Group trips with friends are always desirable and memorable. However, there are a lot of things to consider when you are planning for it. Apart from the itinerary, budget, and stay planning, there are concerns related to your safety and security. It is quite important but most of us don’t consider it or miss out on it.
With the fun and excitement, it’s important not to overlook the significance of having a safe stay. For this, you need to consider a lot of things apart from having proper information about the place you are visiting. In this blog, we’ll explore other factors that need to be considered to ensure your group trips go smoothly.
Pre-Trip Preparations
Choose Your Destination Wisely
Choosing a destination which is safe to visit is the most important to ensure you have a safe and secure group trip. Do proper research about the selected destination, and consider aspects like banned things, crime rates, and safety for tourists.
Also, don’t forget to keep an eye on the travel advisories issued by the government and its agencies. Additionally, do proper research on the season to visit that destination. For instance, during the rainy season, avoid travelling to hilly areas.
Plan Your Itinerary
Plan a well-researched itinerary with every detail about your trip, that includes stay details, transportation methods, schedules, and other things. Discuss the itinerary with your co-travellers and come to a consensus.
Having a planned itinerary helps you in so many ways. Your group knows your whereabouts and in case of emergency, it won’t take much time to respond.
Travel Insurance
Generally, people avoid choosing a travel insurance plan due to a limited budget or they think it is not necessary to have it. However, insurance covers you from unprecedented situations like flight cancellation, lost luggage, accidents, and more.
While choosing a travel insurance plan for group trips, take advice from everyone and don’t forget to read the terms and conditions carefully.
How Important Is a Travel Insurance?
Emergency Contact List
When on a trip, don’t forget to keep a list of emergency contacts in your pocket and also save emergency numbers in your phone. Furthermore, save emergency numbers like tourist police, embassy, and other important numbers. Also, share those numbers with the people travelling with you.
Photocopies and Digital Backups
While going on a trip, it is important to carry copies of documents like passport, visa, driving licence, etc. Keep these copies separate from the original ones. Moreover, you can save digital copies of your documents into the cloud.
Personal Safety
Stay Together
When you are on a group vacation, always remember to stay together. In an unfamiliar place, it is easy to get separated, especially in crowded places, and to avoid this, always remain with your group. Further, keep a meeting point, in case somebody gets separated or goes missing, you can meet him at that place.
Pair System
When in a crowded or unfamiliar place, roam in a pair instead of roaming alone or sparingly. This will help you stay together and enjoy the place.
Stay Away Strangers
While travelling, it is important to stay away from strangers. While, it is good to interact with local people, and learn their culture and traditions, but maintains a healthy boundary. Stay cautious, avoid giving away money, and don’t hesitate to take the help of local authorities if you are being followed or harassed.
Trust Your Instincts
If you feel something is fishy or suspect a scam, don’t ignore your instincts. Stay together with your group and take the necessary actions, if required.
Personal Belongings
While travelling, take your valuables and belongings with you safely. For valuables, buy an anti-theft backpack and keep them in it. Furthermore, in a crowded place, beware of pickpockets and keep the safety of your pockets. Also, you can use a hotel locker or cloakroom to store valuables and important items.
Health and Safety
Health Precautions
Before going on group trips, ensure that everyone is physically fit and feeling well. Further, research your destination if it has any disease outbreaks or needs any kind of vaccination.
Last but not least, always carry a first aid box containing all required medicines and supplies.
Medications and Allergies
If any member of your travel group has a medical condition, take a good stock of prescribed medications and teach the other members about the condition.
Food and Water Safety
Due to changes in water quality, you and your group may have issues with digestion and other health issues. Therefore, in group tours, drink only the packaged mineral water and eat cautiously. While eating at a restaurant, look out if they maintain and follow basic hygiene.
Local Laws and Customs
While visiting an unfamiliar country or place, research the local laws, culture, customs and traditions properly. Make sure everyone in your group is familiar with it. Moreover, adopt acceptable behaviour while interacting with locals.
Emergency Services
If you encounter any medical emergency, take the help of a local emergency service. Save the medical emergency number in every traveller’s phone.
Financial Security
Budgeting
Generally, the budget becomes a hurdle on trips. In some instances, people run out of money, consequently, they face a lot of issues. To avoid overspending, set a budget and encourage your peers to stick to it. Also, at the end of the day, ponder over your spending.
Secure Banking
While going on an international group trip, ensure that your card is activated for international transactions. Take the help of your bank to understand the forex markup fees and other charges while transacting abroad.
Furthermore, use ATMs only when your group is around or when you feel safe. If you fear any kind of unauthorized transaction, don’t forget to inform your bank about that.
Cash and Valuables
Don’t carry a lot of cash, instead, use digital payment methods. While roaming in a crowded place, don’t show off your jewellery or valuables as this can make you prone to robbery.
Transportation Safety
Safe Transportation
For travelling, choose transportation which is reliable, safe and economical. Generally, metropolitan cities have well-established transportation systems where you can travel economically using the metro and hyperloop. To avoid the rush, you can book your tickets in advance.
Seatbelts and Safety Gear
Learn the local road rules and follow them to avoid challans. Also, don’t forget to wear a seatbelt whenever you drive. On hills, always take the required precautions and follow the rules. While riding a motorcycle, wear safety gear to avoid any kind of unprecedented situation.
Public Transportation
Using public transportation is a wise way to save money but you should remain cautious and beware of pickpockets. If you suspect any suspicious activity, make your group and yourself safe.
Communication
Local SIM Cards
Sometimes, in remote locations only local networks work. To ensure safe travel, get everyone a local SIM card so that you remain connected using mobile data and calls. Also, this will help you in taking emergency help if required.
Apps and Maps
In an unfamiliar place, it is always good to use maps and other related apps to avoid getting lost. Furthermore, you can install local travel apps to explore some of the unknown places.
Check-In System
Fix a time and place for everyone from your travel group to meet and report if you are travelling in a large group. This ensures that nobody gets separated and stays together.
Emergency Protocols
Emergency Scenarios
Unprecedented scenarios can arise anytime. To address such conditions, discuss such scenarios with your friends. Furthermore, you must have details and information about the nearest embassy.
Evacuation Plan
Always have an evacuation plan ready and discuss with your group if you face any untoward situation.
Emergency Kit
While going out, especially trekking or hiking, always carry an emergency kit with essentials like a flashlight, power bank, first aid kit, packaged food and other things. Keep this kit with you at all times.
Responsible Drinking and Partying
Alcohol Awareness
Whenever on a tour, drink responsibly as excessive indulgence may impair your judgement and endanger you. Also, ask your friends to ensure the same.
Party Safety
When in a club or pub, stay together and avoid indulging in any kind of argument or brawl. Do not leave your drinks unattended, and don’t accept drinks from strangers.
Documenting Your Trip
Social Media Caution
Last, but not least, don’t share your trip details and whereabouts on social media. In your absence from your home, posting about your location and activities can cause a potential robbery or break-in.
Also read: 15 Ways To Plan A Budget Trip With Friends & Travelling Abroad: Everything You Need To Know
Shreya Bhatt