Traveling can be fun and enjoyable, and at times hectic and stressful. It can also put us at risk. Be safe in your travels with these easy tips.
- Always, always, always latch your hotel door. Hotels are not infallible, sometimes they send another person up with a key to your hotel room, not realizing that you have already been assigned that room. In order to keep you safe, and at the very least from facing an embarrassing situation, latch the door!
- All important documents should be kept on your person. Do not leave these items in the pocket of your bag where they can easily be snatched up, nor should you pack them in your luggage.
- If you are going to be traveling abroad, enter information about your upcoming trip at STEP, Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. STEP is a free service that is provided by the US Government. It is designed to be able to better assist you in case of an emergency.
- Know where you are at all times. GPS may be all the rage, but it you are in an unfamiliar city, make sure to know where you in relation to where you are staying by familiarizing yourself with a map of the city. Maps are usually provided by the city’s visitor center, chamber of commerce or hotel.
- If you have a stopover while flying and will be changing planes, you can check out where your connecting gate is while in route if you have a airport terminal map handy. Check out this site for Airport Terminal Maps.
- Keep your important phone numbers on hand. Make sure you have the phone numbers for where you will be staying, the airline phone number, and contacts entered into your cell phone list.
- You have heard this before, but it is always worth a mention, keep all prescription medication with you in your carry-on bag.
- Women in particular, watch your beverages; never accept a beverage from someone you do not know, and do not leave a beverage where someone can put anything in it while you are away.
- Keep a small flashlight with you or download one to your phone. Droid users check out DroidLight and iPhone users check out Flashlight or Flash Light (for iPhone4 only).
- Bring along a small first aid kit with items like band aids, alcohol packets, Dramamine, Benadryl, mosquito repellant, etc.
- Be Aware and Listen to your Gut! It is easy to become frazzled and preoccupied while traveling, don’t allow yourself to go there; stay aware of your surroundings. Also, listen to your gut! If something seems amiss or strange, stay away, get out and move on. Keep in mind that there is such a thing as staged accidents, designed to get you out of your car, as well as people who wish to “help” you after something has been spilled on you. At the very least, these people are looking to steal something from you, at the very worst . . . . please be careful.
- For more information, Kevin Coffey specializes in Corporate Travel Safety and he has a ton of great insights at this site!
Stay safe, my friends. If you have any other good tips to share with us, please let us know below!
