When embarking on a journey all travelers must prioritize safety. However, digital nomads have an added layer of responsibility to safeguard their security while on the move especially digital nomads beyond 50.
Simply leaving things to chance isn’t sufficient – your livelihood hinges on taking measures.
Being a digital nomad myself, with experience I’ve compiled a list of tips for nomads to stay safe while traveling.
There can be tons of small problems you can solve before even hitting the road. There are things to consider while packing, during transport, and after you reach.
Let’s jump right into understanding very handy tips you will need if you are one of the digital nomads in New York or wherever.
Pack Your Bag by Yourself, Always
I once asked a friend to take a bag for me while traveling from one country to another, it was a disaster. Not only things were missing but the bag was not packed at all at the time. It turned into him ended up spending quite an hour in security as they thoroughly inspected everything, inside the bag. Luckily there was nothing found. Thankfully none of my gadgets were damaged during the inspection.
Lesson learned; never entrust someone with packing your bags unless you have a level of trust and familiarity with them.
Always Monitor Your Luggage
Remember your livelihood could be at stake if something goes awry with your bags. I once had a friend who lost his laptop (along with the bag it was in) when he placed it between his feet at a McDonald’s. A thief smoothly slid it out. Walked away without being noticed and unfortunately, he never got it back. Never lose sight of your bag in public
Keep Your Devices Out of Sight
Having lived in Asia for two decades I once overlooked this rule. While strolling down the street with my Kindle I suddenly found myself without it as a man, on a motorbike sped off with my device.
The way he swiftly took it from me without my notice was quite impressive. Thankfully I wasn’t physically harmed, although my pride took a hit. Many individuals have experienced incidents where their belongings, such, as phones and laptops were forcibly taken from them including instances of being pulled down the street by a bag strap.
Carry Only Essentials
It always surprises me when someone shares how they went out for the evening and ended up losing their backpack with their camera, laptop, phone, passport, and wallet in it. That’s not the move if you ask me. Whenever possible it’s best to leave your belongings at home (and if needed make sure to secure them). Carrying around your passport is unnecessary – bring a photocopy, for identification purposes.
Be Wary of so-called New Friends
We might like to believe that everyone we encounter while traveling will be as great as we are. Some individuals target unsuspecting expats and digital nomads. Some are nomad experts that can be easily avoided while others are more subtle.
Be cautious of those who quickly offer friendship in a manner. This applies to both locals and foreigners. Take caution if someone tries to involve you in a card game or any shady activity, – it’s likely a scam.
Be extra alert When Returning Home at Night
Remember to take a taxi home and sit in the seat. Avoid using motorcycles, tuk-tuks, or other local transportation options at night. If you are a digital nomad beyond 50, you are likely to get targeted as threats will think stealing from you will be easy
Walking alone at night in developing countries can be risky. Regardless of your size, encountering a group of individuals on the street can lead to losing your belongings or even endangering your life.
Use a VPN Whenever You Can
A VPN (network) is a useful tool for securing your data especially when using public networks or in countries with strict internet censorship. I recommend Windscribe for its affordability and effectiveness in safeguarding your privacy.
Stay Updated with the News
Staying informed by keeping up with the news is crucial for maintaining awareness of any risks or developments that may impact your security. If you decide to register at your country’s embassy, they usually offer a text notification service that alerts you if things start getting tense in the country you’re visiting.
The silver lining is that staying informed by following news can often help you steer clear of any issues. So when trouble is on the horizon, it’s best to pack up and leave town.
Blend in with Local Attire
To steer clear of causing offense and getting into conflicts and to prevent harassment by locals mistaking you for someone it’s important to understand and follow the local dress codes. In countries following customs, this could involve women wearing loose-fitting attire. In India, it might entail opting for clothing that doesn’t overly emphasize your body shape. Traditional regions tend to value adherence to dress norms, for both genders.
Download Google Maps for Offline Access
If you want to avoid losing your way while traveling having a Google map saved on your phone can be incredibly helpful in areas, with a signal or no Wi-Fi connection.
It’s also advisable to snap a photo of your hotel’s business card so you can easily show it to taxi drivers when heading back. Both Grab and Uber require an internet connection.
Hope these tips will help you. No matter whether you are a digital nomad in New York, a digital nomad beyond 50, or all over the world, you are all tipped up to hit the road again with precautions.
