I’m sure you’ve heard your fair share of travel horror stories—from lost luggage, to bed bugs, to hotel break-ins. These unexpected incidents can quickly turn a dream vacation into a nightmare. But when it comes to travel safety, knowledge really is power and can be the key to traveling with peace of mind, knowing that you are prepared for any and everything. That’s why in this article, we’ll cover 8 travel safety tips to ensure you stay safe on your next adventure.
You can also all watch our full travel safety video below!
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Our Best Travel Safety Tips for 2023
Over the years, travel risks change and evolve. That’s why it’s vital to stay informed about the latest travel incidents so you can minimize your risk as much as possible. The 8 travel safety tips below come from recent news articles I’ve read that could have a major impact on your safety and well-being when you travel. However, I do not write this article to scare you, only to inform you of current travel risks and 8 strategies on how to deal with these risks.
1. Get a Travel-Sized Carbon Monoxide Detector
In the news lately, there have been repeated stories of travelers dying because of carbon monoxide poisoning. This is happening in both fancy resorts and in Airbnbs.
This silent threat disguises itself with common symptoms like headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Most victims mistake these symptoms for food poisoning and seek medical attention. However, when they start to feel better, they unknowingly return to the hazardous environment that was making them sick and their symptoms return with a vengeance.
Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to this silent killer. You can get a travel-sized carbon monoxide detector from Amazon that costs as little as $39. This small device can be a lifesaver, alerting you of carbon monoxide emitted by poorly maintained appliances, like stoves, hot-water heaters, or poorly ventilated fireplaces. But that’s not all – it also provides temperature and humidity readings, helping you plan your day and informing you of the conditions of your environment.
Carbon monoxide detectors are also crucial if you’re traveling in a camper van or RV. The constant bumps along the road can damage appliances, potentially leading to carbon monoxide leaks. So, for that peace of mind when you turn out the lights at night, invest in one of these travel-sized carbon monoxide detectors for your camper or RV.
2. Bring a Travel-Sized Bed Bug Spray
Another huge issue for travelers is bed bugs. These creepy crawlies are real pests because they attack you when you are your most vulnerable, while you are sleeping. Bed bugs are really good at hiding too, so you may not know that they are there until you get clusters of swollen and itchy bumps. These bumps are usually much more severe than mosquito bites and very uncomfortable. The worst part is the risk of taking these insects home with you after your trip.
Recently, there has been an outbreak of bed bugs in 7 Las Vegas strip hotels. There has also been an outbreak in Paris and the most worrisome part is that bed bugs in Paris have been found on buses and trains putting all public transportation users at risk.
This is why it’s useful to carry a travel-sized bed bug spray with you. You can use this to spray your luggage to make sure that you don’t bring any bed bugs home with you. In addition, you can use it to spray the mattress and box spring at your accommodation to prevent any nighttime attacks. This spray can be the key to preventing a bed bug infestation in your own home and to helping you sleep a bit easier as well.
3. Protect Your Data with a VPN
Although it’s quite common to use public Wi-Fi at the airport, restaurants, and hotels, it also can be quite dangerous. This is because crafty hackers can steal your data while you are on a shared network. Public Wi-Fi is a hacker’s paradise because, on shared networks, hackers can plant malicious software and track your every keystroke, aiming to swipe those precious usernames and passwords. With access to usernames and passwords, the hackers could gain access to all of your financial accounts putting your hard-won savings at risk.
This is why I try to avoid public Wi-Fi whenever possible, but sometimes it can’t always be avoided. I remember, I once had a layover in South Korea and my credit card was declined due to suspicious activity. So, I had to get on the public Wi-Fi at the airport, login to my bank, and let my bank know that my lunch purchase in Korea was not suspicious. It really is me.
In reality, logging into my bank on public Wi-Fi was a real threat to my financials because with a shared Wi-Fi connection it’s much easier for hackers to watch my every click in order to steal valuable financial information.
In order to protect yourself from this, you should always use a VPN or a virtual private network to give your data the privacy it deserves even while you are on public Wi-Fi. Although we try to avoid public Wi-Fi as much as possible, it’s hard to avoid using the hotel Wi-Fi. This is why we highly recommend NordVPN as an affordable and reliable VPN provider that lets you browse the internet securely, no matter where your adventures take you.
In addition to protecting your data, it allows you to access content from all over the globe with super-fast servers in 60 countries. Just remember that when you travel, it’s just as important to secure your digital valuables as it is to secure your physical valuables and a VPN is a great way to do that.
4. Use a Portable Door Lock
Other stories that I’m hearing more of are criminals breaking into occupied hotel rooms. Just imagine that you’re in your hotel room peacefully sleeping and someone breaks in to rob your wallet or worse someone breaks in to assault you. Well, this is happening in several hotels all around the U.S.
But how do these criminals pull off such audacious acts? Well, it’s surprisingly simple. They claim to be locked out of their own hotel rooms, and without a second thought, the front desk staff issues them a new key to your room, without verifying their identity.
That is why this portable door lock was created. It attaches to the door jam and makes it impossible for anyone with a key to get in. You can only release it from the inside. This device is small, portable, and easy to travel with. The best part is that this convenient device will help you and your family rest easier knowing that no one else can get into your room while you sleep.
5. Lock Up Your Valuables When You Leave Your Room
When you leave your room, is another prime time for thieves. They can sneak into your room while the maid is cleaning the room. Sometimes, they impersonate you, saying they forgot something and just need a minute to get it. In this short minute or two, they can clean out your valuables if you leave them sitting around.
This is why it’s essential to not leave things like jewelry and laptops lying around the room because they are tempting items to steal. Most robberies in hotels are crimes of opportunity, so just ensure that unscrupulous people don’t have an easy opportunity to steal from you.
Lock valuable laptops, and jewelry in your luggage or lock them in the hotel safe if they will fit. Since my laptop is not going to fit into a hotel safe, I always lock it in my luggage when I leave the room.
In addition to locking your luggage, they also have cords so you can lock your baggage to a fixed structure in your room. By tying your luggage to the bed or desk it definitely makes it harder for thieves to steal your bag and reduces your risk of crimes of opportunity when you travel.
6. Share Your Location and Itinerary
If you are traveling solo, it’s always good to notify a trusted friend or family member of your itinerary and share your location on your phone. I find this especially useful if you are going to take a long hike in the wilderness. Let a trusted contact know that you are going on a 10-hour hike and that you will let them know when you get back. Tell them that if they don’t hear from you to contact the authorities. Having the authorities notified in a timely manner could be vital for locating you if you get lost or injured while hiking.
This strategy is also useful for city life as well though. If someone is expecting to hear from you when you reach Colombia, but you never check-in, your friend or family member can see your last location and notify the authorities.
It’s all about creating a safety net. By having someone expect to hear from you, you ensure that alarm bells ring, which is a small step that you can take to stay safe and not feel so alone when you are traveling solo.
7. Register with Your Embassy
Another thing that you can do to stay safe when you travel is to register with your country’s embassy which will notify you and assist you in the case of natural disaster or political unrest when you are traveling abroad. In the United States, there’s the SMART Traveler Program, while Canada offers registration for Canadians abroad.
This is especially useful in situations like the political unrest in Peru, where the American embassy stepped up and evacuated stranded Americans in Machu Pichu. Additionally, at the outset of the pandemic, the embassy in Wuhan, China, facilitated the evacuation of American citizens as well.
These unexpected events are precisely why embassy registration is a smart move. It’s your lifeline, offering support and advice when you need it most, even in situations you never saw coming.
8. Always Get Travel Medical Insurance
Another way to protect yourself from the unexpected is to get travel medical insurance. Travel medical insurance is great because it covers you both for any illness or injury that happens while you travel abroad. Plus, it also covers you if you experience any travel delay, interruptions, or lost luggage.
We’ve used Safety Wing for over 3 years now to cover us while we travel and they’re a breeze to work with and so affordable too. Definitely check out the link below to get a free quote to see how affordable peace of mind for your next trip abroad can be.
Other Ways to Stay Safe When You Travel
Every destination is different, so it’s important to research each destination separately to learn about common scams and crimes that happen in that country. For example, a quick Google search for “common tourist scams in France” can really help you spot and avoid common pickpocketing tricks.
Although traveling does have its risks, in general, I believe that traveling is a safe activity, and many times I feel safer traveling than I do at home in the United States. But regardless of how safe I feel, preparation is the key. As the saying goes, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail,” and I hope these travel safety tips will make your next trip a safer one.
Now, that you’re a bit wiser on how to stay safe while you travel, check out our other great travel tips below!
- The Best Travel Apps for Easy Trip Planning
- How to Plan a Trip Like a Pro
- How to Afford to Travel Full-Time for a Year
- Essential Travel Gear for Your Next Trip
- The Cheapest Way to Fly to Europe
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Argh bed bugs really freak me out (especially this year now there is an outbreak!) I didn’t know there was a bedbug spray, so that is super useful!! Loads of great tips here. 🙂
I love those little loop locks. Your post has made me see I’m a little lax in security when I travel. Time to step up my security measures.
I had no idea there was bed bug spray! Sounds like such an important investment these days. As does a portable door lock. Great tips!
The carbon monoxide and bed bug spray were new to me! Great tips!