Travel Security

Traveling is supposed to be fun.  One of the worst things that can happen to you on a trip is to realize you have been robbed.  This can happen in many ways including a pick pocket in the street, a high tech thief, or sadly from an airline employee or TSA agent at the airport.  Here are some simple ideas we have learned through out the years to help make your trip a little safer.

First, when traveling don't pack anything valuable in your checked bags.  I made this mistake years ago with my camera on a trip to Niagara Falls.  When I opened my bag in the hotel I found my new camera was long gone.  I filed a police report, filed a claim with TSA, and filed a complaint with Delta.  Most of you will not be shocked to learn Delta blamed TSA and TSA blamed Delta.  In the end I received no restitution from TSA (just search for TSA thefts and you will get thousands of reported incidents) and got a flight credit from Delta.  Expensive and high tech items should be in your carry on that you can take with you at all times.  If you have to pack something in your checked bag make sure you have one of the TSA approved luggage locks.  These locks can only be opened by a TSA inspector and do a good job preventing theft because the inspectors know if anything goes missing they can identify directly who opened the lock. 

Second, try your best to protect yourself from pick pockets.  Remember, especially overseas, there are entire groups of people trying to steal from tourists who are overwhelmed with the sites they are seeing.  These gypsies roam in packs, and are not trying to hide.  They work on volume and in teams.  They will try and pick as many pockets as they can in a day, and will try to use one of their partners to distract you while they are robbing you.  In the Louvre, I caught a man with his hand literally in my pocket.  He pretended like he was kneeling down beside me to tie his shoe and then reached into my pocket. Thankfully I was wearing a pair of travel pants with an interior zipper in the pocket that kept my wallet secure.  When I looked down and saw him he took off running immediately.  Travel clothing has come a long way over the last decade.  Great companies TravelSmith and SCOTTeVEST are making clothing that provides security features that protect against theft, and look rather stylish.  I cannot speak more highly of SCOTTeVEST, especially their travel vests.  These vests provide travelers with an unexplainable number of pockets, mostly zippered, that allow travelers to keep so many items comfortably on their body you may be able to ditch the purses or backpacks.  One outstanding model, the Sterling, also comes with sleeves that allow you wear it as a light jacket. 

Third, bring a drop wallet.  I saw this idea from another travel site and think it is a great idea.  In case you are worried about getting pick pocketed or robbed keep a back up wallet on you at all times.  Keep your actual wallet secured inside your pants, jacket, backpack, etc., and keep an old wallet with expired credit cards and a couple of dollars in cash on you that you can hand to anyone you who may try to rob you.  You can even place old Visa gift cards in the wallet, most thieves are not going to stick around long enough to check the expiration dates on them.  I want to emphasize this is an extreme precaution.  I have only on rare occasions believed someone may be trying to pick pocket me, and never have I felt threatened or feared violence, but it is a good idea none the less.

Fourth, bring a bike chain with you.  We like to rent a car when we travel so we can drive to smaller towns and off the beaten path sites.  If we are traveling with our luggage in the back we like to chain the bags together and connect the chain inside of the vehicle.  Most vehicles have hooks in the trunk or rear compartment that you can easily run the chain through.  After locking your baggage from being opened with your TSA lock, chaining the bags together, and connecting them to the car thieves won't get away with much if they do get in your vehicle.

If you are a US Citizen traveling out of the country, it is always a good idea to register your trip with the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.This may seem like an extraneous step, but its one of those things that you don't want to skip and then find yourself in an emergency.

I'm always open to other travel tips.  If you have any good safety tips that have worked for you please feel free to share them.  I hope this helps.