Enjoying Your Trip - The Safe Way

It used to be all you had to think about when preparing for a trip was what clothes to take, picking up some travelers checks and packing your toothbrush.

But today"s conscientious traveler has to give more than a passing thought to personal safety to ensure a relaxed and worry-free trip from the moment he or she leaves the house to when they return home.

To make sure you cover off most concerns, divide your trip into three parts:

* What to do before you leave * Safety tips while your traveling * Arriving home safely

Trip planning, the time you"re away, and your return, each present opportunities to ensure a safe and enjoyable business trip or vacation.

Much unnecessary worry can be avoided if certain measures are taken to decrease the likelihood of a house break-in while you"re away.

When making your initial trip arrangements, remember that any phone call you make from a cordless telephone can be easily overheard by an unwelcome listener without your knowledge or consent. Inexpensive police-type scanners, and even baby monitors, operating on similar frequencies as cordless phones are able to pick up your travel plans.

Most people are aware by now of the value of indoor light timers to give the appearance of occupancy. Unfortunately, so are burglars! If you are going to be away for an extended period of time, it is very easy for would-be thieves to monitor the lights and determine they are on a timer. The use of variable or programmable light timers eliminates this predictability and their cost has come down dramatically in the past few years. Inexpensive light-sensitive outdoor lights may also provide a deterrent.

Bring neighbors into the picture when you are planning your trip. A secure neighborhood is in their interest as well. Ask them to take in your mail, to open and close your garage door periodically, even to move a parked car to different locations in the driveway.

It is also worth inquiring at your local police to see if they have initiated any sort of "Vacation Watch" program. More cities and towns in North America are offering this service which often includes routine drive-by inspections of your home and the use of spotlights at night.

The last thing to be done before departing is to walk through a personal visual inspection of your house and property. This not only provides an opportunity to double check locks but also helps prepare for your return when a similar inspection will be invaluable.

Now that you"re out the door, you might want to consider the following tips:

* When you arrive at the airport, be constantly aware of your luggage and other personal belongings. Criminals use predictable distractions to part you from your things. If someone eating a hot dog spills mustard on you, check your luggage!

* Stress levels can be high in airports and other crowded situations but it is important to at least give an outward appearance of calm. If you are struggling with your luggage, you rise to the top of the list of potential airport victims. Use a porter.

* If you use travelers cheques or credit cards keep a separate record of their numbers. Consider using bank cards to access Automated Teller Machines. It"s a rare occasion these days when your card won"t work in at least one network of machines.

* If you need to rent a car, choose a supplier who doesn"t feel it necessary to self-promote with large stickers on the car you drive away. While such an advertisement may improve their business, it increases the chance that you"ll become a victim of crime.

* When checking into a hotel, ensure the desk clerks don"t mention aloud any details of your stay, especially your room number. Better hotels are already careful with this information and hand over your key in an envelope.

* Ask the hotel concierge about areas of the city that are safe and those you should avoid.

* There are a number of precautions a woman can take to ensure her trip goes smoothly. When planning a trip, check to see if your hotel room is near an elevator, whether room service is offered late at night, or if cell phones are provided as a security device.

Returning home from a trip, the last thing most people want to think about is taking more precautions. But it"s a good idea to get into the habit of a quick visual inspection of your house and property before you go inside.

If anything is out of the ordinary - remembering the way you left the house - or if windows have been broken, you should call the police immediately from a neighbor"s house.

These suggestions in no way cover every situation. If you have other questions or more specific concerns, they should be raised with your local police, your travel agent or your hotel manager.

Our travel consultants work hard for corporate and vacation travelers.