Summertime in the United States is a time to relax and travel. Some people don’t travel to faraway places; instead, they travel to a place closer to home. If and when you do travel, keep these 8 essential tips for a safer vacation close to home in mind. Want to know what they are? Keep reading.
8 essential tips
1. Share your travel plans with a trusted person. Call that person when you arrive and stay in touch with them.
2. If you’re going out of the country, make and take copies of all your important documents. There are stories of people who lost their passports or IDs and then have to go to their country’s embassy to get replacements.
3.Do not let your guard down just because you’re on vacation. Always be alert! Scammers, thieves, and pickpockets don’t take time off.
4.Research the area where you are going. Know what places are around where you are staying and how to get to where you want to go. This should be done before leaving for the trip or, at the latest, before you leave the hotel.
The reason is you don’t want to be out on the street with a map trying to find something. This screams ‘tourist’ and that you don’t know where you are. Leaving you open to thieves and con people. No matter where you go, it’s essential that you blend in. Therefore, knowing where you are and going, can help with that.
If you don’t have a map a navigation app, like Google Maps (no sponsorship), is helpful. If you can’t download an navigation app, you can always ask the person at the front desk at your hotel. They should know how to get to local places.
Side note: That’s what I did during a trip to Memphis, Tennessee. There was an attraction I wanted to see but didn’t know how to get there. So that morning, I spoke to the guy at the front desk of the hotel where I was staying. After I told him where I wanted to go, he printed out the driving directions for me.
If you are staying at an Airbnb, you could ask the person who you are renting your Airbnb through.
5. Keep your belongings with you at all times. It’s very easy for professional thieves to swipe your luggage. I’ve only flown on a plane once, and I was able to pack everything into a carry-on. Since I had heard horror stories of luggage getting lost and stolen, I didn’t want my stuff out of my sight.
Orbitz, a large online travel website, has tips for avoiding lost or stolen luggage. To read them, click here.
6.Don’t use flashy electronics or wear flashy clothes. All that does is scream that you have money and make you a target for crime.
7. Be aware of pickpockets. I would suggest ditching the purse, fanny pack, and/or bulky wallet. Carry your money in the inside pocket of your pants or jacket.
Anytime I don’t have pockets, I’ll stick my debit card down in my sock. There are products that can conceal your money/debit card /ID on your person. Just Google them.
8. Safeguard your hotel room. Use the deadbolt lock and any other door safety precautions. Also, don’t let strangers into your room.
If hotel personnel come knocking and you haven’t called for them, call the front desk to see if someone has been sent up to your room. While making the call, you can stall by saying you’ll be there in a minute or something like that.
The takeaway
Though vacations should be a time of fun and relaxation, they can be a time of stress. By remembering 8 essential tips for a safer vacation close to home, vacation time can be one of the best times of your life.
If you will be traveling internationally, check out GinnaV‘s post on what to do to stay safer during vacation. It’s a two-part post. Both have a lot of information.
Just saying.
If you’d like to share a story or comments, please put them down in the comment section below. Your comments are always greatly appreciated.
