What Safety Measures Should You Take While On Vacation?

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t get excited right before he/she is about to go on vacation. Naturally, trips away from home provide us all with fun times that are good combinations of thrilling adventures and restful moments. It’s important for us all to remember, however, that being away from home puts us in places we aren’t all that familiar with. You’d be wise to take a few safety precautions.

Keep your cash and credit cards in separate places.

These days, credit cards are accepted just about everywhere. It’s in your best interest to walk with as little cash on your person as possible. This helps you to avoid the loss or theft of money you will likely never see again. Lost or stolen credit cards, on the other hand, can easily be replaced. That said, it is likely you’ll need to walk with some cash on you. Tips at the bar, for example, are much easier to provide in paper form.

However, as Katherine Torres advises on Safewise.com, you should never carry your credit cards, cash and passport at the same time. “You’ll want to keep some cash in your wallet, and then stash the rest in a pocket or money pouch,” she instructs, “If you have a safe in your hotel room, leave the majority of your cash there and only bring what you’ll need for the day.”

Put your lights on timers.

A common safety tactic, used by many vacationers, is to put timers on the lights at home. They tell the outside world that “someone is home” when the house is actually empty. It’s wise to even attach a timer to a television or radio just to offer a little noise to anyone who may approach the home. According to Dr HVAC, putting your lights on timers will give your home the “lived-in look”.

“If you are able to, find a timer that can connect to your cell phone,” recommends their website, “This way, no matter where you are (as long as there’s cell reception) you will be able to set the lights to go on and off at different times. This will help discourage anyone who may be watching your house. Lights that go on and off at the same time will work for a few days, but it’s a pretty noticeable pattern if you’re away for any length of time.”

Save the social media posts for after the trip.

We know. You probably can’t wait to inundate your friends and family with pictures and videos of your fabulous trip. The truth is that most people regularly update their social media feeds with all the goings-on of their vacations. However, this isn’t exactly a safe practice. Informing the world that you’re not home makes it more susceptible to a break in. Why not save all of your photos and videos for display once you’re back from vacation? Besides, the less time you spend on social media, the more time you get to enjoy the actual trip!

“Don’t tip criminals off by sharing too much information on your social networks,” insists Torres, “Refrain from posting photos, status updates, or ‘checking in’ while on vacation. Even if you have the highest security settings on Facebook and Twitter, your personal information could still be seen by unwanted eyes.”

Need some help booking your next vacation? One of our Vacation Advisors can provide you with information to guide you in acquiring a Taitam Membership Plan. Please don’t hesitate to call Taitam Technology Vacations at 416-234-0202 today!