Check
List for Successful Traveling
by Dave Rodwell
Being organized
is the secret to travel success. To help you reduce the stress of leaving
home, I'm providing my personal organizational checklist. By using this
list as a guide and then personalizing it to fit your lifestyle you'll
find that you will have “peace of mind” about leaving home.
Steps
to Follow Several Days Before Departure
- Check phone
message machine and revise message, if necessary. Consider subscribing
to your phone company's voice mail service if there's a chance that
your answering machine will max out. Don't leave a message
saying that you're out of town!
- Stop or forward
mail. Stop newspaper and other deliveries.
- Maintain an
emergency folder for office and home. Include copies of your itinerary,
what to do in an emergency and whom to alert, copies of passport,
birth certificate, credit card numbers and cancellation phone numbers,
computer passwords, emergency health care info (include blood types,
drug allergies, doctors name and phone numbers for access to medical
records). Update this file regularly!
- Notify alarm
company of travel plans. Furnish them with names and phones numbers
of house sitters or caretakers. Provide your itinerary and contact
information. Contact local neighbourhood watch patrols or police departments
for further suggestions.
- Provide friends
and neighbours with itinerary and relevant phone/fax numbers and the
names of those who have keys, etc. to enter your home.
- For extended
trips, review bill payment schedules and arrange for pre-payments
for utilities, rent or mortgage, phone, etc. This avoids utility shut-off's,
late fees and credit damage.
- Contact credit
card companies and inform them of travel plans, especially if traveling
to exotic destinations. Advise of possible unusual charging or more
frequent spending from various locations. Arrange for prepaying minimum
payment amounts to avoid late payment charges.
- Record credit
card numbers for those cards taken (take only cards that can and will
be used). Keep a copy at home and take a copy along (do not pack this,
it's as valuable as your cards). If going to foreign countries, call
the 800 numbers for reporting lost or stolen cards and verify that
those phone numbers are valid from the countries that you will visit
(write these numbers on your list). Do the same with traveler's checks.
- Arrange for
pet's care.
- Take along phone
numbers of friends and neighbours, including their work numbers for
emergency contacts. Also a list of doctors and dentist's names and
numbers.
- Check current
insurance policies for coverage on rental cars especially if traveling
in foreign destinations (if covered take a copy of policy).
- Call health insurer
to clarify coverage when overseas and in transit. Make a copy of policy
and card. Ask if coverage includes life-flight or emergency transportation
home.
- Obtain enough
prescription medicines for duration of trip. For extended periods,
get additional medication authorization from physician (some insurance
programs limit monthly quantities). Keep prescriptions in original
dosage containers. Ask pharmacy to provide medicine in smaller vitals
for easier carrying. Or ask doctor for sample size prescription medicines.
Never pack medications in check-in bags. Include copy of medicine,
eyeglasses and contact lenses prescriptions.
- Make copies of
birth certificate, drug and eyeglass prescriptions, health insurance,
passport, visas, packing lists, and credit cards/travelers checks
numbers and tickets. Do not pack these lists; keep them with you.
- Put itinerary
and luggage tag information inside each bag (including carry-on's).
Luggage tags are often separated from the luggage making identity
difficult. List only name and phone on outside luggage tags. Remove
any old airline luggage routing tags. Keep a copy of packing lists
separate from luggage in the event of a claim for lost baggage.
- Buy an emergency
phone card that can be used in the area traveled. Check cell phone
coverage area and costs of long distance or roaming fees. No sense
lugging a useless cell phone.
- Compile a list
of friends and relatives with their sizes for buying gifts while traveling.
Take a list of addresses for sending postcards.
- Arrange for snow
removal or lawn mowing and watering while gone to avoid calling attention
to an unattended house.
- Do not hide things
- house key under the mat, etc. Put jewelry and other valuables in
safety deposit box.
- If traveling
by auto, have car thoroughly serviced and the tires checked.
Just Before
You Walk Out the Door
- Move plants
as required and arrange for their watering.
- Stop garbage
or arrange for garbage to be set out and, later, cans collected.
- Check doors,
windows and locks. Don't overlook locking pet doors and the door between
the garage and house.
- If leaving cars
in the garage, set out car keys for neighbours to move cars in event
of fire or other emergency. If on extended leave disconnect the car
battery to avoid drainage, follow auto manufacturer's suggestions.
- Consider disconnecting
the receiver of electric garage door openers or engaging the manual
lock on the door. Electric doors are can be opened by other electronic
devices. Remove door openers and valuables from cars parked outside.
- Ask neighbours
to walk by house periodically to check doors, rear of house, and see
if any unexpected packages or door hangtags were left.
- Unplug expensive
home electronics, computers and other devices that might be damaged
by a power surge. Disconnect Internet access to computers.
- Remove perishables
from refrigerator and discard.
- Empty coffee
pot, wash dishes.
- Shut off water
lines to washing machines to avoid flooding problems. Do not leave
the dishwasher, dryer or washing machine running when leaving the
house (especially if no one will be home or available to check if
these appliances shut off). Make sure all appliances are turned off,
stove, oven, coffee maker, etc.
- Count the number
of bags or items taken (i.e. coat, briefcase, carry-on luggage = 3).
Keep track of this number at each destination, adjust if you add or
combine. Count bags after deplaning, taxi rides, bus trips, etc. This
will avoid loss of items left behind. Especially good advice if traveling
with children (car seats, favourite toy, diaper bags, blanket, etc.).
- Review en route
weather conditions and check transportation schedules for delays.
- Check for tickets,
medications, glasses, passports/visas, photo ID's and money before
you walk out the door.
When
on Holidays
Security
Tips for Women Travelers
- Want to fool
thieves completely? At your destination, buy something at a local
grocer's shop. Then use their plastic bag to carry your wallet and
camera and other valuable. Let them think it is groceries.
- Choose your travel
wardrobe carefully, eliminating bright attention-getting colors and
expensive jewelry and watches. The smart traveler wants to remain
as inconspicuous as possible.
- At the airport,
don't send any of your possessions through the x-ray security check
until you're ready to go through yourself. Scam artists work in teams.
The person in front of you holds up the line by deliberately leaving
change in his or her pocket, for example, and setting off the metal
detector. While you are waiting to go through, his partner is picking
up your valuables off the conveyor belt and melting into the crowd.
- If you take a
handbag, it should have only a bit of money in it and a few grooming
essentials. It should also have a long shoulder strap that's thick
enough not to be easily cut and that will allow you to wear the strap
across your body with the purse part in front against your stomach
where you can keep a hand on it at all times. With this kind of body
language, pickpockets are 90% less likely to target you.
- Double lock your
hotel room door if at all possible. If not, then never leave your
valuables unattended in the room. It's no effort to bring your purse
or money belt into the bathroom when you're showering, where you can
keep an eye on it.
- Carry your real
valuables - your extra cash, credit cards, travelers’ cheques
and credit/bank cards in a cotton money belt under your clothes.
- Never, never
count your money in public or try to exchange your foreign currency
for local currency with a street vendor. This is an open invitation
to be robbed.
- Be extra vigilant
at airport check-ins and at train and bus stations. Always keep luggage
in front of you where you can see it at all times. Always carry a
light scarf in your bag. It's perfect for tying your camera bag, day
pack, or purse to your luggage cart. Imagine a thief's surprise when
he tries to "snatch and run".
- When other travelers
ask you what you do for a living and you're not sure if they can be
trusted, tell them you're a policewoman on holiday or a retired policewoman.
It gets their attention and it works.
Hotel Security
Measures
- Avoid temptation
to save a few dollars, and stay at a reputable hotel chain, located
as close to planned activities as possible.
- If utilizing
a vehicle during trip, make sure the hotel has a well-lit, secured
parking area with controlled access restricted to hotel guests.
- Ask for a room
between the 3rd and 6th floors. Avoid ground level room as they can
be easily broken into. Rooms that are higher then 6th floor can not
often be reached by fire department ladders.
- Don’t leave
valuables in your room. Put them in the hotel safe or safety deposit
box.
- Be observant
of individuals watching you, or following you to your room.
- Don’t open
your door to any unexpected deliveries. If you are unsure if person
is hotel staff, calls down to the front desk to confirm.
- Upon entering
your room. Make note of the floor plan, and plan exit strategies in
anticipation of a fire or other events, that forces evacuation.
- Make sure that
outside doors and windows open, if designed to do so.
- If you have to
exit in a fire, take your room key with you, encase you have to return
to the safety of the room.
- Don’t reveal
your hotel name or room number to strangers. Watch leaving your room
key on display.
- Don’t discuss
your travel plans or day trips away from the hotel in front of strangers.
- Don’t entertain
strangers in your hotel room.
- Be alert to overly
friendly locals who may have criminal intentions. They may offer to
take you to a “special” restaurant. Their ruse may be
to offer drugged refreshments.
- Use the door
chain or dead bolt lock when in your room.
- Keep your room
neat, so you will notice upon entry of disturbed or missing items.
Back out of the room, as the bad guy could still be hiding inside.
Vehicle
Security Measures
- If using a rental
vehicle, try to select one without stickers that advertises your are
a stranger to the area.
- Select a modest
vehicle common to the area. Large expensive vehicles attract unwanted
attention.
- Keep vehicle
gassed up, and cell phone charged and handy at all times.
- Keep doors locked
at all times.
- Leave ample manoeuvring
space between your car and the car in front of you. Always leave an
escape route.
- If you are approached
by suspicious persons while you are stopped, do not roll down the
windows, drive away quickly.
- Make sure you
know your daily travel route and have maps. You want to avoid getting
lost, and straying into unsafe areas. You also want to avoid having
to ask directions of strangers if possible.
- If you are being
followed or harassed by another driver, try to find the nearest police
station, hotel or public facility. Don’t lead them to your residence.
Don’t worry about a legal parking place, simple get close as
possible to the door, and enter quickly for safety.
- Avoid repetitious
behaviour. Vary travel routes.
- Never, never
pick up hitchhikers.
- When you park,
look for a spot that offers good lighting, and is close to lots of
people and activity. Lock valuables in the trunk and lock all doors.
- When shopping,
if you return to your car with parcels, lock them in your trunk, and
drive away, and park in another part of the mall complex before returning
inside. This will give the impression of any watching criminals that
you are leaving and they will not set up on your vehicle waiting for
your return.
- Before leaving
a mall, watch for any strangers that may be following you. This is
very important if you have purchased valuable articles.
- If at any time
you feel threaten by people outside your vehicle. Lock all the doors,
and start to attract attention by hooking on the horn.
Other Travelling
Tips
- Avoid looking
like a tourist.
- When traveling
on public transportation. Sit near the driver. Be alert to who gets
on and off the bus with you.
- When riding in
a taxi, sit in the back seat.
- Be careful in
large crowds where there is jostling, as pickpockets look for this
situation to get active.
- Be aware of your
surroundings. Know where emergency exits are, and don’t visit
out of the way places, unless you know it is safe to do so. The ability
to foresee or detect a dangerous situation is the best means to avoid
trouble.
- Check with the
government advisory service about visiting foreign countries.
Bon
Voyage and have a great holiday.
© 2006 Prepared
by Dave Rodwell, All rights reserved. www.daverodwell.com
Used with permission of the author.
Edmonton
based, former RCMP, Dave Rodwell has been helping companies protect
their assets for 38 years as a peace officer, investigator, consultant
and lecturer. He can help train your team to combat theft, increase
security and work more effectively. He can help solve your organization’s
security problems.
Dave can
be reached at 780-460-3028 or dave@daverodwell.com
Visit his website at www.daverodwell.com
for more articles and information.
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