What are the dos and don'ts while travelling?

There are often news stories about people taking advantage of tourists, from drive-by purse grabbers to identification thieves to far deadly criminals like kidnapping and sex traffickers. These easy-to-follow travel safety recommendations are your go-to travel safety manual if you're organizing your next vacation and questioning how to travel securely.

DON'Ts

• Avoid flashing big amounts of cash and exchanging money with strangers on the street or at suspicious-looking locations.
• Avoid giving the impression that you are a tourist by looking like one, acting lost, or using a map in public.
• To prevent a thief on a bike from stealing your bag, avoid walking with a bag draped loosely above one shoulder and kept your bag on the side of the path away from the road.
• Avoid using a backpack that resembles luggage.
• Avoid visiting unsafe areas and avoiding walking in remote, unfamiliar, or poorly lighted areas, especially at night.
• Your passport and your iPhone are both expensive commodities that shouldn't be left out in the open.
• Keep maps and trip guides hidden in the glove box of your rental car and avoid driving anything too noticeable.
• Avoid parking anyplace other than a well-lit area, locking valuables in the trunk instead of leaving them visible, and refraining from picking up hitchhikers.
• Keep your house and hotel keys and car on separate key rings.
• Never put money, jewellery, prescription drugs, or any other items in your baggage, and just never leave it unattended—not even for a second.

DOs

• Do pay attention to your surroundings and keep an eye out for any shady characters or vehicles.
• Use alternatives to cash, such as traveler's cheques or lines of credit, and only bring what you need right away.
• When leaving your hotel room, lock the doors and windows and keep any valuables you aren't bringing with you in a safe there or use the safe-deposit box service.
• Do make a note of your passport's number; having it handy can help you receive a replacement faster if your passport is lost or stolen.
• Take a note of the credit card details as well as the phone number to dial in case you need to cancel or report it stolen.
• As much as possible, dress locally suitable; appearing more like a local will make you less noticeable than appearing like a visitor.
• Put a ring around your bags to prevent theft while they are being transported; a professional thief will not be deterred by suitcase locks.
• When you're out and about or shopping, go with friends since there is safety in numbers.
• If you are a Yoga fanatic and want to be a part of a Yoga School in India, you must choose your school wisely as there are plenty of scams.
• Do keep an eye out for contrived distractions like someone bumping into you, spilling something on you, dumping anything in front of you, or making a loud racket; an accomplice could steal your possessions and flee while you are briefly distracted.

No matter where you are if you're in a busy tourist area or are strolling along a deserted street, you should always be aware of your surroundings. Those who would commit crimes frequently look for targets who are disinterested in or distracted from their surroundings. For solitary travellers, especially female solo travelers, this is especially crucial. Our subconscious frequently picks up on information that we are not consciously aware of, which is where our "gut sensations" originate.

Author Bio:

Kristina is a freelance journalist specializing in health and fitness based in India and also freelance Yoga writer. She spent the past 10+ years writing about Yoga, medications, diseases, family health, fitness, nutrition. She comes from a family of teachers, and has always loved reading and writing. Now she is blogging at Hrishikesh Yoga, a website that offers best yoga courses & Yoga retreats around the world. She is sharing his experiences by writing about them. She also has a passion for movement, and grew up doing Yoga and dance.