Do you ever worry about your safety while traveling? Most people do, but few take enough precautions to minimize their chance of falling victim to thieves and other criminals. Luckily, there are all kinds of ways to defeat the baddies while you’re enjoying some R&R time away from home. Many of the most effective theft deterrents cost little and are easy to implement.
Savvy international travelers have been fans of body belts for decades. Also called money belts, the small contraptions have prevented countless robberies and pickpocketing incidents. Whether you’re going from Point A to Point B by air, train, bus, cruise ship, or in the family car, it pays to deploy an anti-crime strategy before you leave home. Here are a few of the simplest techniques you can use to avoid becoming a crime victim while on a trip.
Las Vegas to LA Bus Trip
A good study for the effectiveness of travel safety is the popular Las Vegas to LA bus route. The corridor gets plenty of business because the nation’s largest cities shuttle millions on the busways annually. It’s a convenient, inexpensive, and enjoyable way to make the journey between the two vacation meccas. On bus trips from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, it’s smart to keep all your valuables on your person in a secure, under-clothing pouch. Likewise, avoid speaking with strangers or letting anyone see your phone or device screens. Position yourself in the seat for privacy and never leave belongings behind when you get up to use the facilities.
Wear a Money Belt
Protecting your money and important documents is one of the smartest travel safety tips you can employ. You can buy body belts that strap securely around your waist or chest. The sturdy but lightweight carriers are ideal for holding passports, credit cards, and spare cash. When properly worn, they are effective in deterring pickpockets, who frequent high-density tourist locales in all the world’s largest cities. Reserve waist packs, which should always be worn beneath your stomach, for non-valuables like tissues, aspirin, small change, pens, writing paper, maps, and water bottles. Never put anything in a waist pouch that you can’t afford to lose.
By Air
What’s the easiest way to fall victim to a thief on a plane? It’s when you unload the overhead compartment with a wallet in your back pocket. Always secure your valuables in zipped or buttoned front pockets or special body belts when traveling by air. Doing so can help you outsmart pickpockets and thieves with relative ease. Most world travelers who get picked are targeted while flying. Keep important items like phones, purses, and jewelry in inaccessible places if you choose to sleep during a flight, especially a long one. Sleeping travelers are popular targets for criminals.
Cruise Ships
The major cruise lines offer anti-theft educational videos you can watch before departing for your seagoing journey. Follow the line’s policy for storing valuables. Most ships offer safe boxes for passengers. Never leave anything of value in your cabin while no one is in it. Beware of overly friendly, chatty strangers. There are large numbers of cruise ship crooks who operate with precision and skill.
Driving
Traveling by car can be a very safe way to take a trip unless you stop in desolate roadside areas where crooks control the territory. When you drive a long way and need a rest, plan your trip so you can stop in lighted, safe places to gas up, have a meal, or check into a motel for the night. Call a friend or auto-club service if you have a flat tire, and then wait inside the vehicle until they arrive. When you stop at a service station, always lock the car if you need to go inside the building.
