Vacation Safety Tips

5 min readJul 25, 2021

Vacation is an exciting time. But it’s easy to become so focused on having fun that you can forget to be cautious or aware of your surroundings. Here are some tips to help you stay safer.

Before You Leave

Plan your travel route in advance and tell a family member or trusted friend your itinerary. Call them when you arrive at your destination.

Make sure your vehicle has a current maintenance check and oil change before making an extended trip. Check the tread and air pressure on your tires, as well.

Leave expensive jewelry, and anything else a thief might want to grab, at home. When possible, leave laptops and tablets at home because not all hotel safes accommodate the size of those items. (And honestly, most hotel safes aren’t that safe anyway.)

Related Post: Hotel Safety When You Travel

Taking Public Transportation:

If you take a taxi, compare the driver’s face with the photo on the license before you get in. Make sure they match. If possible, keep your luggage in the back seat with you so you have control over who has access to it.

And check to make sure the child lock is OFF before you get into the back seat.

Wait for a bus/train/subway in well-lit, populated (if possible) areas. Stay awake and alert. And stay off your phone.

Related Post: Taking Public Transportation

Is the Picture Really Worth the Risk?

Always keep the safety of your loved ones and yourself in mind when deciding to take pictures. Don’t get caught up in the excitement of seeing something unusual up close. The possibility of injury or even death just isn’t worth the risk for that “once in a lifetime” photo.

Speaking of pictures, it’s best to wait until you get home from your vacation before posting anything on social media. Specifically…

Don’t post pictures in real-time: Wait until you get home and post a re-cap.

Don’t broadcast your itinerary and dates of travel on social media: Share those details only with family members and friends who need to be aware and do so in a private conversation.

Don’t post pictures of your boarding pass or passport: Thieves can use this to steal personal information.

Don’t tag your travel mates on social media: Be mindful that they may not want their whereabouts broadcast to all of social media.

Know Where You’re Going

Some vacation spots are safer than others. So be sure you are aware of the type of crimes that are more likely to happen where you’re headed. Find out which areas you should avoid. Check with the hotel concierge or front desk personnel. Search online, using reputable websites.

“One thing I like to do before I go somewhere new is to ‘explore’ key places via street view on bing or google maps so I’m familiar with the sights. It helps me [to] not look like such a tourist. I’ve used that method to explore subway stations in NYC and the airport in Barcelona. It really helps.” ~Kelly Sayre, The Diamond Arrow Group

Before you leave your room, plan the routes you’re going to take between your hotel and the sites. This helps you avoid wandering into a bad area. And it makes you look less like a tourist, which may attract fewer criminals.

Make sure your phone is fully charged before you leave the hotel.

Look Confident and Be Aware

Most predators are looking for someone who appears to be timid, unsure and unaware. The right body language will make them think twice about approaching you. Walk confidently and keep your head up. Be alert and aware of your surroundings. The sites may be spectacular, but don’t forget to glance around for suspicious people occasionally.

If you get lost, don’t stop in the street to look at a map or your phone. Go into a store or restaurant to get your bearings. You’ll be less vulnerable to predators that way.

Be Suspicious of Everyone

Watch out for con artists. They could try to scam you out of money with a sob story or overcharge you for something you’re buying.

Be wary of strangers who try to get too close to you. You may save your wallet from disappearing. You may even save your life.

Never leave your drink (alcoholic or non) unattended. In some areas, locals drug tourists’ drinks so they can take easy advantage of them. And be suspicious of locals offering free tastings.

Travel With a Group

You’ll most likely be safer in a group than you will on your own. But don’t get so caught up in conversation and interaction that you forget to be aware of your surroundings. Also, be sure you have a plan for where/when to meet up in case you get separated and phone service is sketchy.

Protect your Money and Documents

Keep your cash and cards close to your body. Separate them and stash them in several hard-to-reach places.

Before leaving for vacation, make copies of all your documents (licenses, insurance cards, passports, etc.). Keep the copies in a secure place and separate from your wallet/purse. If your documents get lost or stolen, you’ll have copies of everything that was taken.

Carry one credit card and only as much cash as you think you’ll need for the day. Use travelers checks that can be replaced if lost or stolen (as long as you’ve complied with your check issuer’s purchase agreement).

Don’t leave any valuables in your room if you can help it. And keep laptops/tablets stowed away out of sight. Use the safe in the room if there is one. However, keep in mind that room safes are not 100% safe from theft. For info on how to make them safer for you, check out this article.

Keep a Clear Head

Don’t get drunk in public. There are some vacation areas where the locals count on drunk tourists. It’s so much easier to steal from, kidnap and/or hurt them. Know your limits. Save the heaving drinking for your locked and secured hotel room.

Enjoy your trip, but remain cautious and aware. Have a wonderful and safe vacation!

~Shereen

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