Stepping out your door into the unknown is what makes travel so exciting. Each day brings endless possibility, but that possibility is for both good and bad. When you visit Inverness, there’s a lot of things to see and you’ll definitely end up enjoying a day sightseeing in the city. But at times, there are misfortunes too like getting robbed while on a walking tour. You may spend an amazing day at the Loch Ness or on another day, you may suffer from food poisoning.
You can never really tell what will happen in your trip, no matter how well you plan it. The secret to not spoil your vacation is to be prepared for anything that you may face along the road. To help you out, here are some things you can do to prepare for the best or the worst in your Inverness Tour:
1. Always Bring One or Two Multipurpose Gears
Pack multi-use gear to ensure you can easily adjust to changing conditions in Scotland. This will also help
you reduce the amount of clothing you need to take. For example, you can take a pair of pants that zip
off into shorts; a pair of walking shoes that also looks nice enough for an evening out; or use swim
trunks as a pair of shorts for jogging or a swimsuit as an inner clothing for walking. This saves room in
your bag and money since you don’t need to buy as much stuff. This always ensures you are dressed for
any occasion too.
2. Always Carry a First Aid Kit
While you can find modern medicine anywhere in the world or from the convenience stores, you still
should carry even a small first aid kit with the basic items to treat bruises or medicine to treat you from
feeling unwell. Take with you the allowable volume of legal medicines like Tylenol, stomach illness
medicine, eyedrops, Band-Aids, scissors, hydrocortisone cream, antibacterial ointment, and a small
supply of doctor-approved antibiotics. These are always available in any pharmacy, but in case of an
emergency, it’s good to have these items handy.
3. Always Pack a Small Flashlight
You’d be surprised how many travelers don’t carry one, but a flashlight will prove to be invaluable when
you suddenly decide to go hiking or cycling in the Loch Ness 360 or camp out on natural parks. When
your hike lasts longer than expected and nightfall sets in, or when the electricity goes out unexpectedly,
which is not uncommon in a lot of places. There are strong LEDs that come in key chain sizes. They are
waterproof pen flashlight that’s easy to bring when you travel.
4. Carry a Reusable Water Bottle
Water is life, and while it’s unlikely you’re going to be lost out in a desert or the jungle, it always pays to
be prepared. Carrying a reusable water bottle and filter will not only save you money as a traveler, but it
will also prevent tons of single-use plastic from ending up in landfills or the ocean. And yes, should an emergency arise you’ll be prepared. Most people can survive for 3 weeks without food but you’ll only make it 3 days without water. Never leave home without a reusable bottle and filter.
5. Learn Basic Phrases When Traveling Overseas
This may not be really applicable when you come to Inverness since Scotts also use English. But like
other English-speaking countries, there are some phrases unique to the country so learn them.
In other places where English isn’t even their second language, locals don’t expect you to be an expert in
their language, but knowing how to say “hello,” “goodbye,” and “thank you” go a long way in endearing
yourself to locals. After all, wouldn’t you be annoyed if someone came to your home and expected you
to know their language?
Knowing a few key phrases will not only make interactions easier, but it will also help you when you
bargain for goods, order food, get lost, or need help.
6. Study Nonverbal Communication
Most people interact using both verbal and nonverbal communication, so paying attention to facial
expressions can help you appropriately read a situation, even if you don’t understand the verbal part.
When you don’t know the language or might take words out of context, keep calm and take a moment
to read the feelings of the person.
Learning nonverbal communication can be helpful in defusing tense situations with taxi drivers, vendors,
and hotel owners. Understanding nonverbal communication doesn’t happen overnight. It takes practice,
better try to learn them from the web.
7. Keep Emergency Cash with You
While there is almost always an ATM around these days, you never know when emergency cash might
come in handy. You could end up in an airport and find that none of your ATM cards work and you are
stuck without any money. Prepare a stash of at least $500 USD for emergency situations. This can be
easily exchanged to different currencies.
Here in Inverness, to help you lessen the money you need to bring along with you, you can already
Pre-book your taxi services with taxi booking companies like Inverness Taxis and pay it with your credit
card or bank transfer. Most taxis these days also already accept credit cards when paying. Restaurants
are the same and some shopping centers. Your card and your emergency funds will be useful if you get
robbed or lose your wallet.
8. Make Copies of Your Passport and Important Documents
Keeping copies of your documents can come in handy during an emergency, especially if you lose your
originals. If you get robbed or lose your passport, having copies ready for officials can make filing police
reports and obtaining new documents much easier. When I lost my passport, my backup copies helped
with my police report and served as my proof of identity at the American embassy. Copy your passport,
your health/travel insurance paperwork, and your credit cards.
9. Carry a List of Emergency Contacts
Apart from carrying emergency cash and bank cards, you should also always have a list of your
emergency contacts in case you run into an unfortunate event. Before you travel, research for
professionals you can help you during emergencies like doctors, lawyers, police personnel, and a staff
from your country’s embassy office. It’s wise to always carry one copy with you and another one left in
your hotel rooms.
10. Read Before You Go
You never know when you might face the unexpected, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my
years of traveling, it’s that even the best-laid plans can go awry. You may not use these items all the
time, and, hopefully, you won’t ever need some of them, but the point is to be ready when you do. After
all, a scout is always prepared.
Final Words
Traveling in Inverness is both fun and convenient. With all the establishments from hotels, police,
hospitals, etc, readily available, running into an unfortunate event shouldn’t be much of a hassle.
Traveling to Inverness this year? Pre-book your taxi service with Inverness Taxis today and experience
ultimate comfort when going from one spot to the other. Be safer as you travel from the airport to your
hotel or to any tourist spots you’d wish to visit.