Month: October 2019

There used to be a time when people go on a trip and focus on having fun. All they had was the name of the city or town that they wanted to visit. These folks might know a hotel or resort as well, but that’s mere because a friend or advertisement informed them about it. And when they reach their destination, they let loose and try to do as much as possible before leaving.

Nowadays, when folks travel, they do not care much about the number of activities they can do in one place. They use the internet to search for a location where there are plenty of camera-friendly areas. They manage to stop at a few hotspots, but their goal is to take a lot of photos instead of appreciating the structures or the view.

In all honesty, nothing seems wrong with how the people in the modern age spend their vacation. Others say that everyone is becoming less appreciative of what we have, but I don’t think that’s the case. We merely focus on capturing what we see and then sharing it with the rest of the world.

The only issue that always comes up during vacations is internet connectivity. You don’t have to worry if you’re traveling to another city. It means that you will still get a signal from your telecom company. However, if your destination is another country, you may have to look for a different way to stay connected online.

Here are a few ways to be virtually safe while traveling.

Avoid Public Hotspots

Terminals, restaurants, and café often boast about offering free Wi-Fi to their customers. Some come with a password; others you can connect to openly. Most individuals, however, are attracted to the latter because it entails that they can stand outside of the establishment to use their internet.

The thing is, open Wi-Fi connections are easy to access not only by tourists like you but also by hackers. Who’s to say that hacktivists are not baiting you with the internet to be able to get your personal information? To be on the safe side, therefore, you ought to avoid public hotspots altogether.

Buy 4G Or LTE SIM Card

Assuming your smartphone has an open line, you can remove your SIM card for a while and replace it with a local one from the country that you’re visiting. You see, even when you go to a third-world nation, you can find prepaid SIM cards that come with an internet connection. It may cost you a little more than usual, but it can undoubtedly reduce your chances of getting hacked.

Use A VPN

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is not as mainstream as other internet services, but it is starting to gain popularity all over the world. The reason is that VPN encrypts whatever data you are sending or receiving, thus keeping you safe from hackers

Final Thoughts

No matter how much you enjoy staying connected virtually when you’re traveling, you should be aware of how you are getting the internet. Not all connections are secure, especially not the ones without passwords. Remember the tips above to ensure your internet safety anywhere.

Good luck!

I love the idea of traveling to a foreign place every summer. For someone who rarely sees the sun, I have to go to a tropical location to enjoy the beach. It is a perfect opportunity for me to get a natural tan and resemble a bronzed goddess, even if it may only last for a few days. Of course, it feels incredible to bury my feet in the sand and feel the waves crash on my legs.

The thing is, I am the only one in my family who loves going to a new place all the time. When I brought my parents to Cabo, Mexico several years ago, they wanted to go back there every year after that. My father said, “We already know our way around Cabo, and it’s a beautiful location. Why should we have to go somewhere else and risk getting lost?”

As repetitive as I may sound, I reiterate to my parents how we can avoid getting lost in a foreign place. Let me share the steps I take to ensure that.

Do Extensive Research About The Town/City

One of the vital things you can do before the trip is doing extensive research about the towns or cities that you’ll visit. The internet is your best friend during this phase. When you type a particular location, dozens of information will pop up. You may be able to find blogs from people who have been there.

In case you want to see things for yourself, you can find a street view version of a place. It entails that you will see a panoramic image and even be able to “walk” around the streets.

Figure Out The Routes

Considering you know which places you want to visit, your next goal is to search for the routes that will take you there. Start from the airport, bus terminal, train station, or wherever you will come from. Find out how far your hotel is from a theme park, a famous restaurant, etc. At least a couple of routes may appear so that you won’t feel lost at all.

Know The Best Mode Of Transportation To Reach A Particular Destination

Another thing to think about is your mode of transportation in a foreign place.

When you consult Google maps, you will realize that the best way to travel is via a private car. You can look for shortcuts, go anytime you want, and not worry about sitting next to strangers. However, trains and buses may bring you faster to your destination than a vehicle that you will drive.

Remember The Names Of Key Establishments

Lastly, you should remember the name of your hotel, the street it is in, the café near it, and other establishments that can lead you back to your accommodation. You cannot forget this, especially if you are in a place where English isn’t the primary language. Even when you cannot communicate fluently with the locals, they may recognize the key locations and point you there.

Final Thoughts

Still scared of getting lost in a foreign place? Don’t be. Follow the tips above and travel confidently.

Good luck!