Sound Travel Safety Advice: Week 3

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Throw this away immediately!
 
We’ve spent the past few posts taking a safety minute concerning business and leisure travel. I’ve added a few tips of my own to the sound travel safety advice Erin Karlin of DOWL shared at our recent Advanced Communications Program.
 
Travel Tip 6: Throw away your room key folder.
As soon as you get to your room, memorize your room number and throw away the key folder. If you misplace your key, anyone who picks it up will have access to your room. I am constantly reminding my own family members of this tip. I promise: You can remember your room number for 24 hours.
 
Travel Tip 7: Be aware of what you are posting.
Don’t advertise your exact location in real time by posting the perfect picture to your social media platforms. Wait a day. And, if your entire family is with you, wait until you return from your trip. No one needs to know nobody’s home.
 
Travel Tip 8: Trust your instinct.
If you ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable, change locations immediately. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, and don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself. Try to blend in as much as possible; people who look as if they are from out of town can be especially vulnerable to crime.
 
Travel Tip 9: Have a blast!
Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, it is a wonderful and rewarding experience. Enjoy the journey, and experience as much of this great big world as you can, whether you are traveling to Holland or Hackensack.

To customize a keynote or professional development session that will have your audience laughing and learning, contact Mandi Stanley.

Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes. 

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travel safety tips

Travel Safety Tips Week 2: Safety First, Fun Second

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A couple of weeks ago I facilitated the Advanced Communications Program for DOWL in Tempe, Arizona. Each day Erin Karlin, the ACP coordinator, opened with a safety minute. I learned so much—and took notes.  One day she focused on travel safety tips, and I was reminded of this advice:

Tip 4: Make copies of your travel documents.

Make sure you have a copy of your passport, driver’s license, and even your credit cards. Keep hard-copy backups at home (so someone can send them if needed), and make sure you have copies in another piece of carry-on luggage on your trip. Erin introduced me to the fabulous password platform at LastPass.com. I’m a fan.

Tip 5: Let your bank know you’ll be traveling.

This advice is excellent, especially for extended international travel. Let your local bank know the first day you’ll be traveling and when you’ll return. Otherwise, the bank may stop your card transactions when it sees payments are being made in a foreign location. Bring a backup card and enough cash to cover any emergency.

What practical travel safety tips can you add to this list?

You can read about tips one through three here.

 

To customize a keynote or professional development session that will have your audience laughing and learning, contact Mandi Stanley.

Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes. 

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The Underrated Safety Minute for Road Warriors

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Do you ever take a safety minute?

One of the most fascinating aspects of facilitating professional development sessions for various organizations is soaking in the safety minute. I don’t know if anyone else in the room is even paying attention—but I stop and take notes! Because I provide training for engineering firms, energy organizations, and electric cooperatives, I’ve come to appreciate the mandatory safety minute.

Last week I worked in Tempe, Arizona, with DOWL at their annual Advanced Communications Program. Our extraordinary ACP coordinator, Erin Karlin, shared these safety tips during kickoff on the first day, and these are too good not to share. As someone who travels weekly, I didn’t want to keep these to myself. I hope all of you ROAD WARRIORS find them useful—and will share a few of your own.

Stay safe in your hotel room

When you enter your hotel room, immediately turn around and lock and dead-bolt the door. With time, this will become second nature. Keep your windows closed, and make sure they are locked. Follow the same practice with balcony doors, even if you are on a high level of the hotel. Don’t let unknown individuals into your room, even if they say they work for the hotel. They can leave requested items outside your door.

Spread out your valuables

I instinctively do this, so I was glad to see it’s an actual tip. Don’t leave all of your money in one place. Spread your valuables throughout all the items of your luggage; therefore, if a bag is misplaced, you haven’t lost everything. Use the room safe for jewelry and smaller items. And, don’t leave your computer sitting out in the open all day.

Be wary of WiFi

Hotel internet access is convenient, but I don’t recommend conducting banking business or paying credit card bills using unsecured WiFi.

What are your hotel safety tips when you are on the road?

To customize a keynote or professional development session that will have your audience laughing and learning, contact Mandi Stanley.

Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes. 

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