In the U.S. alone, travelers spend more than $70 billion dollars on holiday travel every year. With so many people traveling, it is important to keep in mind some holiday travel safety tips. Keep reading for our top ten!
1. Purchase Travel Insurance
From canceled flights and lost luggage to medical emergencies and emergency evacuation, travel insurance covers every potential disaster. While having this insurance won’t prevent issues from arising, it can help resolve them.
2. Service Your Vehicle
If you’re traveling by car this holiday season, take the time to prepare your ride. Get your oil changed, fill your tires, or opt for a full tune-up to ensure that things run smoothly on the road.
3. Keep Your Home Safe
You will lock your doors when you travel, but there are other steps you can take. Things like putting both internal and external lights on timers to mimic your typical routine.
Get a security system installed. There are easy-to-install options available that won’t break your bank. Consider telling your neighbors you’re away and ask if they’ll keep an eye on your home for you.
Consider saving your social media posts about your trip until you’re home, as well. When you post about being away, the whole world knows that your home is unoccupied. That can make it a target.
4. Keep Your Valuables Safe (and Close By)
This means putting your necessary items in your carry-on rather than your checked baggage. It also means storing money, tickets, and passports in a money belt under your shirt while exploring your destination.
5. Pack for the Worst
If you’re traveling by car, be sure to pack blankets or extra clothes to keep you warm in case of a breakdown. Bring jumper cables and tow straps in case help arrives unprepared.
You’ll also want to make sure you have a well-stocked first-aid kit close at hand.
6. Wash Your Hands
This is not just a travel safety tip for 2020. It is always best practice to keep your hands clean. New places carry new germs, bacteria, and viruses.
When you factor in the travel fatigue, it makes sense that so many people get sick while traveling.
7. Consult a Travel Expert
If you’re planning a trip to a place you’ve never been, it is wise to talk to a travel agent with relevant experience. This is especially important with international travel.
If you’re traveling to Cesky Krumlov, for example, seek out a travel agent that specializes in Czech Republic travel. They can help you plan for safety measures unique to your destination.
8. Leave a Backup Paper Trail
Make copies of your travel documents: tickets, itineraries, credit cards, and passports. Leave these with a trusted friend or relative at home. If something happens while you’re away, this backup stash could be your saving grace.
9. Keep a Cell Phone Charger Nearby
There is no worse feeling than reaching for your cell phone when you’re lost only to see the battery’s dead. Keep a charger on you at all times to avoid being stranded in a strange place with no ready means of communication.
Go further and use that charger whenever you’re in one place (with an outlet) for more than a few minutes.
10. Use Your Head
It is easy to lose yourself in the experience of travel, especially around the holidays. Keep your head about you, stay aware of your surroundings, and don’t take safety for granted when traveling.
Stay Safe, Have Fun
These holiday travel safety tips will go a long way to ensuring your family gets the most out of the experience. If you found these tips helpful, explore our site for more travel advice.
