Travel Tip Tuesday: How to Keep your Valuables Safe While Traveling

It is true that traveling around the world is exciting. Exciting to the point that we sometimes forget that we are bringing important documents with us, and that we need to take extra precautions to keep them safe. To make sure that your adventures won’t be dampened by lost or stolen personal belongings, I am sharing with you a few tips that will help you keep them safe while traveling.

Make a copy of your important documents.

This includes your passport, visas, IDs, special permits, and all travel documents that you are bringing with you. By making a copy, you can easily have a back up in case you lose the originals. Needless to say, stash the copies in a different place than the original—preferably at the safety deposit box in your hotel room.

Keep your belongings on your person.

While traveling, it is always good to have a smaller bag other than your carry-on luggage where you can put all travel documents, cash, electronics, and other valuables. By carrying a smaller bag, it is easier to keep it on your person or in a place where you can always see it. Never put them under a seat, or in the trunk of a taxi.

Choose what to bring wisely.

When you travel, you become more susceptible to losing things. If it is only for a few days or a week, it’s best if you leave expensive jewelry at home especially if they are not vital to your trip. The same goes for items that can b pawned such as designer bags and shoes. Being in modest clothing has its advantages, anyway—if you will be shopping for trinkets to bring back home, don’t you think you will get a better bargain by not wearing items that project wealth?

Travel Insurance

If you feel tempted to save a few bucks by opting out of insurance, don’t do it! Always say “yes” to this add-on. Untoward incidents still happen when you are traveling so make sure that you are covered, and that you know the extent of the coverage.

Do you have more tips that you want to share to me and to this wonderful travel community? Email them to me at rboyd00555@gmail.com!

Going around a city can be tricky if you’re not used to commuting through public transportation. This is especially difficult if you are touring a foreign city—a city that you’ve never explored before whether by your own car or by public transportation.

No worries—this week’s Travel Tip Tuesday is dedicated to helping you find ways to seamlessly go from one place to another in a foreign city.

1. Bring a Transit Map with you, or Install an App

“Seeing the big picture” is your hack here. By getting a map or having a digital version of that map on your phone, you can easily visualize the city’s layout. Maps are usually available at any tourist office or as soon as you see a souvenir stall when you get off the plane. Make sure it includes a basic transit map! Google maps, on the other hand, is your compact version of the physical map. Just be sure to download the city on “offline” mode so that you can still access it even if you lose your connection to the internet.

2. Do your research: what does your ticket cover?

Ticketing varies from one city to another. In some cities, there is only one ticket for trains, and buses. For others, there is a separate ticket for each mode of transportation or for each train system. This helps you avoid the hassle of procuring tickets for different systems (when you only need one) or from being left with no ticket to use on a subway line. Better be prepared than sorry!

3. Find out ways by which you can purchase your tickets

If you’re staying in a particular city for a long time and know that you will be using public transit most of the time, it is always a good idea to find out what options you have when purchasing a ticket. In Singapore, for example you get your money’s worth by purchasing a reloadable MRT card than by getting single-journey ones. For longer rides, there is also an option to buy round-trip passes than buying a one-way pass twice. In some cases, buying tickets online is cheaper than at the station.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Lastly, you can always ask for help. It is difficult to know all the information instantly and there are times when you get more confused if you are left on the spot. In those cases, you can ask locals—they are usually more than happy to help lost tourists. Going to the information desk helps, too w0clxn8. While you’re at it, you can also ask for discounts that most public transits give to students, senior citizens, and persons with disability so find out if you are eligible to claim these discounts.

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If you are a travel enthusiast, you know by now that sometimes, layovers can eat up a big chunk of your travel time. This is not always a nuisance! With these tips, you can easily turn the situation around by using the time to do productive work!

1. Know more about the airport.

If you know beforehand that your layover will last for several hours, it is a good idea to know what services or forms of entertainment the airport can provide. Spending your leftover waiting at the bench is a complete waste of time! Instead, explore the shops, the restaurants, or even theaters and museums located inside most airports. If you are traveling with kids, find out if they have a play area. Don’t worry about your luggage—airports usually have baggage counters where you can deposit your things safely while you go out and about.

2. Find a Local Adventure

Sometimes, there are airports that allow you to go out during your layover. Find out if you can do this and if there are any local attractions situated near the airport. If you’re lucky, a local adventure could be waiting for you within the airport! For example, Incheon International Airport has a Jjim Jil Bang, or those gender-segregated bathhouses Korea is known for. Just make sure it won’t make you late for your next flight!

3. Find out if there are VIP Perks

If there is nothing more you would like to do during your layover than to relax while waiting for your flight, you can try the VIP Lounges that most airports have. This is usually accessible to frequent flyers. If you are not one, inquire if you can apply as a member or if you can avail a day pass.

4. Stretch those legs!

Whether it’s by shopping, people-watching, or simply exploring the airport, it’s also a nice idea to stretch your legs by going for a walk. Remember—you just got out of a short flight, and will soon be hauled in a longer flight so you might as well make the most of the time that you’re not stuck on an airplane seat!

Loved these tips? Stay tuned for more Travel Tips that we will be sharing every Tuesday!

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Do you travel often? If you do, then you might have noticed your increased dependence on your mobile phone. Gone are the days when you just use it to call or send messages—now it is like a version of a Swiss Army Knife. It practically has everything you need: basic functions such as calling and messaging, access to the internet, or it can even be a mobile wallet for some!

So how can you take advantage of your mobile phone’s handiness as a traveler? Make sure you have these apps!

Apps that help you prepare for your trip

What are the things that you need to pack? Will the weather be warm, cold, or wet? Are there special forms that need to be filled in before the trip? What is the exchange rate? If you are flying out, what pre-departure steps do you need to take? For someone who travels multiple times a year, an app that will help you organize your luggage, your To-Dos, and your pre-departure needs will definitely come in handy. Packpoint is a popular choice because it’s all that a traveler needs, rolled into one app. It created a checklist of what to pack based on the weather forecast in your destination, and even gives a few insights on the activities to try. Make sure to also have an app for currency conversion such as XE Currency!

Navigation

Try to keep a physical map for a backup, but other than that, get Google Maps on your phone. It is quite handy because it shows you different routes on how to get to certain places, whether by car, by train, or by foot. It also takes local traffic into account. Strol is also a nice app to have on your phone, especially if you love walking! The app shows you some of the most scenic routes to take when you are moving from one point to another on foot. Lastly, for emergencies, install and create an account on Uber for those times that you get lost, separated from your group, or when you suddenly cannot find a ride back to the hotel. 

Local Knowledge

Most of you will already have an itinerary before even reaching your destination, but it pays to have “inside information” about the place that you are visiting—information that you can access with a swipe on your phone. Yelp and TripAdvisor are constants for travel buffs, but when in doubt, you can always crowd-source from your own social media network. One more thing—familiarize yourself with ways to translate the language spoken at the place you are visiting, such as through Google Translate or Duolingo.