14 Simple Travel Safety Tips For Travelling Around The World

If you are planning a solo trip or a holiday with your family and wondering how to travel safely, don’t miss this article. We’ll share some practical, easy-to-follow travel safety tips to help you have a smooth and memorable trip.

These safety tips while travelling will cover how to pack wisely, how to eat healthily, how to use money strategically, and more. By following these, you can minimise risks such as illness, crime, and other unforeseen travel problems. Let's kick things off!

Pre-Trip Essentials You Shouldn’t Miss

1. Get a Medical Check-Up

Before you head off, it’s a good idea to assess your health. Your doctor can help you figure out if you’re fit to travel, especially since every country or continent has its own climate.

If you’re not prepared, you might face risks like heatstroke, breathing issues, or even a stroke (especially if you’ve got high blood pressure). For instance, altitude sickness is real. If you are not fit, it’s no joke to travel to elevated places like Bhutan or Mexico City.

As part of your travel safety tips, try to book a visit with your doctor or a travel health specialist about 4 to 6 weeks before your trip. This gives you time to chat about any health concerns, medication you need, or vaccines you might require. These might include regular ones, along with vaccines for diseases like hepatitis A/B, typhoid, or yellow fever.

And don’t forget to check out the CDC website for your destination. It’s got info on what vaccines you’ll need, plus any health risks to watch out for while you’re there.

2. Do Some Research on Your Destinations

The more you know about a country, the more you'll enjoy your trip. One example from our own experience was taking a taxi. In Nepal, unlike at our home, taxis don’t use automatic meters. This means travellers should agree on a price before getting in the car to avoid being surprised by the fare.

So, one of the key travel safety tips is to learn about the culture, customs, political situation, and the areas that are safe to visit. It’s also important to check for any special circumstances, like whether the place is LGBTQ+ friendly.

For instance, the most dangerous things about Iceland is not the people, but the weather and the terrain. Reynisfjara, one of the most beautiful black sand beaches in the world, has powerful sneaker waves and can easily drown people.

There are lots of ways to gather information. A quick search on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy website is a great start. If you prefer real-life advice, ask on forums like Reddit or Quora or reach out to friends who’ve been there. You can even follow local news to stay updated.

Take your time to learn about the culture and lifestyle of the place you're visiting. Photo by zera ruzgar on Adobe Stock

3. Make Copies of Important Travel Documents

Your passport is probably the most crucial thing you’ll carry when travelling. So, if it gets lost or stolen, it can cause a real headache. To make replacing it easier, it’s best to make copies of your important documents and keep them somewhere separate from the originals. These simple but effective travel safety tips can save you a lot of hassle down the line.

For added security, take a photo or scan the information page of your passport and upload it to cloud storage or email it to yourself. Also, make sure someone you trust back home has copies of your documents and travel plans, just in case you need a hand.

4. Don’t Skimp on Travel Insurance

You might be tempted to skip out on travel insurance to save some cash, but trust us – it’s not worth the risk. If something goes wrong, whether it’s a health scare or losing your stuff, it can turn into a huge hassle. Without insurance, you could end up paying way more than you planned to fix things.

We know that picking the right insurance can be confusing, but it’s totally worth taking a minute to read the fine print. Make sure you’re covered for the basics, like flight issues, accommodation deposits, lost luggage, or medical treatment in case of an accident.

5. Keep Your Luggage Light and Organised

One of the top international travel safety tips is to keep your essentials, like your passport, travel visa, and clothing, in your carry-on bag. That way, if there are any issues with your checked luggage, you'll have everything you need right there with you.

It’s also a good point to pack a small medical kit with things like painkillers, anti-diarrhoea meds, and any prescriptions you might need. And don’t forget sunscreen, insect repellent, and some basic first-aid stuff like bandages and antiseptic wipes.

In addition, for a more organised, minimalist approach, we recommend using packing cubes from CabinZero. These cubes make it super easy to grab what you need without having to dig through your whole bag. Plus, they’ll help keep your clothes safe from wrinkles, dirt, and moisture.

Maximise your space with minimal weight using CabinZero's pack cubes. 

6. Be Smart with Cash and Credit Cards

Any advice on "what precautions should be taken when travelling?" will tell you that carrying a lot of cash is never a great thing. Instead, try opening an account with a credit card company or an international bank so you can easily use local ATMS.

From our own experience, if we need to take out a large sum, we make sure most of it is locked up safely in the hotel. And we only carry what we’ll need for the day. Also, we always keep cash and credit cards separate. That way, if one gets stolen, you won’t be left high and dry.

Plus, always travel with a least two credit cards. You won't be stranded without money when one card is blocked/maxed out/lost, you will have the other card to fall back to.

7. Keep a List of Emergency Numbers

Before you leave on your trip, take a moment to gather the contact details of services that can help in case of an emergency. This includes local clinics or hospitals near your destination, so you know where to go if you need medical assistance.

It’s also important to have the contact numbers for your travel agent, insurance provider, and your country’s embassy. Write these down in a notebook or save them on your phone so you can quickly access them if something goes wrong.

Travel Safety Tips During Your Journeys

1. Avoid Writing Your Home Address on Your Luggage

It’s a common habit to write one’s home address on luggage tags, but it’s not something we recommend. Instead, we suggest adding your name, phone number, and the address of where you're staying. If you're travelling for work, make sure to add the name of your company as well.

So, why is it necessary? First off, if your checked luggage gets lost, the airport staff can reach out to you and help get it back. Secondly, showing your home address could let others know you’re not around, making your home more vulnerable to theft. It’s much safer to keep that information private.

2. Stay Connected and Check In with Your Loved Ones

These travel safety tips might seem like extra effort, but they’re really helpful, especially for women who travel solo. As you might know, criminals often target people who are distracted or travelling alone.

Send a few selfies to your mates or family to let them know how you're getting on. 

For this reason, let someone you trust (a family member or friend) know your travel plans, and keep them updated if anything changes. You could also get a local SIM card with international data or send photos via X or Instagram to let them know you’re okay.

As an extension of this, carry a portable charger with you at all times. And when you post your photos on social media, set it to friends and family only. You don’t want the 3rd parties to know where you are at the moment.

3. Be Careful When Eating

Tasting local food is always fun, exciting, and a big part of experiencing a new place. But let’s be honest, not every dish will agree with your stomach. Different spices and cooking styles can sometimes lead to an upset tummy, like feeling queasy or even getting diarrhoea.

Hence, one of the simple yet important travel safety tips is to watch what you eat and drink. To avoid feeling unwell, it’s smart to check if the food has anything you’re allergic to before you dig in.

If you’re in a place where the tap water isn’t safe, stick to bottled water from a trusted shop. Or you can choose boiled water that’s been properly stored. The same goes for ice; if you’re not sure where it came from, it’s better to skip it.

As for street food (which we love!), we always go for stalls that are busy with locals. If there’s a crowd, chances are the food is fresh and tasty. And if you’re not sure where to eat, just ask someone nearby. Locals usually know the best (and safest) places to grab a bite.

4. Use the Right Bag When You’re Out and About

Among the travel safety tips we’ve picked up, wearing a crossbody bag instead of a shoulder bag or handbag is also a necessity. Why? Because it’s much harder for someone to grab a crossbody bag quickly, especially if they’re trying to snatch it while walking or riding past.

If you need a good one, just browse a bunch of crossbody bags from CabinZero. These bags have handy features like hidden RFID pockets and are also water-resistant, which is super helpful when you’re out exploring.

Experience daytime adventures with peace of mind, thanks to CabinZero's crossbody bag.

Moreover, try not to stand out too much. Wearing flashy jewellery, expensive watches, or even stuff that just looks expensive can make you an easy target. It’s best to keep things simple and low-key to avoid unwanted attention.

5. Respect the Surroundings You’re Visiting

When you’re travelling, you’re basically a guest in someone else’s home — or country. So, even if you don’t totally fit in, it’s important to show respect for local customs, culture, and the way things are done. Trust us, following a few simple travel safety tips like this can save you from a lot of awkward or even risky situations.

For example, if you’re visiting temples or pagodas in places like Vietnam, Thailand, or Laos, make sure to dress appropriately. It’s not the time for shorts or crop tops. Covering up is a sign of respect, and it’s often expected in these sacred spaces.

And if you’re ever unsure about what’s okay or not, just ask someone local. People are always willing to help out when they see you’re being respectful and genuinely curious.

6. Trust Your Gut Feeling

When thinking about “How can I safely take a safe trip?”, simply trust your gut. If something or someone makes you feel uneasy, it's usually for a reason. Your instincts are there to help you stay out of trouble, even if you can't put your finger on why something feels off.

Sometimes, it’s better to lose a hostel deposit or upset a taxi driver than to risk your safety. If you feel like you're being followed, duck into the nearest shop or café and ask the staff for assistance.

And, a tip we always follow: never do anything recklessly you wouldn't do at home. For instance, having too many drinks, go somewhere even the locals avoid, wander into deserted areas at night alone etc. Stick with a mate or stay in well-lit, busy places. Common sense and gut feeling are your best friend. Safety first, always!

7. The Right Luggage Makes All The Difference

Choosing the right luggage from the start makes life on the road infinitely easier. A CabinZero backpack is built for real-world travel, from sprinting through train stations to fitting perfectly in overhead bins on budget airlines.

Its lightweight design (as low as 600g) means less shoulder strain during long days of exploring, while lockable sliders give you peace of mind in busy metro stations or shared hostel rooms. If your bag ever gets misplaced, the built-in OKOBAN tracking tag links to a global system that can help get it back to you.

Get Out and Enjoy Your Travels

Now that you’re armed with these practical travel safety tips, we hope you’ll have an amazing time and create lasting memories along the way. Whether you’re exploring the exotic lands of Asia, the wilds of Africa, or anywhere in between, ensure that CabinZero’s backpack is your trusted travel companion. It’s lightweight and durable, and it comes with a lifetime warranty. Ready to go wherever you go — whether that’s on planes or trains, tucked under your seat, or trekking through the desert.

Quyen Pham