Travel Safety Tips
Whether you’re off for a long weekend or headed out for a nice long vacay, it doesn’t mean that your personal safety becomes second thought. It’s easy to get caught up in the sight-seeing, new experiences, and relaxation of being on vacation. After all, most of us are trying to get away and want to disconnect. But that doesn’t mean you disconnect completely.
Sadly no matter where you go there are people that are up to no good. People prey specifically on tourists that are not familiar with the city. Someone who might be busy reading a map, not paying attention, or walking around with their head in the air looking at all the sites. Yes, you should be enjoying the sites, but don't let being naive ruin a fun experience. Most thieves that prey on travelers just want money and your belongings. Mugging & pick-pocketing is a pretty common crime in all areas but in some foreign countries there are groups formed that look for easy targets.
Even if it’s just a day trip, there are some easy preventive measures you can take prior and during your trip to make sure that your vacation, big or small, is filled with good memories.
PREP THE HOUSE
Check to ensure that all windows and doors have been locked and secured.
Add motion sensors to any outdoor flood lights on your property, and timer-sensored lights inside. Having indoor lights set on a timer helps to create the illusion that someone is home. These lights should be set to your normal times that you come home and go to bed. Having lights on or off for 24 hours a day is a sign that the house is empty.
Turning off your water is a good idea when you plan on being away for an extended period of time. The last thing you want is to come home to find something unexpectedly leaked or overflowed.
Don't let your mail or newspapers pile up. You can ask your post office to hold your mail and you can do the same with your newspaper. Alternatively, you can ask a neighbor to pick up your newspaper/mail for you. Having your newspapers pile up on your doorstep is a dead giveaway that the house is unoccupied.
ON THE ROAD
Have your car serviced or checked out before you hit the road. Ensure that your oil has been changed, your tires and your spare are in good condition, your A/C is working, lights and windshield wipers work, and you have a full tank of gas.
Bring a roadside emergency kit and first-aid kit. You can easily buy them ready to go and all you need to do is put it in your car.
Bring printable maps. Depending on where you are going you may not have the greatest cell reception or your GPS may not work. Keep a road atlas handy and also print out your driving directions. You can have your passenger relay the directions as you drive so you can save your cell phone battery for any potential emergency need.
Take the time for any needed rest breaks to help reduce fatigue and potential accidents. Get out of the car, stretch, and move around for five minutes.
Make sure everyone is wearing their seatbelts and any car seats, pet seats/carriers, and luggage are properly secured.
If you're traveling with kids and/or pets, make sure they have what they need in reach before you leave so you can focus on the driving.
For some reason if you need to pull over, look for a brightly lit and public place to do so.
When leaving your car, ensure that all of your valuables or any of your luggage/bags are in the trunk and out of site. You don't want to give a potential thief any reason to break into your car.
Ensure you have the phone numbers to whatever road-side assistance programs you belong to, your car insurance company, and know ahead of time what their procedures are.
AT THE AIRPORT
If you can't fit your carry-on luggage under the seat in front of you, then store it in the overhead bin across the aisle from your seat. This way you'll be able to keep an eye on it.
Have your travel documents readily accessible.
Keep an eye on your luggage. Airports are busy and can be a tad hectic; criminals will work in teams to distract you while making off with your luggage.
When going through the security line, your laptop should be the last item to be sent through the x-ray. The end of the x-ray belt tends to be a cluster of people trying to get their belongings and having your laptop go through last will hopefully mean it will clear the same time you do.
Research your destination airport ahead of time to know where reliable taxi stands or public transportation is. Some airports (especially destination islands) are so busy with tourists that many unlicensed locals try to offer rides or provide deals for transportation. While they might not mean any harm, it's better to be safe than sorry.
AT THE HOTEL
Take a moment to review the emergency exit map on the back of the hotel door and scout out the exits ahead of time. This takes all of five minutes and you'll be glad you did should an emergency arise in the middle of the night.
Come up with a meeting place for your family outside of the hotel should an emergency occur and you get separated.
Add phone numbers to the local hospitals and local emergency rescue to all of your family members phones. If you're traveling outside of the country, 911 will not direct you to emergency services.
If you are going off the beaten path during some of your sightseeing, ask the hotel concierge if there are any areas that you should avoid.
Write down the hotel name and address or ask for a hotel business card. Oftentimes there are multiple chains of the same hotel, and if you're in a foreign country it's easiest to show a cab driver the address.
Lock your valuables in the in-room safe when you leave the room.
PROTECT YOURSELF
Try to avoid oversharing your trip on social media. Don't go into detail of your travel plans on any of your social media accounts. You can read more of my tips on social media sharing here.
Don't put your home address on your luggage tags. Instead write down your phone number and email address.
Make a digital & hard copy of your passport and ID in case they get lost/stolen. You can email the digital copy to yourself and bring the hard copy with you. The hard copy should be stored separately from the original. You can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program which is a free service for U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad. The program works with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, which can assist during an emergency such as a lost or stolen passport.
Trim the fat from your wallet. Take a few minutes before your trip and empty your wallet of all the unnecessary credit cards, free drink cards, receipts, and club cards. Only bring what you need with you and take a moment to notify your credit card company ahead of time if you plan on traveling abroad.
Keep your cash separated. Have your spending cash easily accessible and the rest hidden so you are not showing off large amounts when paying. If you must bring large amounts of cash, then you can store the extra on your person with a concealed bag like this.
Be mindful of your surroundings. Don't let your guard down just because you might be in a "nicer" area. You can read more situational awareness tips here. Situational awareness is all about taking in your surroundings and avoiding potential threats while you are out and about. It’s not letting yourself become a target. Whether you are traveling alone, with a spouse, or with a friend you should always be aware of your surroundings and keep these tips in mind.
Leave an itinerary and phone numbers for where you are staying with a family member or friend.
After all, it is summertime, so don't forget the SPF and the sunglasses.
EXPLORING YOUR DESTINATION
Be mindful of your physical appearance. You want to blend in and look like a local. Do some research ahead of time to see what the local fashion is and if there might be any cultural clothing rules at your destination. This doesn't mean you have to buy a whole new travel wardrobe but maybe you want to pick up one or two new items or possibly swap out an item you were planning on bringing. You also want to dress to suit your activities. Meaning, as cute as your wedge sandals and long maxi dress looks, does it really make sense to wear it to visit the Parthenon?!
If you must wear jewelry, keep it to a minimum. If an arm or hand full of diamonds doesn't attract attention then I don't know what does. I'm not saying not to wear jewelry, just tone down the bling.
Leave the designer items at home. You don't want to attract or call too much attention to yourself especially if you're traveling alone. So maybe you should leave that Chanel backpack at home and get something a little less flashy. I usually use a bag that can be worn as a backpack or crossbody. Something that is comfortable and roomy enough to hold a camera, water, wallet, and other things I might need, but will also look cute with anything I wear. You can still find something stylish that doesn't scream “look at me” with my expensive bag. If you're like me when I travel, then you’re out and about usually all day long. I'm not always sure what the environment is going to look like where I'm going and it might involve me having to put my bag on the ground, it might rain, or I might have to check my bag with an attendant or stow it in a locker. The last thing I want is my designer bag getting ruined.
When it comes to choosing & carrying your bag, make sure it has a zipper so it can be zip closed. If you're in a crowd then move the bag to the front of your body. For men who may only carry a wallet, keep it in your front pocket. Alternatively, you can use a travel belt to keep your cash & cards secure.
Besides using the tips I mentioned, use your street smarts. For example:
When withdrawing cash from an ATM do it in the daytime and quickly slip it into your wallet.
Walk with your head up like you know where you are going. If you get lost, pop into a store to ask for directions or find a small cafe with Wi-Fi, and take a minute to have a cup of coffee and figure out where you need to go.
Don't walk down a dark, sketchy looking alley. If the area is desolate, that might be a sign that it should be avoided.
If something or someone seems odd or out of place, then remove yourself from that situation or area.
Don't leave your belongings unattended. All it takes is one second for you to turn your back. While you may have just scored the best view at the local cafe, the minute you put your bag down to save that table and go pay for that coffee, your bag can be gone.
If you have questions about an area you want to explore, ask the hotel concierge about it. If you're AIRBNB'ing then ask a local. Locals are good to ask about what places to avoid and can sometimes give you a good lay of the land. But also, be smart about who you ask.
Be aware of scammers looking to trick you into giving them money. If you've ever been to Paris then you might be familiar with the "bracelet scam" (you can read about it here.) The husband & I watched these scammers for a good twenty minutes one afternoon, preying on tourists and eventually getting money for these bracelets they were able to tie on your wrist with a quick sleight-of hand. Not to mention, some scammers might only be there to get you distracted while someone else in their team pickpockets you.
Plan your day and route in advance. If you know you are going to be playing tourist for most of the day, take some time in the morning or the night before to figure out where you are going and how you will get there. This is a great opportunity to get specific directions from the hotel or a local, but also it keeps you from standing out when you're wandering aimlessly or having to constantly look at your phone's map. If you do you need to consult your phone’s map or directions, step to the side to get your bearings.
If you're traveling to a foreign country where there might be a language barrier, learn or write down some travel phrases that you might need. There are plenty of apps now too that can translate. Also, ask the hotel if they have an address card. Some hotels have a small business card that has the hotel's address in the local language along with a note that says something along the lines of 'please take me to...' You can give this to the taxi driver should you need. You can also ask the hotel or a local to help write down anything specific or directions you may need.
Speaking of taxis, make sure you know ahead of time the names of the authorized taxi companies. Not all places utilize rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. A lot of foreign countries have men just hanging out at taxi stands or outside establishments asking people if they need a taxi. Most of these people are not authorized or licensed 'taxi' drivers. They are like the non-uber Uber drivers. Most of them probably don't mean any harm and are just trying to earn some extra income, but why put yourself in that situation and take a chance. Trust me, and I'm speaking from experience, it's the worst feeling being in an unofficial taxi driver’s car. All I kept thinking was, “please don't murder me” and “this is where I die.” Totally bad move on my part but lesson learned.
We all need some downtime, and vacations should be a relaxing break from the daily grind. However, without some precautions, your dream trip could turn into a nightmare. Take a few minutes to ensure that you and your family are prepared and safe.