The 3 Most Important Safety Precautions to Take Before Take-Off

Before you leave on your adventure, there are three major precautions you should take.

Develop a Homebase. First, you should choose someone as your "homebase". In the case of an emergency or any type of victimization, it is important that you have a family member or friend that will be available for contact and is aware of your travel plans. Your homebase should know the countries and major cities you plan on visiting before you leave. In the case you don't have plans and are just living day by day, have a designated day that you plan on checking in with your homebase to communicate your whereabouts. 

Protect Your Passport. Your passport is your bond to the world. Without it, you are lost. Passports get lost and stolen all of the time while traveling. To prevent any hiccups, it is best to make copies of your passport. I would "hide" a passport copy in each bag you are bringing and also on your person (in your security belt). In the case you lose or leave a bag, you still have a copy. One more precaution to take with your passport is to leave a copy with your homebase. In the case that you lose your passport and all of your copies, your friend/family member can easily fax/email a copy to you. 
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Double Check Your Credit/Debit Cards. Most people travel with at least one credit/debit card. Make sure that you visit your bank at least two weeks before you leave to place a travel advisory on your card(s). Without putting a flag on your account, your card is most likely going to get declined during your first transaction abroad. Regarding your cards also, it's important to check your card limit before you leave to avoid be declined after making a big purchase. Double check your pin number. If you have an international card/plan, you will not be charged international transaction fees. However, if you don't, most providers will charge 3% for cash withdrawal and 10% on credit card transactions. I also advise you make a copy of your main card and leave it with your designated homebase family member or friend.