10 Things To Know Before Your Holiday To Avoid A Travel Disaster

Sh*t happens and it can also happen during your painstakingly planned trip that you've been saving up for and looking forward to for months. ?

While the chances of something going wrong during a holiday is relatively slim, it's still best to be prepared for the worst so you can avoid or better manage a travel disaster.

Keep reading to find out 10 things to know before you go on holiday!

#1 Do your research about the food and water

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In Singapore, you can drink tap water and eat anything from anywhere without a second thought, but not all eateries in other countries follow food regulations. Make sure to research on what you should avoid eating and if the tap water is safe to drink to avoid getting the runs and ruining your trip!

#2 Make sure you bring the essentials

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There are some things that you can buy or share with your travel buddies if you forget to bring on your trip but the four essential things you must have are: your passport, travel insurance, prescription medicine and chargers.

If you're in an area where you can't find a charger to buy, running out of phone battery could lead to a stressful situation as you can't use Google Maps or contact your folks at home. Bring a portable charger too so you won't have to feel the anxiety of seeing a low battery percentage on your phone! ?

#3 Prepare a plan B

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Anything can happen on a trip and it's best to make a plan B in case something doesn't go according to plan. This can be anything from arranging a plan for where to meet if you and your travel buddies get separated and can't contact each other or packing an extra pair of underwear and socks in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost.

#4 Check if you need a visa

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Singapore is one of the strongest passports in the world and we're pretty proud of it. But that doesn't mean we don't need to apply for a visa! You'd be surprised to know the countries that require a visa for Singaporean travellers. As of the publishing date of this article, the list includes India, Australia, Canada, USA and Russia, according to MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore). Make sure to check official government websites before you go on holiday as visa requirements are constantly changing.

Make sure to apply for a visa in advance to make sure it gets approved before the day of your flight. Also, take note of the type of visa you require and the number of days. Try not to plan your holiday such that you stay for the entire number of days you're permitted to stay in the country. If something goes wrong and you miss your flight, you may end up staying in the country past the maximum number of days permitted!

#5 Be careful of pickpockets

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Find out which areas are prone to pickpocketing and make sure your bag is in front of you when you're there. Pickpockets sometimes employ distraction strategies so make sure you and your travel buddies stay alert and look out for each other.

One thing that some travellers do when they are in an area where muggers and pickpockets operate is to prepare a decoy wallet. This 'fake' wallet contains a small amount of money, receipts and deactivated cards. At the same time, your actual cash and cards are kept somewhere safer. The idea is, when someone threatens you and demands you hand over your wallet, you can hand over your decoy wallet. That being said, there's also the chance that muggers see through the strategy and take further action against you. Still, pickpockets could target your decoy wallet instead of your real one!

#6 Make copies of your passport

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Make two copies of your passport ID page in either an image on your phone or a hard copy. Give one copy to someone you trust in Singapore in case you need to contact them and keep the other copy with you but stored in a different place than your passport.

If your passport gets lost or stolen, it will be easier to get a replacement with a copy of it.

#7 Research common scams

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Scammers prey on tourists as they're not familiar with the local customs or prices. Taxi drivers could overcharge you or street peddlers could trick and force you to purchase their product. Research on common scams that happen in the city you're travelling to and around popular tourist hotspots so you know what to look out for.

#8 Research protocol in the case of car accidents

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If you're driving while on holiday, make sure you know what to do in the case of a car accident in that country or city and have your insurance details ready to share with other parties involved in the accident.

#9 Save contact number of the police and ambulance

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If injuries or crimes happen (touch wood), having the contact number of the local police and ambulance will make it easier for you to take action quickly.

On a side note, it's also a good idea to take note of the address and contact number of major hospitals in the city and clinics near your accommodation.

#10 Take note of the Singapore embassy contact number and address

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Sometimes, things can go very wrong and you might even feel like you're in danger. Natural disasters or political unrest could crop up or you could have stayed past your visa or lost your passport.

In situations like these, you can contact the Singapore embassy for help. You can also register your travels with the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs so they can contact you in the case of an emergency or crisis.

Give a copy of your itinerary including the address of your accommodation to someone in Singapore so they can act immediately to help or locate you in the case of an emergency.

Share this article with your friends who could use these travel tips!

Text by: GirlStyle SG