Security Tips for your International Luxury Travel Overseas

Vacationing abroad should be all about having fun and experiencing a new culture, but there are also safety issues to consider.

A friend's child was pickpocketed recently in Europe.  We all know persons who have been robbed overseas.  Europe is the epitome of scams and thefts, but it can occur anywhere so it is best to be prepared and use safe practices whenever traveling domestically or abroad.  Here are some tips followed by real life stories that have happened to us or our friends followed by links to easy solutions.

1. BE VIGILANT!  If it seems unusual, don't engage anyone!

- A fellow passenger on a bus, train, street, subway, or museum drops cash, change or anything. You, the, "helpful American" stoops down to pick up the item,  while someone is grabbing your things out of your bag, pocket or whatever.  Just keep going on your way or ignore them.  Sure it sounds cruel, but this is real.

- Children run up to you and play with you.  They are so cute!!! But while you are admiring them or talking with them, someone is stealing your stuff!  Just ignore them and tell them no.

- Someone rides alongside you on a bike and cuts the strap to your travel bag and off they go.

Put the things you don't care about in a lightweight backpack - drinks, food, maps, etc.

2. KEEP YOUR VALUABLES CLOSE AND SECURE.

- You are on a crowded bus.  Someone reaches into your back pocket to remove your phone you stuck there because you think it is secure on your body, while you are looking at a map.

- You are at a museum and someone reaches in your back pocket to remove your wallet while you are waiting in line for a ticket

Travelon Classic Messenger Bag

You can also tether your things to something secure when on a bus or train using wires and locks.  There are a few useful items for doing this depending on what level of security you need:

               

3. DON'T LEAVE THINGS LAYING AROUND YOUR HOTEL ROOM OR RENTAL

- This seems intuitive, but it is surprising how many people don't lock up their things

- No safe is provided for your room or rental, so you just leave things in plain view because you don't know what else to do

- you lock things up in your suitcase, but someone takes your suitcase from your room

Use a portable travel safe and this is LTD favorite:

Portable Safe

4. PACK YOUR VALUABLES IN A CARRYON BAG AND KEEP IT WITH YOU

- your checked bag gets lost, delayed or gets diverted to another airport

- your checked bag gets taken by another passenger because it looks like theirs

- the cab driver "forgets" to put one of your bags in the trunk

- it's dark and you don't see one of your bags and leave it behind

Locking Backpack

5. SHARE DUTIES FOR CARRYING CASH AND CREDIT CARDS WITH YOUR TRAVEL COMPANIONS

- your bag is stolen and you were carrying all of your cash and all of your credit cards.  Now you have to cancel every credit card because they were stolen and you have no cash.  Even if your spouse has credit cards, how often do they have different credit card accounts?

- you buy an item with your credit card and the clerk on her phone takes a photo of it when she turns around to run the transaction.

Each traveler should cary part of the cash and different credit cards in one of these

6. DON'T LET YOUR BEST WATCH OR JEWELRY BE STOLEN FROM YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS OR FROM YOUR BODY

- you bring your wedding ring because you have a special event one evening but there is no safe in your hotel room.  It is taken from your drawer from under your socks.

Travel Wedding Ring so you can Leave your Valuables Home

7.  LEAVE A PHOTO COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT WITH FRIENDS AND IN EACH OF YOUR BAGS.  LTD DOES NOT CARRY THEIR PASSPORTS ON THEIR BODIES ALWAYS.  LTD LEAVE THEIR PASSPORTS IN A SAFE AT HOTEL, CRUISE SHIP OR APARTMENT AND CARRY A PHOTOCOPY.

8.  Use a personal alarm for solo endeavors or for every trek!

This emergency alarm can make a loud sound to draw attention to protect you from having an emergency even at distances as far as 606.9 ft. In addition, the sounds could last 50 minutes continuous ear-piercing alarm.

Download the US Department of State Smart Traveler App to keep up to date on the latest security threats and register your trips so your location is registered in the event of an emergency!