We travel all around the world and sometimes I am traveling by myself with the kids. Hunter and I traveled to Austria, Germany, and Hungary recently. I was a bit nervous traveling around the world with my tween daughter.
Whenever I travel, I do take some safety precautions to keep our family safe. Here are a few precautions to stay safe while traveling.
Tips to Stay Safe While Traveling
Book Interior Rooms
When booking your hotel, try to book interior rooms. These are rooms that do not have access from the parking lot. You have only a few entrances into the hotel and most of the entrances are busy or have security. This is a much safer hotel, then rooms with access from parking lot or the outside world.
Book With a Travel Agency
I always suggest booking your reservation with a travel agency. Our preferred agents (Erin & Elizabeth at Destinations to Explore), works with local experts around the world. Whenever we book travel for a customer, we contact our locals to make sure we are booking the safest hotels, tours, and transportation.
Local travel agents know the area. They know what hotels are clean. They know what hotels are safe and what hotels are not!
In Orlando, there is a hotel in the middle of the touristy area. This hotel is less than 10 minutes from Universal Orlando Resort, so it is popular online. The bad news is that hotel backs up a local jail. Do you want your family vacation next to a jail? I am guessing probably not!
Know Where You Are Going
I know it is your vacation and adventure may sound like fun, but know where you are going. If you are in North Carolina and want to see snow, talk with the locals at the hotel and get an idea of the roads, conditions, and destination that you want to visit. You do not want to venture off to go tubing and get stranded, due to poor road conditions or get stuck in a bad neighborhood.
Keep Your Head Up
Everyone has their nose in their phones. When traveling, it is important to be observant. One of our friends that deals in security, tell us that is the #1 way that people get in trouble when they travel. They are not observant.
During a trip to Italy with my brothers, we were at a train station. We knew this was a popular area for pick pocketers, so we were very observant. We could see the thieves scanning potential targets. They stayed away from us, because they could tell we were watching them.
Money, Money, Monday
During your travels, spread out your money.Bring some cash, some travelers checks (if long term or International travel) and credit/debit cards.You will always want some cash (in the country currency) to pay for valet, housekeeping, and other tips during your vacation.
Plus, in a new destination, you may come across a restaurant that does not accept credit cards. If you are traveling for long periods of time or international travel, having some travelers checks are also a good idea.
Most travelers checks are used as cash, so you can use it during your visit. Of course, credit/debit cards are also a great way to pay for items. Credit/debit cards have great security, so if you lose your cards or they are stolen you are still protected. When bringing these card, bring only 1 or 2 cards with you.
Photos of Children
Make sure you have a current picture of your children when you are traveling, just in case you get separated.
Meeting Spot
Make sure you have a meeting spot, just in case anyone gets separated. With the kids, we always talk about the meeting spot and even how to find their way to the meeting spot.
These are just a few ways we stay safe during our family vacations. Do you have any tips to share? We would love to hear them.
Stay Together
In our state, we have high human trafficking numbers. I personally have worked on committees trying to fight this epidemic in our state. With that in mind, I know how this can happen anywhere. When I travel, I am extra careful with my daughter. We stick together.
I was even yelled at during my trip to Germany! We went go to the restrooms. Hunter normally goes into the stall and locks the door. Then I go into the stall. She does not come out until I come out and get her.
During one of our city stops in Germany, the stall door was not locking. I chose to stand outside her door. The attendant did not like that and yelled at me to go into another stall. My daughter’s safety was more important. I just let the bathroom attendant yell at me. I think I may have learned some new curse words on that day. LOL!
These are just a few ways to stay safe while traveling with your family. Do you have any other tips to share?
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