Top 5 Travel Planning Tips

The excitement and anticipation of upcoming travel is one of the best feelings in the world. The countdown before you leave, the joyful car ride to the destination, the euphoria of this new adventure. All of these emotions are what people look forward to. However, to properly enjoy a trip, adequate planning is important. Planning can take shape in many different ways, as every trip is unique and different. It’s important to think about travel security and safety. Below we have gathered the top 5 best travel planning tips you can use to help ensure your safety and make the most out of the adventure.

1.

The first tip is obvious, research your destination. We don’t just mean activities and restaurants. Look at the culture, current political and economic state, crime rates etc. Researching these will make you more aware of your surroundings and ultimately help to ensure safety. Also, take note of the local police station phone numbers and the closest embassy phone number.

2.

The second tip is to make copies of important documents. If you were to only keep aeroplane tickets on your phone or important bookings, what happens if your phone dies or you can’t log into an account? There are many scenarios in which only having one way to access or one copy of a document could be troublesome. Therefore make copies and duplicates of driver's licences, passports, bookings etc. Have both physical copies and save them to cloud-based software that can be accessed by different devices.

3.

Research and plan for money if travelling abroad. Many countries still use cash as their main currency exchange, which means you’ll be required to use an ATM to withdraw the local currency. Often this means you’ll be stung by ATM fees. Also, if you are using a bank card with Pay-wave or EFTPOS, there may be conversion fees. To try to minimise all those fees, use a no-fee ATM card. Research what banks offer this and consult with others who have experience. This tip will help you save money and spend it on more important things. 

4.

If engaging in more of an adventure (hike, tramp, fishing etc) type of travel. Tell others your plans and bring enough equipment/ supplies. Telling others your plans is important for obvious reasons. Others having knowledge of where you will be, what you are doing and when you intend to be home is an important safety measure in case something goes wrong. With supplies, it’s always better to have too much water than not enough right? Bring adequate supplies for your trip and extras of the important stuff as a safety measure.

5.

Lastly, use a Personal Safety app like GetHomeSafe Personal. Our app is designed for personal use, whether it's travel overseas or a trip to the beach. Simply create an activity, add your chosen contacts, and be on your way. This app is designed to keep you safe, with live GPS tracking (which you can choose to share with others), safety check-ins and a panic button. If something goes wrong, your contacts will be notified straight away.

Thank you for reading!

The team at GetHomeSafe hopes you have found these tips beneficial and useful. Get out there and explore the world, locally or internationally. Go on adventures and enjoy what the world has to offer. Remember to plan for your trips and always prioritise your safety!