Plan ahead & stay safe

Staying safe while traveling takes preparation and thoughtfulness - especially for women. I like to think most people are well-meaning and want to help, but safety while traveling isn't a game of chance.  

The Biz Chicks recently invited me to talk on their blog talk radio show about how I stay safe while traveling. Business travel is a big part of my life and safety plays a starring role in almost every travel decision I make. Many of my safety tips come from personal experience but some come from thinking through worst case scenarios - and doing my best to avoid them.

Feel free to use these tips as your own and add to the list in the comments section. The more we share, the safer we'll all be - and that means we'll have more fun traveling!

Traveling to your destination

• Use covered luggage tags (so information isn't easily accessible) and use a business card - not your personal home information.
• Pay your Uber or taxi fare, pay digitally or if you need to pay cash, put your wallet away and close your bag before exiting the vehicle.
• If you need to put your carry-on bag on the floor (in the restroom, at a restaurant, etc.) loop the handle around your ankle.
• Use airport-approved transportation - not unmarked taxis.
• If you're not sure where to go, find a uniformed attendant to help.

Arriving at the hotel

• Be memorable to hotel staff. Address people by name and go out of your way to be friendly and ask questions. If you run into trouble, you want people recognize you and be willing to help.
• When checking in, request a room on an upper floor, away from the street, catwalks and terraces.
• Ask for a room near the elevator so there's no need to walk down a long corridor alone.
• If arriving late at night, ask for an escort to your room.
• When waiting for the elevator, stand with your back facing the wall so you can step back and push all the buttons at once if threatened.

In your room

• Never use the "Please make up room," sign - it's an open invitation to thieves. Call housekeeping and let them know the room is ready for cleaning.
• Put expensive clothing on hangers under other clothes. Thieves "shop" when they're looting a room and may not look too closely at the closet.
• Lock valuables in the safe at the front desk - not the one in your room.
• If you're room is broken into, notify the front desk immediately. The sooner the notification, the sooner the thief can be caught.

Around town

• Ask the concierge about dangerous areas of town and safety after dark.
• Take a map, your cell phone and identification with you wherever you go - even if it's for an early morning run.
• Pickpockets strike when you're pre-occupied. Be  mindful of your belongings getting on and off subways and trains, on the stairs or escalators and when talking on your phone or looking at a map.
• Carry a small amount of money and only one credit card - leave the rest at the hotel.
• Have small bills ready for gratuities so you're not hunting through your bag or wallet or pulling out a wad of bills.
• If you're lost, think before you ask for directions. Approaching a couple or family is safer than a man walking alone (sex offenders rarely look scary). Begin with, "I'm meeting a friend and can't find...."
• If you are attacked, yell "Fire" not "Help." Studies show people respond to fire quicker than a call for help.

Staying safe while traveling is mostly about common sense - with a few good ideas thrown in. Do you have travel safety tips? Share them below!

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