Every traveler knows the standard tricks—rolling clothes to save space, snagging better seats by checking in early, and setting airfare price alerts to stretch your budget. But beyond these comfort hacks and money-saving tips lies a more crucial category of travel knowledge: strategies that could save your life.
From navigating natural disasters to avoiding dangerous situations, these aren’t just clever shortcuts—they’re survival skills for the savvy traveler. Whether you’re backpacking through remote regions or staying at five-star hotels, these life-saving travel hacks could mean the difference between a close call and a catastrophe.
Display Vital Health Information on Your Phone
Certain smartphone apps let you display essential health information (such as severe allergies or medical conditions) right on your lock screen so doctors and first responders can see them even without your password or fingerprint. This is particularly useful for solo travelers who don’t have a companion to advocate for them. Such apps include the Health app on your iPhone and the Medical ID app for Android.
Stow Money in Your Shoe
One ageless and deeply analog tactic for getting out of a jam is to keep a $100 bill (or the local equivalent) in your shoe. If you’re pickpocketed, robbed, or lose your wallet, having an emergency cash stash can pay for your transportation to the police station or back to your hotel, where you can sort everything out.
It’s best if the money is in the local currency, so when you first arrive in a new country, take a bill from your initial ATM withdrawal and stash it somewhere safe.
Split up Your Valuables
If you’re traveling with a friend, don’t have one person carry all the critical stuff such as passports, credit cards, cash, and hotel keys. If one person loses or is robbed of their backpack or purse, you don’t want to lose everything.
If you’re traveling alone, request two hotel keys, and put one in your wallet or purse and the other in your pocket or money belt. Split up cash and credit cards in a similar fashion, with some easily accessible and some hidden in a money belt or your hotel safe. This way, if you are robbed, you can hand over what appears to be everything you have and will hopefully be allowed to go safely on your way without being left without empty-handed.
Save Emergency Numbers in Your Contacts
While 911 is the emergency number in the U.S., it won’t work in many other countries. To help travelers find the correct phone number in other destinations, the U.S. State Department has a handy PDF list of emergency numbers by country. Note that many have different numbers for ambulance, fire, and police, so save all of them individually in your contacts.
In some situations, calling the emergency number might not be appropriate, so it’s also worth looking up and saving the non-emergency numbers of local law enforcement and your home country’s nearest embassy. U.S. citizens may also want to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so the embassy can contact you in case of an emergency.
If you have an iPhone, there is an automated way to call the local emergency number. Simultaneously press and hold the side button and either volume button until the emergency sliders appear and the countdown on Emergency SOS ends, then release the buttons.
Alternatively, you can enable your iPhone to call emergency services when you rapidly press the side button five times in a row. To turn this feature on, go to Settings, Emergency SOS, and then turn on “Call with 5 Presses”.
Stay Between the Third and Sixth Floors
You probably choose your hotel room for its amenities or views, but you should also consider your safety. Don’t accept a room on the ground floor if you can avoid it. We recommend staying between the third and sixth floors, as these rooms are high enough to deter break-ins but low enough for fire engine ladders to reach.
Don’t Let Your Gas Tank Get Low
Keeping an eye on your gas tank will help you avoid running out of gas or having to fuel up in a questionable area. This is particularly important if you’re traveling in harsh environments such as deserts, remote areas, or extremely cold parts of the world, where being stranded without gas could quickly become life-threatening.
Use Caution When Drinking
Being in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language or know the local laws makes you vulnerable; don’t compound this by drinking to excess. Watch your drink being poured, don’t let it out of your sight, and don’t have more than one or two, especially if you’re traveling alone.
Be Willing to Spend When You Feel Unsafe
Everyone wants to save a few bucks when they travel, but it’s not worth your life. If you’re unsure of your surroundings or facing a long walk back to your hotel at night, don’t hesitate to spend extra money on a cab ride to get yourself to safety. The same goes for an Airbnb whose host makes you uncomfortable or a motel that’s in a worse neighborhood than you expected. Don’t stick around if your safety is at risk.
Follow Your Taxi or Carshare Route on a Mapping App
Keeping an eye on the route when you get into a rideshare can help you avoid getting lost or ending up in a sketchy area. If you sense trouble, call your emergency numbers and get out of the car if possible, preferably in a populated area where someone can help.
Have Your First Night’s Lodging Set
Over the years, I have pulled into towns with no plan for lodging; sometimes it went well, sometimes not so well. I can tell you that wandering around in an unfamiliar city with all your bags is not that fun—and could make you a target for thieves. Even if it’s expensive, have your first night’s stay nailed down whenever possible.
Manage Your Allergies
If you have any life-threatening allergies, make sure you learn how to say and spell the name of that item in the local language. You’ll also want to advertise your allergy somehow, perhaps by wearing a medical bracelet or carrying a food allergy card such as those from Select Wisely.
Update Friends and Family
It’s never been easier to keep friends and family updated on your location, and having someone at home know where you are supposed to be can be very useful in an emergency. Send quick texts or emails home noting the city, hotel, or attraction you are visiting so folks know where to find you if something happens.
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