Staying Safe Overseas

Many people are drawn to moving overseas by the apparent lack of anti-social behaviour and generally low crime levels. What crime there is normally is kept away from the tourist areas, and is more or less limited to petit theft and pick pocketing. Once thing that is different to being back home is that while overseas you stand out like a sore thumb. Even if there is not a clear visible difference through your ethnicity, your clothes, cameras, maps and the way you dither along getting in everyone’s way will make you out as a tourist as if you had a red flashing light over your head. This doesn’t mean that you are constantly in mortal danger, but it can encourage ne’er do wells to chance their hand when they wouldn’t normally, so keep your wits about you.

It’s also important to make sure you have valid and adequate medical insurance before travelling. A lot of flight and transport delays are covered under the terms of your package/flight purchases, but medical cover won’t be, and many pre-existing conditions such as diabetes will require their own specialist insurance. Likewise if you’re planning on doing anything active or dangerous, your bog standard travel insurance will probably not hack it. Specialist ski insurance, for example, would be required if you’re even thinking of going within 50 miles of a ski resort.

Fortunately, cheap and easy travel insurance is available for the vast majority of people if they’re just planning on doing a bit of sight-seeing and lounging by the pool, but it is still worth shopping around for the best deals, and don’t forget to check the policy details carefully!