11 Travel Safety Tips

With many starting to travel again. there are new safety precautions everyone should take due to COVID.

Here are 11 tips to ensure your long-awaited travel plans aren’t interrupted.

• COVID enforcement isn’t your responsibility.  Wear your mask and if you find someone not following the rules you should inform a person in charge.  Don’t risk being detained or removed due to an altercation.  
• Don’t rely on technology for your itinerary.  We are dependent on our smart phones for almost everything. I know I am LOL.   Low batteries, lost phones or no signal can disrupt your plans.  Before you leave home, print your dates, times, confirmation numbers, locations, and contact information for all your travel.  Rental cars, airlines, hotels, and tourist attractions can help you recover lost information.  Share this information with friends and family.
• Don’t risk your safety for the perfect photo.  Selfies have resulted in unnecessary injuries.  
• Don’t make your vacation public until you return home.  Postings on social media announcing a trip or showing photos is a good way to inform people your home is vulnerable. I’m have a road trip coming up and all pics will be uploaded once I return.
• Let your financial institution know you are travelling.  I learned this the hard way the first time I travelled out of the country, and my card was blocked because they thought it was fraud. Monitoring of charges on cards is more common today.  If they don’t know you are travelling across the country or out of the country, it could result in extra scrutiny on your account.  If they can’t contact you, it might result in your charges being declined. 
• Back pockets are horrible place for valuables.  Wallets, passports, and valuables should be kept in cargo or front pockets that can be secured.  Minimize your wallet or have an alternate wallet just for travel. 
• Travel with a first aid kit.  A small one for air travel or a larger one for road trips.  Don’t rely on emergency services in the short term.  Secure wraps, tourniquets, bandages, and hemostatic agents can save lives.  This is a must for any cross-country travel.
• Concealed Carry holders rely on reciprocity from state to state but you must follow the state law.  If you are driving through a state, make sure you know the laws for securing your weapon or speaking to an officer if you are stopped.  Violations can be met with fines, confiscation of the weapon or even arrest. 
• Have cash on hand for emergencies.  Don’t use unfamiliar ATMs.  Many travelers have been scammed by recording devices or card readers.  When possible, use credit cards to minimize the amount of cash you carry. 
• Secure your items in the hotel room safe.  Too many people hide belongings in suitcases.  This is a known practice that is easily thwarted.  
• Be aware of your surroundings.  Situational awareness is critical when traveling.  Be aware of the same car exiting behind you.  Recognize the same person following you around.   Trust your instincts when you start to feel unsafe you are probably sensing danger.  

All of these tips have been provided SafeDefend (https://www.safedefend.com/) by Doug Parisi.