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Whether in an airport, staying at a hotel, hanging around in public, or taking a ride somewhere, the following are some top safety tips for travel along with some other tidbits to help keep you better prepared and safer when you and your family are traveling.

These are all things to consider and are generally good practices. They become even more important when you travel alone.

Baggage

Under Your Control

Do not let anyone else handle your luggage besides you or the ticket counter staff or baggage handlers. You need to be able to say you are the only one that has had access to it; and too, you do not want to introduce any way for someone to put something into or take something out of your luggage.

Do not leave your baggage unattended. Also consider a tracker, like Air Tags or Tile, to keep up with your bags.

Locks

Do not hesitate to lock your bags. It would be nice to prevent but we are always looking to slow the bad guys down or at least make it harder on them.

While there have been some stories of damaged luggage due to TSA staff or others attempting to get into bags for whatever reasons, do not feel like you are restricted to TSA-approved locks. TSA locks allow for a special key(s) to be used to open any TSA-approved locks, but by no means are they your only option.

Weapons and Related

If you happen to travel with a particular bag or backpack that you take to the firing range or even camping from time to time, be sure to take a few moments before getting to the airport to remove all weapons or any other items you have stashed and may have forgotten about that appear on TSA’s restricted items list. This includes knives, pepper spray, kubatons, ammunition (including spent casings), and others. Of course, this primarily has to do with carry-on luggage; but it is still a good habit to form, especially when you plan on flying.

You do not want to create trouble for yourself while attempting to get through security, hold everyone else up, or add to security’s collection of confiscated items because you “forgot that was in there.”

NOTE: We talk more about firearms specifically in a section below.

Cash

Showing How Much Ain’t Cool

Do not pull out wads of cash and count it in public. If you must count it out, do so under a table or under the lip of the bar and away from prying eyes as best as possible. No need to advertise or let everyone know how much money you have. Plus, you do not want to be that tool trying to show off anyway.

Split It Up

Additionally, if you are carrying cash, consider splitting between pockets or between your pockets and your purse. Maybe larger bills in one and smaller in the other. This way, you do not have to pull out everything at once to pay. Also, if you are approached, you can give them what may be in the ‘smaller’ bill pocket without having to give up your big bills or all of your cash. Is it foolproof? Of course not, nothing is; but it might mean you not having to give up all your cash or cards.

You can also put some, ideally larger bills, in one of those pouches meant to be worn under your clothing. Of course, if you do need to access it, you will need to get to a place to better have safer access to it.

Wallet

Do you carry your valuables the way you normally might when out in a crowded place, i.e. stadium, concert, amusement park, bar, etc.?

When traveling, consider carrying your wallet or cash in your front pockets if you otherwise would carry it in a back pocket. It gives you more control and does not make it so easy to allow someone looking to pickpocket you. You are more likely to notice someone reaching down into your front pockets; yeah?

Purse

If you search to find how you should carry a purse online, you will likely find a lot about what items one should carry in their purse; but not nearly as much on how one should more safely carry their purse, so here we go…

I contend that the safest way to manage a purse is to treat it similar to luggage. Do not leave it unattended, especially if you are carrying some sort of weapon(s) or any sort of valuables in it. The latter is probably most of the time; right?

Have you considered leaving your purse at home (or at least packing it in your luggage until you get to where you are going) and just carrying what you need in your front pockets or even a belly band? This make not be as fashionable but might could be easier to deal with?

If you do opt to carry a purse with you, here are some additional tips for your consideration.

General Carry Method

I would recommend simply carrying over one shoulder versus over a shoulder and around your neck. Should a bad guy opt to grab your purse, they are likely going to pull you down with it if it is around your neck.

Instead carry it over just one shoulder and in front of you. By carrying it in front of you, you may better thwart pickpockets or even someone from noticing you may have a purse from behind. Avoid carrying your purse behind your arm as it makes it much easier for the pickpockets. If you have traveled abroad, you are already aware that pick-pocketing is a thing to be on alert for.

Cash

Similar to what I mentioned earlier, consider not carrying all of your cash in your purse. Divide it between your purse and a pocket on your person. If someone approaches to snatch your purse or just asks for your money, you can give them what may be in one location without necessarily having to give them everything you have. 

Weapons

Of course, if you are flying, weapons are not in the picture, at least not until you get to where you are going. And again, you should become familiar with carry laws and related for any place you do plan on traveling to, even when driving across state lines. If you are carrying a weapon of any sort, then leaving your purse unattended is most definitely not an option.

Even if you carry pepper spray or some other potentially less lethal weapon in your purse, consider not leaving it down in the bottom of your purse but instead carrying it in your hands, so you can have a better chance of using it should the need arise. Again, less lethal or not, be sure to check laws for any weapons you plan to carry on your travels ahead of time. What may be legal where you live may not be legal where you are traveling to.

If you do carry weapons of any sort, be sure to take a few moments before getting to the airport to ensure all weapons, even ammunition or spent casings, have been removed beforehand.

NOTE: We talk about firearms separately in a section below.

Bluetooth and Public Wi-Fi

Before getting on any public network or Wi-Fi, especially those that are free, ensure you are utilizing and remember to turn on a good VPN service.

Keep both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections off unless you are presently using them. The bad guys can connect to your device, gaining access to all your info, with either if you are not being careful.

Screen Privacy Filters

Screen privacy filters can make it more difficult for someone to see, from various angles, what you might be working on while you are on your laptop or tablet. Plus, the company you work for likely would appreciate the extra effort too.

These screen privacy filters are relatively inexpensive and are made to fit specific sized computer screens, including laptops. Get one and keep it with you computer when you are on the road.

Charging Devices

Avoid using public USB charging stations when traveling (including those found in your hotel room), as they can be set up to steal your data from your devices without you even knowing. Instead, wait or utilize a portable power bank (battery charger). Worst case, if you absolutely must use a public charger, do so only with the use of a data blocker between the USB outlet and your cable.

Beverages

Never leave your drinks unattended or accept a drink brought to you by someone you do not know. It does not matter if you are a man or woman or identify as a cat.

Finish any drink before you get up or simply ask for a fresh after returning. While not always possible, try to watch your drinks being made or poured.

If you are traveling with someone you actually know, not just met, ask them to watch it for you while you are away and also consider placing a napkin or coaster over the top of it.

Restrooms

While women really do not have much of an option anyway, a stall is really your safest bet. Why? Well, aside from better privacy while in public, they keep you out of sight and therefore less likely picked as a potential victim. A stall at the very end is best, as one of usually 3 sides is eliminated for potential access. You still need to stay alert at all times. Get out and move to another if something seems off or unusual in one restroom.

While in the airport, keep your language with you, even if you go into a stall. Do not let your luggage out of your sight at any time.

And please, for the love of all that is good, wash your dang hands for yours and everyone else’s personal hygiene and safety!

Photos and Videos

Wait until you are back home before posting all your photos and videos to social media. There is no reason to make it easier for any prospective bad guys by alerting them to the fact that you are not home. And while all your “friends” may appreciate the near up-to-the-minute updates, they will not be disappointed when you do get around to posting everything after you are back home again.

Kiosks and ATMs

Try to get cash from your home bank or at least near home instead of waiting until the airport or your destination, and ideally, before dark.

Do your best to look for any signs of a skimmer put into place on any ATM.

Remain situationally aware going up to and leaving again from any ATM to notice anyone approaching or maybe watching you.

Consider leaving the area if you notice anyone strange or if your gut tells you something is ‘off.’

When getting cash from an ATM or checking your balance, pay attention and make sure no one is standing too close to you or attempting to look around or over your shoulder. Firmly ask them to step back if they are or opt to leave and get to another ATM.

Rental Cars

From what I have seen even within the last few months, people forget to remove their personal contact info from rental cars after connecting their phone to the rental vehicle’s Bluetooth. They left behind their complete personal contact list for the next renter or the rental car staff to have access to.

Remember to delete your information for a rental vehicle’s system before returning it. I recently deleted 2 different individual’s data from a rental SUV I had. You’re welcome.

Additionally, whether a rental or your personal vehicles, this next rule still applies when traveling. Do not leave valuables in plain sight in your vehicle. Take them with you or at very least, put them in the trunk or in the back covered up. No reason to make your vehicle an attractive target by showing off what is in it.

Be sure to lock your vehicle doors, even when it is a rental.

Briefly check the back seat before getting into your vehicle to ensure on one has gotten in and is waiting for you, especially when parking in garages or similar.

Taxis and Rideshares

Here are a handful of safety tips for your consideration when taking a taxi or a rideshare service:

• Check rideshare driver’s reviews online.
• Ensure driver matches up with any driver profile advertised.
• Do not sit in the front seat.
• Do not stand around on the edge of the street on your phone. You do not want those with ill intent to figure out you are waiting for a ride and then claim to be one for you.
• If you can see it, ensure route driver is working off of is the right one. Do not be afraid to speak up when it is not or even if you know a better/shorter route.
• Check to make sure back door locks and windows work.
• Ensure rideshare vehicle has the identified license plate number and driver identifies with the correct name.
• Do not give out personal information to any driver.
• Traveling in groups has its advantage when it is an option.
• Pay with card ahead of time when possible but even in the vehicle at the end of any ride. Avoid pulling wads of cash out.
• If things go bad, call 911 and look for opportunities to get out of the vehicle. If something bad does happen, be sure to follow up and file a police report afterwards.

Firearms

Of course, I had to include this topic. We will discuss it more in an upcoming post; but for now, I at least wanted to breeze through a few pointers.

Before traveling, whether driving across different states or flying, know the laws and rules for firearms in the place you are going to ahead of time. Know that each location’s laws may be different from where you live and some frown upon firearms, as we know.

When flying, be sure to thoroughly review and know both TSA’s rules as well as the airlines’ you are flying, as the airlines can have slightly different or additional rules from that of TSA.

Hotels

Research Areas Beforehand

We are usually focused on finding the right hotel property, based on pricing, availability, and ratings. However, before booking a hotel, domestic or international, a little reconnaissance ahead of time goes a long ways to making for a better trip. Be sure to conduct research about the parts of town you think you want to stay in or ask a knowledgeable resource, if you know one, about the area for any tips and do so ahead of time.

You do not want to unnecessarily find yourself in a bad part of town, especially if you are not getting in until after dark. Planning ahead enables you to avoid having to change plans on the fly during your trip; and most importantly, planning head helps you to avoid potential issues that may occur in less savory parts of town.

Front Desk

Insist that the front desk not read or say your room number out loud for all to hear. They write it on the inside of your key holder anyway, and you can read just fine. For that matter, be sure not to say it out loud yourself.

Request 2 keys even when traveling solo. Why? It can help with the appearance of not being alone.

Hotel Floor

Rental houses are different, of course; but when staying in a hotel or vacation condominium, try not to stay on the first floor. Higher floors can make entry more challenging for the bad guys.

Know your escape routes and where the stairs are in relation to your room. There are usually signs on the back of your room’s door, as well as at the elevators. Make it a point to study them.

Hotel Fires

For the purposes of fire escape consideration, in addition to knowing where the stairs are, you want to consider the floors you are staying on relative to how easily fire fighters can get to you.

Most aerial ladders, in firefighting terms, are between 75 and ~105 feet tall. With 1 story being equivalent to approximately 10.83 feet, rounded off, a 75 foot ladder will make to just over 6 floors. As far as you are concerned, that is just 6 stories. In other words, you are looking to stay between the second and sixth floors. However, depending on whether you are staying in a rural, suburban, or in the middle of downtown in a major metropolitan city where there are a lot of high rises, you might be able to get away with 9 to 11 floors as the fire trucks there may have upwards of 125 foot ladders. And of course, the ladders are getting longer on some trucks, but that may be pushing your luck as to whether that length of ladder would be available or not where you elect to stay. The point? Think about both the minimum AND maximum number of floors you are comfortable with.

Elevators

You cannot ever be sure who may get onto that elevator with you. If you are ever uncomfortable or have a ‘gut’ feeling, get off regardless of the floor and grab another. So what if you are delayed a few minutes.

If you are on an elevator and someone gets on with you, stay to the rear of the car. This prevents anyone from being behind you where you cannot easily keep an eye on what they might be doing. Additionally, if you are back along the back wall or in a back corner, it prevents someone from getting on and asking you to push their floor’s button for them. A bad guy with ill intent may use this tactic to distract you. 

If you are the one getting onto the elevator and someone is already on and you get an uneasy feeling, again, you can simple wait for the next or if you do get on, select a different floor than the one you know you are staying on. This can help prevent other passengers from knowing what floor you are actually on.

If anyone follows you off an elevator, you can hang back and let them go ahead of you and then proceed if you are comfortable. Nothing says too that you cannot have a moment where you pretend you forgot something and have to go back down again to get it.

Key Sleeve

The key ‘holder’, as I call it, is that heavy, folded paper envelope that holds the keys to your hotel room. Not only does it hold your keys, this is where front desk staff will write down your hotel room number for you.

Leave it in your room and/or throw it in the trash. If you carry it around with you and it gets exposed, you potentially have shown strangers what hotel you are staying at and maybe even your room number.

Hotel Bars and Restaurants

When placing any hotel bar or restaurant order on your room, be sure to give the receipt directly back to your server. At the very minimum, flip your receipt over. This is to help prevent other prying eyes from seeing your room number on the receipt.

Room Doors

Be sure to lock your door any time you are in your hotel room. And be sure to pull your door all the way closed and ensure it is locked when you are leaving again. It will delay you a whooping 2 seconds to do so.

Place the ‘do not disturb’ (or ‘privacy’) sign on the outside door knob to prevent housekeeping from coming in during your stay, especially when you are away. You can ask for clean towels or more soap at any time for yourself.

When going to bed at night, ensure again that your door is closed all the way and locked. Consider door wedges with alarms built in or even placing a chair or small table behind the door. This would be to help ensure you might hear if someone tries coming in while you are sleeping.

Ideally, opt for a room that does not join with another. If you wind up in a room that does have a door between it and another, be sure to ensure the door is locked upon arrival and anytime you are leaving the room. Also, consider putting something in front of it, like another door alarm, at night, before going to bed.

Parking Lot

Whether you are driving your own car or in a rental, aim to park underneath a light if possible. And pay extra close attention to your surroundings both while you are unloading or reloading items into your vehicle and while walking to and from the hotel.

Be sure that any side or back hotel doors you use coming from the parking lot close all the way behind you so you are not inadvertently allowing any tailgaters through into the hotel. Direct anyone that asks to be let in to the front desk for proper entry.

When you do find yourself having to pay to get out of a lot, be on the look out for fraudulent QR codes.

First-Aid or Trauma Kit

Consider carrying at least a small first-aid kit with the minimum essentials for you and your family. Ideally, take it a step further and carry at least one or more tourniquets and some sterile gauze rolls and tape. You never know what will happen or how far away help could be. Be sure to carry enough for your entire family if traveling together.

Conclusion

We have certainly covered a lot here. Do not let yourself get overwhelmed. There are a lot of things to consider while traveling specific to taking into account one’s personal safety. The good news is that hopefully you already do a great deal of what we have talked about here. If not, then you can think about chunking it up like we have, i.e. general items along with considerations for the airport, hotel, and other transportation. Then, think about those things you feel are most appropriate for you and your circumstances. These approaches will help make it a bit more digestible while at the same time still helping to make you and your family safer and better prepared when traveling. Our goal.

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