As a college student, you may enjoy the relative freedom to travel unattended for the first time in your life.  Without your parents to guide and protect you, however, you could end up in some unsafe situations if you’re not careful.  This isn’t necessarily your fault.  After all, you’re inexperience and ignorance are likely to blame.  However, you’re the one who will suffer from a lack of knowledge.

If you want to ensure that your travels go off without a hitch, here are just a few safety guidelines you’ll want to follow any time you travel.

1. Table of Contents

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   Leave an Itinerary

No matter where you’re going it’s a good idea to leave word with someone you trust, such as a family member, a friend, a roommate, or the like.  Leave behind a copy of your travel itinerary, complete with dates, times, flight numbers, hotel information, and other pertinent data.

Don’t forget to check in when you arrive at your destination and set up regular check-in times.  This way if something should happen to you, such as an accident or medical emergency, someone back home will come looking for you sooner rather than later.

2. Get immunizations

You don’t necessarily need to get immunized if you’re traveling domestically, but if you plan to vacation abroad you’ll need to speak with your doctor about getting proper immunizations before you go.  There are a couple of good reasons to do so.

First and foremost, you want to make sure that you don’t pick up any ailments during your trip, since illness could not only ruin your vacay, but also land you in quarantine upon returning to the states.  In addition, some countries require that you have certain immunizations before you may enter.

3. Understand Travel Restrictions

If you haven’t traveled much before, you may not be aware of which items are okay to pack in your checked luggage or carry-ons and which are strictly prohibited.  You should therefore visit the TSA website before you travel to learn what you can and can’t take with you when you fly.

If you’re going to travel abroad then don’t forget to look up travel restrictions for other countries as well.  The last thing you want is to get stuck in customs answering questions.

4. Plan Ahead

Imagine that you decide to wing it and purchase an airline ticket to your destination at the last minute.  What if you are unable to find lodgings once you arrive?  What will you do for safety and shelter?  How will people know where you are if you end up lost or involved in an accident that leaves you unable to call home?

The point is that a failure to make travel plans ahead of time could place you in an unsafe situation, so even if you decide to change your plans later, it’s best to make a solid plan before you jump on a plane.

5. Do Your Homework

Whenever you decide to take a break from study in sustainability program and jet off to parts unknown, you’ll find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings.  For this reason, you should take the time to learn the basic layout of the city you’re visiting so that you can find your way around and avoid potentially hazardous areas.

If you’re traveling abroad, you should also learn a bit about the culture, language, customs, road rules, and so on.  You don’t want to offend residents or raise the ire of authorities through ignorance as this could definitely put a damper on your adventure.