Traveling Overseas with Teens: Keep Them Safe and Healthy

International travel with teens may be easier to do than with small children, but teens present their own challenges while traveling in foreign countries. Although they are more capable of taking care of themselves, they still may not consider the consequences of their actions. Even if your child is in college, and traveling alone or with a peer group, don't assume he or she knows how to travel safely. Share these tips with them as well.

Below are four easy tips to prepare teens and parents for safe foreign travel:

1.  Teach foreign travel hygiene.  Good sanitation can be hard to come by in many countries.  Emphasize the importance of drinking safe water or bottled drinks and eating safe foods.  Looks can be deceiving.  Explain the difference between a peeled fruit like a banana and one where you eat the peel like an apple.  Bring along lots of sanitizing gels and wipes for cleaning up when hand washing isn’t available – which can be often.  Bring your own first aid kit, toilet paper and soap for emergencies.  Secure, rugged-soled shoes are also important safeguards.

2.  Teach foreign travel security.  Security is very different in third world countries from what your teens are used to.  Men should never keep anything in their back pocket.  Anything on a long strap that simply hangs at your side, around your waste or on your back can easily be grabbed in crowded conditions, including backpacks.  Keep anything important in view and keep a firm hand on it.  If you must set down a suitcase or duffle bag, set it between your feet.  Teens can do this just as well as adults if they are taught.

3.  Bring nutritious snacks.  Teens, especially boys, are known for having large appetites.  However, there may not be any safe food available when your teen’s stomach starts to rumble.  That’s no excuse to stick to a safe Westernized hotel.  You can explore other countries with your teen as long as you plan ahead.  Nuts, dried fruits and trail mixes can be nutritious, filling and declicious snacks.  Bananas and mandarin oranges will keep a while even in the heat.

4.  Get international travel insurance that will cover your teen’s activities.  Teens and young adults are keen to explore exciting and sometimes extreme sports.  Wise parents allow exploration within reason, but check to make sure your travel insurance will cover the activities your teen will be doing.  This includes exploring unmaintained caves (spelunking), scuba diving, and bungee jumping.

By sharing these safe international travel tips, you will prepare your teens not only to have fun this summer, but for the rest of their lives.