Being in a place I’ve never been, not knowing anyone around me and having no idea what’s going to happen next. That, in essence, is what I love about travelling. The unpredicability, the spontaneity, the surprise encounters and incidences. Occasionally of course, there might be unpleasant moments, and rarely things can go seriously wrong. I have previously written about how to manage a disaster while travelling. But how can we avoid it from happening altogether, or at least reduce its risk, without taking away the very reason we choose to go?
Here are a few simple things to consider while on the road that might help. (In writing this I appreciate in many cases these considerations will be overshadowed by other factors, or there may be no alternative if we particularly want to go somewhere/ see something)
1. Air travel. There is a list of banned airlines issued by the EU; I would not want to fly on any of these named airlines. Other airlines, particularly in parts of Asia and Africa, might use modern aircraft on international routes where IATA standards apply and rust-buckets on their domestic services (Uzbekistan Airlines fly nice planes on international routes, and a very old and rusty TU154 from Khiva to Tashkent – not a journey for the faint-hearted!). Check beforehand if you’re concerned and consider alternatives.
2. Buses. Is it worth saving $5 to travel on the old ramshackle bus over the mountain pass? Will it be able to brake or steer as well as the newer more expensive coach that is on offer? Many parts of the world have appalling safety records on the roads. Why add extra risk by choosing an obviously unsafe vehicle?
3. Car rental. When hiring a car, most offices will use cars that are 12 months old or less – in many countries 6 months. There are also alternatives where you can hire an old banger for a lower rate. If you choose this option (I have done this before), make sure you’re confident about the roadworthiness of the vehicle. And if you do hire an old car, be confident there is a rescue service that you can call (and that there is a signal for you to reach them!) before you sign the rental agreement.
4. Hiking. If you are hiking for a full day to a remote place, think about what you need if you had to spend a night waiting for a rescue. A basic first aid kit, lots of water, high energy snacks, torch (flashlight), warm layers are a start. People do get stuck or injured, occasionally rescues can take a long time, and whether your experience is survivable depends largely on what you are carrying.
5. Hotels. The highest risk you should consider in a hotel is fire. With this in mind, always make yourself aware of the nearest exit as soon as you check in. If there is no satisfactory fire exit, try to get a room near the ground floor. I have seen a guy on TV who travels all over the world, and he will never stay above the 6th floor of any hotel. Why? Because no fire ladder can reach above this level. A little extreme? I love the views from high floors so choose this option, but there is an added risk. If you are not quick on your feet, always ask yourself “how quickly would I get out of here if the elevator was out of action?”
6. Food. The most likely reason for a spoilt holiday. I find this so hard; refusing ice in a drink on a hot day, or turning down a fantastic salad. I have suffered, and no doubt will continue to suffer, from failure to observe this advice strictly. Yet it’s obvious if you see the water source in many places that it’s not going to be good for someone with a weak Western anti-body system. A little restraint at the table can spare a lot of trouble in the bathroom. And if, as in my last case, you don’t have a bathroom and are relying on squat toilets or worse, it really is sensible to lay off anything that has seen the local water.
7. Activities. High adrenaline activities can be the highlight of a trip. Most operators go to great lengths to train their staff, get appropriate accreditation and insurance and issue thorough safety advice before you go. They know that their reputation will be detroyed by an accident. Not all operators work to this principle. If you are going to throw yourself off a mountain top, or jump from a plane, take a little time to find out about who is looking after you, and don’t be afraid to ask them questions. They should be willing to share their accreditations and safety checks with you; if not, there might be a good reason to walk away.
8. Instinct. As a general rule, if it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. Many of us at some time will have a strong feeling that using a particular transport option, or going to a particular place, isn’t for us. Why put yourself through torment, just to tick a box on a list and say you’ve been somewhere/done something. It’s your trip, and if you don’t feel like doing something, go with your feelings.
There are countless more things to add, and I am certainly no expert in this area. I welcome others’ input as to the rules they apply to their own travels. We all apply, at least at an unconscious level, some measure of risk assessment in everything we do. It shouldn’t stop us having a great time. In the meantime, happy travels!
It's good to be home
Hey nice to see, Andy—we've had safety on the brain too this week and have written a series of posts focused on the difficulties backpackers experience while abroad. I like what you had to say about instinct. In doing research for one of the safety-related pieces, we learned that while 'instinct' was once regarded as an imaginary event, science has come to understand it now as a very practical event. Instinct and intuition are merely the convergence of one’s senses, conscious insights and subconscious memories. Like you said, the bottom line is—trust your instinct. If something seems wrong—it probably is wrong.
A piece of advice I always follow is to never pull out a map in public. If you need to check your location or direction, it's best to step inside a friendly store or something. Usually, there are going to be maps around the city, especially if there's a metro or bus line, use those instead.
Looking at a pocket/city map automatically pings you as a tourist.