With the upcoming holidays, plenty of families are planning a visit to either new or familiar destinations across Australia. It is important to stop and take a couple of minutes to remind yourself that as you prepare for your trip over the school holidays, that you always have to think about the family's safety, how you can stay connected and informed in case communication networks go down.
To help you stay safe and connected during your travel, here are a few things you should remember:
1. For remote travel, consider taking a personal locator beacon, UHF radio or satellite phone. These forest adventures, camping and the like are fun, but can be remote and out of normal mobile phone range- it is best to be prepared.
2. Do you have a portable radio (battery operated) and a backup power source for your devices? Do not forget to pack a couple up.
3. Before the trip, make it a habit to check the local weather forecast so in case you need to adjust your travel or itinerary, you will be prepared.
One of the most important things is, share your travel plans with your loved ones so they are aware of your whereabouts. Better yet, email or print out an itinerary for them just in case.
Travelling with the family is always a pleasure, be it a new location or a place you frequently visit. Once you arrive it is good to always have a chat with the locals to familiarize or re-familiarize yourself with the area.
