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Put your mail and your newspapers on vacation hold…right? Not really, this alerts your paper and mail carrier to the fact that you are out of town. Instead, think about hiring a house sitter. Some one to come in once a day, pick up the paper and mail, open and close curtains, turn on different lights, etc. In other words, make your house look like some one is home.
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Leave emergency contact information and itinerary with your neighbor, house sitter, friends or family. This way someone will know how to reach you if there is a need.
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Make sure the message on your voice mail/answering machine is current and does not say you are out of town. If possible, consider having messages forwarded.
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Back up your computer! You should be doing this regularly anyway, but you don’t want to come home after a wonderful vacation and find out you have lost all your important data, pictures, etc.
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Take some time to review potential travel warnings. Go to www.travel.state.gov to find out if there are issues you need to be aware of in the areas you will be visiting. Note the addresses of the US Consulate and / or Embassy in the event of a minor (Oops, I lost my passport) or major (Political upheaval) emergency.
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Make copies of your Passport, visas (if you need them), credit cards, atm cards, driver’s license, etc. Keep these copies in a safe place. In the event you lose any of these documents, getting replacements will be much easier. Leave a copy of these documents with someone you trust and can contact should you need to have something faxed or mailed to you. You can also scan this information and email it to yourself so that you can access it anytime.
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Take off and leave all your expensive jewelry at home. Don’t be a target. If you insist on taking certain pieces, or you are an electronics junky…Check your insurance policy before you leave to see what is covered when you travel.
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Put only your first initial and last name and phone number on your luggage tags. This way potential crooks won’t be able to determine your gender or have your home address.
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When you board the plane, train, cruise ship, etc., note the location of the emergency exits.
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When exiting a taxi, leave the passenger door open until you verify all of your belongings have been unloaded.
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Never leave your luggage outside of the restroom door or leave your bag on the hook on the back of the door. If a thief tries to steal your belongings, you are literally a "sitting duck".
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If you are traveling with a laptop or other valuable items in your suitcase, consider investing in a motion alarm designed for luggage. You attach the transmitter to the luggage and the receiver to your self. The alarm will activate if you and your luggage are separated by a pre-set distance.
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Get cable locks for your luggage. This way you can strap your bags to the train or bus, or even together. It is much harder for a crook to walk off with your bag if it is locked down.
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If you are assigned a first floor room, ask to be relocated. First floor rooms often have sliding doors or windows that are accessible from the ground.
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Don’t advertise that you are traveling alone. Sign the guest register as Mr. & Mrs. X. Don’t have deliveries sent to your room from outside vendors such as restaurants, etc.
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Don’t open the door unless you have verified the authenticity of the person on the other side.
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Always use the elevator versus stairs in a hotel. Taking stairs is good for your health, but you are generally alone and cannot be seen or heard. If you don’t like the look of the person in the elevator, don’t get in. Offending an innocent person is better than being uncomfortable with a suspicious character.
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If you brought your valuables, even though you’ve been warned to leave them at home, if possible, use the Hotel safe rather than the safe in your room. Often insurance policies will only cover your loss if the items were stored in the hotel safe.
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Before you head out to visit the great new city, familiarize yourself with the area. Review all those maps you brought and get a fix as to how your hotel relates to the areas you want to visit.
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Try not to look at your map continuously. If you need to ask for directions, be cautious about whom you ask. If the helpful local you chose to stop asks "is this your first time here" always answer "NO". Many petty criminals use this question to gauge if you are a good "mark".
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Pickpockets are everywhere. Don’t carry more cash on your person than you can afford to lose. Keep your valuables such as your passport and credit cards in a secure pouch, inside pocket or money belt.
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If you area headed to the beach or pool, pack a water tight security pouch so you can bring your valuables into the water with you when traveling. Thieves are well aware that we all "hide" things in our shoes at the beach.
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Women traveling alone face a few more issues. Do wear a "faux" wedding band. Some cultures assume that if you aren't "taken" that you are actively looking to be. In addition, take time to become familiar with the laws and customs of the country you are traveling in. Certain cultures perceive single women very differently and you can easily find yourself in uncomfortable or even dangerous situations.
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