31 Tips To Stay Safe During Your Gap Year Abroad

Are you excited to take a gap year abroad but wondering how to be safe during your journey? Well, for most of the people who are stepping out solo for the first time in life, it is quite evident for the parents to worry and for you, to lose your sleep, being scared about what might go wrong in a country where you’ve never been before!

While there’s no doubt that this is gonna be an exciting journey that will teach you a lot, safety concerns will always remain the leading cause why most people either opt-out or convince themselves that gap year is not for them!

Guess you aren’t one of those stepping back — and let me tell you, with all the risks and rewards, your gap year trip will surely be one of those experiences that’ll change your life and open new doors for you!

So stop agonizing about the dangers of traveling solo and use the helpful tips to stay safe as you learn meaningful life lessons on your year abroad.

1. Keep photocopies of your flight tickets, credit/debit cards, and other valuable documents.

2. Scan and get digital copies, especially of your passport, and email them to yourself — you can then print them if needed on the go (where you have wifi and a printer at least!).

3. Carry a separate file/pouch, and put all your original travel documents in that. Keep the photocopies separately, just in case if you lose something, you don’t lose them all at once!

4. Do proper research about the place you are traveling to and keep your folks at home informed about your whereabouts.

5. Make your travel bucket list beforehand, and add all the places you wish to visit, things you wanna do and experiences you dream to live — so that you don’t miss out on anything!

6. Be prepared to expect the unexpected! Not everything will happen the way you plan — it’s better to be flexible and follow the wind at times! Staying calm is the best way to deal with situations.

7. Discuss with your dad (or someone who can guide you best!) and sort out your gap year finances! Set a daily budget to manage your finances — especially if you want to book day-trips and experiences when abroad.

8. Don’t carry large amounts of cash with you unless absolutely necessary.

9. Carry a false wallet. This is a rookie trick that has saved many backpackers from being robbed!

10. If you’re planning your gap year abroad with any organization, seek their advice regarding how much money you need to carry and details about the expenditures that might be in the pipeline. It’ll help you to be aware of the costs to incur.

11. Get a prepaid cash card that lets you top up ahead of time and provides the same protection to your money as a credit card does.

12. Consult your doctor and make sure you carry all the necessary medicines with you.

13. Know about the vaccinations that are necessary — usually tetanus and Diphtheria (typically a booster jab), Hepatitis A, Cholera and Typhoid are the ones that you must take! For certain African countries, the Yellow Fever vaccine is also a must.

14. A lot of developing countries still have the menace of malaria! As for malaria, it’s worth speaking to your doctor about which course of anti-malarial medication is best for your trip.

15. Keep a record card of your vaccinations so you can show it to any medical professional should you be hospitalized overseas.

16. If you have a condition that requires medication (e.g. inhalers) then talk to your doctor and stock up on those essential supplies.

17. If you have any long term illness or any allergies etc., then keep your service provider informed about the same.

18. While many people think that it’s not a necessity, trust me when I say this — get proper travel insurance! It’ll save you a lot of money in case of an emergency.

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INSURANCE ADVICE: Insurance premium costs will be a small fraction of your total travel budget but medical bills will be your biggest expense, if you have a serious accident. Don’t dismiss travel insurance as unaffordable or unnecessary.

19. Update all the necessary apps on your phone — like Google Maps, Google Translator, CRED, Forex etc.

20. Learn a few commonly used words in the local language of the country you’re traveling to. This will be immensely necessary if you’re lost or if you want some help from a stranger!

21. Always carry your mobile phone (charged and with credit). Better to have it and not use it than not have it when you need it!

22. Store useful emergency numbers, e.g. parents home and mobile numbers, police, embassy and know to access them easily (voice recognize or speed dial)!

23. While you’ll be free to try out all that you’ve never done before, it’s necessary to be healthy while you’re on your gap year. Eat well, drink clean bottled water and maintain personal hygiene to keep sickness at bay while trotting the world.

24. Trust your gut and avoid unnecessary eye contact with strangers! (That doesn’t mean you’ll always keep a distance and not make new friends) Just be sure that you don’t call trouble with a smile!

25. Ignore catcalls and the like as responding may be seen as a potential willingness to engage further. If you suspect someone is following you, enter any busy public place and call for help if you need it.

26. If you choose to volunteer for a meaningful cause during your gap year abroad, then know exactly what you’re signing up for and preparing yourself accordingly. Know that the work culture varies across the world, and you need to be flexible to adapt their ways!

27. If your smartphone has been stolen/lost then try and remotely block it via another internet-enabled device. Same goes for your credit cards — if stolen, make sure to inform your bank immediately.

28. While clicking photographs of strangers on the streets, seek their permission, Often, people tend to get offended or might just end up asking for money, if they catch you clicking their portraits!

29. If you’re heading to any religious place (no matter in which part of the world you are!) — make sure to dress moderately. Otherwise, there are chances that you might be denied access to the premises!

30. Keep your night travels at a minimum if you are traveling alone. Overnighting in a bus or a car might have its advantages, but we always suggest you assess the risks well before jumping into it.

31. Don’t trust people blindly! Remember that your safety depends on your actions and decisions to a great extent.

When traveling the world it’s important to prepare for any risks you may encounter. It’s going to spoil things a bit if you get scammed, fall sick or have your belongings stolen but it’ll be worse if you haven’t prepared for these possibilities and for what you’ll do next. But nonetheless, it shouldn’t stop you from setting out for the best journey of your life — and experience all the amazing things that are waiting for you, beyond your comfort zone!