying at a hotel, request a room on one of the lower floors, but not the first floor. Ground floors are the least secure, but floors above the sixth are too high for conventional fire equipment to service.
- Bring small door and window locks with you while travelling and use them in your hotel room.
- Do not give a limo company your last name to place on the placard when waiting at the airport; use a mutually agreed-upon code word.
- Bring a flashlight with you on your trip in case the power goes out.
- Always place the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door and do not let anyone in, unless you know who they are from looking in the peep hole. When leaving your hotel room for the day, place the television on a local station and place the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door. This gives the impression that you are a native speaker staying in the room, and that you are in relaxing.
- Place plastic connectors on your luggage when you leave. Though this does not prevent someone from opening your bags, it can alert you that someone has tampered with your luggage.
- Do not stay in hotels with hard keys; only visit those with key cards. They are safer and are not passed around as easily.
- Dress to fit in with the locals. Do not wear expensive jewellery, trendy clothes or carry an expensive purse. Also do not advertise your nationality by wearing T-shirts with slogans.
- Register your travel plans with your provincial government. This will help the government contact you if there is a family emergency in Canada or if you are in need of assistance abroad.
- Sign your passport and fill in all the emergency information.
- Leave copies of your itinerary and passport with loved ones at home.
- Familiarize yourself with local customs and laws, as you are subject to them while travelling.
- Contact the Canadian Embassies and Consulates for assistance while you’re away.
Do not get distracted while you are site seeing. Many times, thieves will work together to distract you while others steal from you. At the same time, always keep a hand on your purse or wallet to make sure that it does not get swiped as you are taking everything in.
To protect yourself while you’re away, consider purchasing a Travel Insurance policy for a nominal fee. These policies provide medical, security and travel-related assistance for Canadians abroad.
