Security On Holiday - Part 1 - Research

What is the world coming too, Death, Despondency and Sinking to the Depths of Despair?
Will our weekly shopping bills be rising, are the feral youths running riot on the streets, will the COVID-19 virus be escalating tremendously. Need I go on?

The world does seem to be sinking into the depths of despair!

If you believe what the papers say, then yes, we are sinking and sinking fast.

‘STOP’

Do not despair; you can easily protect yourself with sound and adequate security measures.
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Security While On Holiday

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Research

Importance Of Research

During my time in the Military, when we went into a new environment for the first time, we were dependent on the advice and experience of the Soldiers who had been there before. If you are going on holiday to a country for the first time, find out about the place and culture before you get there. 

Reading up on your destination, before your holiday should not be a chore; if you learn a bit about the place and its climate, people, culture and customs, you will not only improve your safety and security, you will have a more enjoyable holiday as well, with less chance of offending the locals and other tourists. 

I booked a holiday to Brazil a few months ago; but, there had been so much happening that I had pushed the research to the back of my mind. While a few of my friends had already been to the same area that I was going to, I had not done any of my usual research. I would usually have any trip researched to within an inch of its life; but, this time I had nothing. Therefore, I took to the internet to gather as much information as possible. 

My first point of call was to check out my accommodation; I visited the resort’s website to see what facilities were on offer. Not being one to hang around the pool all day, I was eager to check out the area in Rio-de-Janeiro to see what activities were on offer. The resort website did not offer much information, so I had to dig deeper on my own. I visited tourist information sites for the local town and area. It took me further, but I still wasn’t satisfied. Looking at Google Earth, I zoomed right in on my accommodation and the surrounding areas; I learned a lot. 

I took a quick look at Rio-de-Janeiro Airport and was surprised by how large it was. I checked out how big the regional parts of the city were, and local tourist areas; I also looked at the dangerous areas in the city. Google Earth was an invaluable tool in seeing my destination. A typical photograph is excellent to look at, but it doesn't always give you an idea of the scale of the area. 

I'm glad I went digging around on websites and Google Earth. I had a fair idea of what was in store for me. By doing simple image searches on Google Images and Flickr.com, I was able to get a perfect flavour of the city. 

It’s one thing knowing that something is physically there, to see a picture taken at a particular moment in time; but, I wanted to know what ordinary people like me thought of the place. So I paid a visit to TripAdvisor.co.uk, where I read a lot of reviews on accommodation, day trips, museums, restaurants, bars, beaches, and most importantly, shopping. 

It turned out I was enjoying my research; so I checked a few extra things, the weather, maps of the area, the usual stuff. I was wanting to know what was happening in Brazil right now. I took a look at Twitter.com, using the search bar I typed in Rio-de-Janeiro, and instant access to the city appeared. It spurred me on to look at further websites, where I found even more up to date information. Before I decided to finish, I took a look at youtube.com, to watch some videos of the area. While I came across a good few drunken holiday videos, I also found unusual ones covering the local area as well. 

I then thought about the local culture, religion, and a few other local things. What were the preferred dress codes and where could I go, the last thing I wanted to be was for me to have to cover up and stay in the hotel for the whole holiday. All-in-all, after a couple of hours of research, I felt quite familiar with Rio-de-Janeiro, a place I had not visited before. Equipped with such information can only turn an enjoyable holiday into a fantastic one. 

Your Essential Holiday Research Checklist

Armed with your newfound information, I'm sure you will have a fantastic stress-free holiday.
  • Check out the official websites of the place you are staying and places you hope to visit 
  • Check out the local tourist offices, and don't be shy about emailing them for more information as they are always happy to help 
  • Have a look at the area you will be visiting on Google Earth; you will get a better idea of the size of where you are staying and will be able to estimate if a two-minute walk to the beach is really two-minutes 
  • Take a look at pictures of your destination; don't rely on ones provided by the tour company; it's their job to show you the good looking side. Look at Google Images and Flickr; which can be very useful for accurate local pictures 
  • Go to travel review websites, such as Trip Adviser; experiences that other people have had can be beneficial for finding out the best, and worst places to visit. 
  • Social Networking websites like Twitter, are great for getting a feel for an area, whether you just listen to other peoples comments or you decide to interact with them 
  • Checking the weather in the days leading up to your holiday gives you a better idea of what to pack 
  • Learn a little bit of the local language (Portuguese in Brazil); it always helps; besides that, it is only polite to say thank you in the local language (Obrigado) 
  • Speak to the NHS about what vaccinations, if any are required, and when you need to start taking them 
As well as the above information, you need to think about your safety and that of your companions. Find out what you can legally take into a country, different countries have different rules; the last thing you want is to be arrested on your first day on holiday. 

Always check the Foreign and Commonwealth website for up to date safety advice, fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country; if you are heading to Brazil, for instance, there are specific areas you are advised to avoid because of the risk of COVID-19, shootings, kidnapping, and possibly death. 

Heed their advice; it may save your life, and your family too!

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