Safe traveling starts at home when you pack for your trip. You can lesson the chances of becoming a target by what you take and what you leave behind. Here are a few tips for packing with staying safe in mind.
Dress to blend in. Do not dress in a way that could mark you as an affluent tourist. Expensive clothing, expensive-looking jewelry, watches and such can draw attention that you don’t want.
Travel light. It is always best to travel as light as you can. You will be able to move more quickly and won’t be burdened by luggage. You will also be less tired and less likely to leave your luggage unattended, even if it is just for a quick second.
Carry only the valuables you need. The safest place for your passport, cash and credit cards would be to secure them in a hotel safe of a reputable hotel. However, most often you are probably going to be carrying them. It can be a good idea to carry them separately. For instance, you may keep your credit cards in your wallet, but have your cash in a money clip in a different pocket. Avoid using purses, handbags, fanny packs, and outside pockets that can be easy targets for thieves. Inside pockets and front pockets of pants can be better choices. If you have a sturdy shoulder bag, wear it with the strap across your chest to be a bit safer. (Be sure to watch the video on carrying a purse or bag.) One of the safest places to carry valuables is in a money belt worn under your clothes.
Keep valuables with you. Pack valuables and things like extra glasses and medications in your carry on, as well as anything else you don’t want to be separated with. You can avoid problems at customs if you keep medicines in their original, labeled containers. Have copies of your prescriptions and the generic names for the drugs with you. It may never be an issue, but having these can save you time and trouble if your belongings are given a thorough go through. If your medications contains narcotics, you may want a letter from your doctor along with the prescription. It would also be a good idea to check the legality of carrying certain drugs into the country you are visiting by consulting the embassy or consulate of that country before you travel. Remember, laws vary depending on where you travel, so find out before you go.
Credit cards and travelers checks are safer than cash. Personally, I prefer credit cards and never deal with travelers checks. I don’t take all of my cards when I travel. I usually take two or three cards with me, most often an American Express card, Visa, and Mastercard. That covers just about everything, and I leave my other cards at home.
Pack a photocopy of your passport’s first page (And visa page if you are traveling to a country that you needed a visa for.) in case you lose your passport. Another thing you can do is e-mail a scan of your passport page to a secure account, or store in a secure place in the cloud to access if needed. This way, anyplace you can have Internet access, you can retrieve the information if needed. However, depending on where you travel, there may not be Internet access, so the “old school” paper copy is also advised. Keep these copies secure as well, but not with the passport. (Be sure to watch the video on this.)
Secure your luggage. If allowed, lock your baggage. Unfortunately, some security points require you to not lock your bags. Put your name, address, and telephone numbers inside and outside each piece of luggage. On the outside, use the covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity or nationality.