Don't Lose Your Carry-On:
Place small bells on your carry on, and
when someone tries to move it, you will hear. Always, when
standing around or sitting drinking coffee, keep your foot
through the strap. If someone drops something, or something
happens, look at your backpack. This may be a diversion to
steal your backpack.
Don't Advertise Your Home
Address
- Luggage tags should
not have your home address on them. Instead fill in with your
business address or travel agency address.
Don't Look Like a
Tourist
- Do not stop on the street to
consult a map or ask for directions. This immediately
identifies you as a tourist. Step into a busy business to look
at maps or check directions.
Don't Put All Your Money In One
Place
- When you shop,
split your spending money up and put it in several different
packets. Always put some in a pocket that is inside a jacket
or next to your skin. This way, if you are pick-pocketed, you
will always have money.
Doorstopper
-
When staying in hotels, be sure to bring your own rubber
doorstopper. Lodge the doorstopper from the inside, for added
security.
How Do I Get Back to the Hotel?
-
Better safe than sorry: When traveling to an unfamiliar place,
especially to another country, keep a business card or
matchbook or a piece of paper with your hotel's address and
phone number on it.
How to Mark Your Luggage
-
Mark every piece of
luggage inside and outside with your last name and first
initial only, and no title (Mr. Mrs. Ms.)
Leave Your Expensive Camera
Behind
-
Use disposable cameras when traveling to
high-crime countries.
Look Like a Local
- Try not to look
like a tourist. Wear plain clothes that won't give the
impression you are carrying money or valuables. Leave jewelry
at home - including rings and watches. Buy a cheap watch just
for travel.
Money Necklace
-
Wear a 'money necklace' over your neck and under your shirt to
hold your cash/passport.
Passport and Money Belt
-
When traveling abroad, purchase a
passport and money belt. Wear this around your waist, under
your clothes, especially if you are traveling in a sleeper
train with other passengers and want these items to be safe
while you are sleeping.
Protect Your Cameras and Valuables
- Remember
when you are on vacation to continue to think. You may be in a
beautiful area, but sometimes people are looking for suckers.
Leaving cameras and valuables in plain sight is not a good
idea.
Protect Your Valuables - And
Yourself
- Do not carry your
camera equipment or other valuables around in bags marked with
brand names on them. Try to conceal such items in a regular
backpack or in other less obvious ways. While driving in
large cities always keep your windows up, doors locked, and
valuables out of sight. Travel well-lit, busy routes
Protecting Your Film
- When you are
finished with a roll of film, leave it in your hotel safe
rather than your camera bag. If your camera is stolen, you
still have the film.
Safety-Conscious Packing
- Take a flashlight
with you on your trip and keep it on the nightstand in your
hotel room during the night. A battery operated smoke detector
and a roll of duct tape can save your life in the event of a
hotel fire. The duct tape is to block vents and door cracks if
you are ever trapped in a hotel room during a fire.
Shhhhhhh - Don't Tell!
- During your trip do
not give out information about your destination, valuables or
itinerary to people who do not need it - desk clerks, door
men, taxi drivers and such
Suggestions for Your First-Aid Kit
- When I go
somewhere I always take a first-aid kit equipped with varied
sizes of bandages, small alcohol packs, Tylenol, Aspirin, and
Tums.
Washroom Advice
- When using a public
washroom, never EVER leave anything of value on the inside
hooks of the door or on the floor. Put them on your lap.
