This post is not to scare you but just to highlight a few things that I highly recommend before taking a trip anywhere for your safety as well as any fellow travellers. There will always be a chance of something going wrong whether you are travelling 2 miles down the road or halfway around the world and although we can't control everything we can do our best to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Don't Advertise Your Holiday
When you book a holiday it's tempting to talk about it on social media but this is the easiest way to attract burglars so try and avoid posting about a trip until after you return unless you have someone else watching your property while you're away. If the house is being left empty it is worth investing in a timer plug for a lamp to make it look like someone is home, it seems simple but it can be an effective deterrent. The last thing you want to find when you come back from a trip is to find you've been burgled.
Send Details to Friends/Family
When you get your booking confirmation you should always forward details to a friend/family member who is not travelling with you including the flight and hotel details along with any transfer companies you will be using and their contact numbers. A number of things can happen while abroad and although there is a low chance of anything major happening it is always some peace of mind for everyone to know where you will be staying in case you need to be contacted. This is especially important if you are going to more remote areas where the signal might not be good or if you are not going to have a constant internet/phone connection you know family can leave any urgent messages with your hotel.
Take Copies of Documents
Whether you photocopy documents, take a photo or save them to the cloud you should always take a copy of major documents and booking confirmation with you. I take the original documents in my hand luggage, a 2nd copy in my suitcase along with digital copies. This way if your bag is lost/stolen or the original documents get damaged you still have booking confirmation which the majority of hotels and excursions will accept. If your passport is lost or damaged having a digital or photocopy is a way they can still identify you and make it easier to apply for emergency passports.
Research Common Scams
Before you travel do some background research into common tourist scams in the areas you are going to, especially big landmarks this will allow you to relax and enjoy the sights. This is not to say you should ignore anything else you find suspicious, be prepared but be aware scams are forever changing and there are endless ways that tourists are taken advantage of so always best to be alert.