Basic Travel Safety Tips

Even if you are a regular traveler there may be some things you do which put you or your personal belongings in jeopardy. There are many common mistakes people make while traveling, and unfortunately there are people who actually look for these mistakes and use them to their own advantage.

To protect yourself from harm and your belongings and important paperwork from being stolen, use the following guidelines.

Paperwork and valuables: Keep these things with you as you travel. If you travel by air, always carry your important paperwork – from passport to receipts and confirmations – with you in your carry-on luggage or purse. You should carry any valuable jewelry on your person as well. Do not leave anything in your luggage that has personal information such as credit card information, but always tag your luggage with your name and address in clearly legible printing. At your destination, either carry these important items with you in a safe place or lock them in your in-room safe. TIP: Some hotels are safer than others; do some research before you leave to ensure the in-room safe is locked. Stories have been reported of in-room safes being violated at certain establishments. When in doubt, keep your things with you and/or speak to the hotel manager or concierge about what your safest option is.

Be aware of your surroundings: Especially in Europe where tourism is rampant, some locals have pickpocketing down to a fine art. Often, they will have a child or group of children distract you – by screaming or asking you for something you don’t understand – and another party (often more children) will deftly relieve you of your wallet or other trinkets. Be alert and aware at all times.

Know where you are: Whether you are walking around in a foreign town or driving through an unknown city somewhere on a road trip, be sure you know where you are and where you are going at all times. While it may seem romantic or exciting to just ‘see where you end up,’ lost tourists often get themselves into trouble by wandering into questionable neighborhoods. Carry a map or GPS, ask trusted locals for advice and always have a plan as to where you’d like to go. Keep your gas tank full and your cell phone charged, and as always, be aware of your surroundings. Sometimes changes in neighborhood caliber can be fairly subtle.

Precautions: Always have trip insurance and make sure it includes any costs associated with injury while you are away. Also, leave your destination information with a trusted friend at home and carry that person’s contact information on your person at all times – just in case!

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