5 Pre-travel Steps to be a Safer Traveler

Travelling Safe
Why worry about travel safety? Different travelers have different levels of risk tolerance. Some people just trust good karma to keep them safe. But if you're like me, you probably want to be a little more prepared than that!

Travel safety is about taking steps to avoid problems in the first place. When travelling, you may not understand how everything works. There may be legal or social differences from the way things are at home. The point of travel security is to avoid problems before they happen.

The good news is that you can take five important steps to make your travels more secure before you even get to the airport.

Choose your Hotel Floor
When you book a hotel room, it's tempting to ask to be high up in the clouds so you can enjoy an amazing view of a new area. But did you know the safest rooms, experts say, are between the 2nd floor and the 6th floor. 

Don't book a room on the ground floor, where the lobby is located. The lobby is where disturbances, including terrorist activity, are most likely to occur. Being one floor up helps to mitigate that danger.

Experts recommend not being any higher than the sixth floor. The reason? In case of a fire, even extra long ladders only reach about six floors up most buildings.

Smoke Hood
One of the most common risks you may face while travelling is fire. And the reality is that in a fire situation, the real killer isn't the fire itself, it's smoke. 

Fortunately, there's a simple, practical solution. It's called a smoke hood. These are disposable hoods that can be tucked in a pocket or travelling bag and opened up in emergency situations. The smoke hood will allow you to breathe smoke for a fixed amount of time, giving you a window to get to safety, or for emergency crews to arrive. 

Flashlight
The last tool a safe traveler needs is a flashlight. A blackout can leave you in the dark. Smoke can also obscure your vision. In a dark or smoky environment, it is easy to get disoriented. That is why a powerful, led flashlight is a good tool for a safe traveler. Plus, as a bonus, a flashlight can also be used to disorient attackers in an emergency situation. 

Door Jamb
Once you get into your room, you're secure. Or are you? Others may have the key to your door. That's why the door jamb is such a handy security device. It's a jamb that slips under the door to wedge it shut. For an extra layer of security, consider an electronic door jamb that will hold your door shut and sound an alarm if someone tries to push it open while you are in the room. The alarm will be enough to deter many would-be intruders. 

Reduce the Flash Factor
So far we've seen four things to do. The last tip is about something not to do. 

The best way to stay secure is not to be a target.

Do you wear a lot of jewelry? Consider traveling without jewelry, or tucking visible jewelry inside your clothes. 

You have a brand new iPhone? Consider keeping it out of sight while in public places. If you're carrying a lot of cash, don't pull out a wad of bills. Just take take out what you think you will need. 

A little bit of security can go a long way, and these five tips will make you a more confident and safer traveler.