How To Travel Safely
 by: Chris Chenoweth

With headlines reporting terrorist attacks every day, vacationers are more than ever on the alert. By taking a few extra precautions and staying alert, you can avoid spending part of your holiday filing a report at an exotic police station.

BEFORE YOU GO:

Call ahead. While deadbolts and peepholes are standard in motel rooms these days, safety awareness on the part of hotel management varies widely, so it is worth calling ahead to ask specific questions.

Look for electronic key cards, instead of regular room keys. Look for rooms that open onto an interior hallway, rather than to the outside. While it is easier to unload the car when it is parked right outside the door, a room that opens directly onto parking makes it easier for thieves to monitor your comings and goings, and to get into your room when you drive off for a day.

The electronic cards are reprogrammed for each new guest. Do not pack valuables in baggage you plan to check. Your bags will pass through a lot of unsupervised hands on its cross-country flight, so keep your jewelry, money and travelers checks close at hand in a carry-on bag. There is always the chance that your baggage may not keep up with you, so pack medications and prescriptions in your carry on bags.

AIRPORT SAFETY:

Watch your bags! Baggage theft at airports is on the rise and half of the bags stolen are those left unattended. Thieves know that carry-on bags are where people carry their valuables and cash.

Outside the airport, too, and anywhere on the road, never leave your bags unattended for a second, especially in Europe and Asia. Use teamwork. Have one family member--a teenager or adult--anchor the bags and the younger kids while an adult goes off to get directions or a cab.

Watch your pockets. People bumping into you could very well be pickpockets, and people asking you questions could be diverting your attention while an accomplice grabs your bag.

This advice applies especially to tourist attractions and public transportation, as well. Consider purchasing a money belt or moneybag that you wear inside your clothing, and using it. Carry in your pockets only enough cash for a day, and only one credit card.

ON THE ROAD WITH YOUR RENTAL CAR:

When you pick up your car rental, ask which parts of town to stay away from. Staying away from high-crime parts of town could be the most important safeguard you can take. It is all too easy to inadvertently drive into bad neighborhoods when you are in a strange city, but with a little foresight and a decent map, it is just as easy to avoid them.

Do not look like a tourist. Tuck the Disneyland bags and travel guides discreetly away in the trunk when you are away from your car. It never hurts to leave a local paper in plain sight to further enhance the illusion that you are one of the locals. Leave nothing in sight. Cars have been broken into for jackets and shopping bags.

Stick to cars that are unobtrusive and blend in. Forget the car wash! A cruise down a dusty road, or through a few mud puddles, will make your rental look lived in!

LOCALES:

One of the best things you can do to protect yourself is know where the bad neighborhoods are, and to avoid them. Before you leave your hotel, ask which way to turn when you walk out the door, and which direction to avoid.

HOTEL SAFETY:

Know where the emergency exit is in case of fire. Show your children how to call the front desk. While they may know how to dial 911 in case of emergency at home, unless you tell them, they will not know to dial 9 for an outside line, or to dial 0 for the hotel receptionist.

On an index card, write the name of each child, your name and hotel address and phone number, as well as the phone number of a close friend or relative back home. Always have a recent, clear photo of your child with you. If you do get separated, the authorities will want an up-to-date picture.

You do not need a wallet full of credit cards when you travel. Bring only what you need--two should be enough--and leave copies of the front and back of each card, and any other important documents you are carrying, with a friend or close relative. If they are lost or stolen, you will have easy access to the necessary information.

Also leave a list of your travelers’ checks by number. A member of the party who is not carrying the credit cards and travelers’ checks should also carry a copy of this list. Consider having Mom carry one credit card, and Dad carry the other.

HEALTH:

Travel health depends on your pre-departure preparations, your day-to-day health care while traveling and how you handle any medical problem or emergency that does develop. While the list of potential dangers can seem quite frightening, with a little luck, some basic precautions and adequate information few travelers experience more than upset stomachs.

Remember, you can have a very enjoyable vacation while being careful and alert to your surroundings. If something does not seem right, do not ignore your feelings. It is always better to err on the side of caution.

About The Author Chris Chenoweth, author of the DO-IT-YOURSELF HOME, HEALTH & MONEY GUIDE, writes articles pertaining to diet, exercise, health, and business: http://www.money-home-biz.com.