STUDENT TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS
1) Before you head out, find out as much as you can about the area where you'll be. You can check it out by doing an internet search with google.com, altavista.com or other search engine.
2) Call potential hotels and ask a female employee if she walks around at night. Asking someone not working reservations might get a more honest answer. Find out if there is someone on staff that could walk you to your room or to your car at night.
3) Make travel arraignment with a reputable company and ask about student discounts. Only California and Rhode Island require travel agents to be licensed. You don't want to drive up to the hotel in the cab from the airport to find drug dealers and unsavory characters lurking around.
4) Stay in a hotel that has good security such as key cards for the doors, deadbolts and/or security chains or bars and a peephole in the door. Get a travel alarm to place under the door. It will keep someone from opening the door, even if they have a key and it will sound an alarm if they try.
5) Stick with trusted friends, because there really is safety in numbers.
6) Carry your camera and map in your purse when sightseeing. A camera worn around your neck is a big red flag for would be robbers. It screams out "I am a tourist!"
7) The "Please Clean up Room" sign tells everyone passing by, "Hey I'm not here, come take my stuff." Call for housekeeping. The Cyber Eye camera system lets you know if housekeeping cleans out your stuff.
8) The "Do Not Disturb" sign will make it look occupied.
9) Don't carry all your cash and credit cards in the same place. ATM cards, credit cards and cashiers checks are much less risk to carry around than cash.
10) Don't use the hotel gym alone if there is no attendant or security. Being alone in the basement, wearing skimpy workout clothing sets the stage for a bad horror movie.
11) Thieves hang out at airports ready to take luggage, purses, lap top computers and carry on bags. Don't let these things out of your sight. Often thieves work in pairs near the security x-ray machine. One will distract you or hold up the line after you've put your belongings on the x-ray conveyor belt, while his buddy is at the other end taking your stuff. Don't put your things on the conveyor until it is your turn to walk through.
12) If you stop at an airport restaurant, bar or café and set your bag down, put your foot through the strap. That way it won't be taken without you knowing. Also, you'll remember to take it with you when you trip over it as you leave.
13) Wear plain clothes, attention grabbing clothes and jewelry will do just that - attract attention, often the wrong kind.
14) If you carry valuables hide them in a book safe, lock them up in the hotel safe or your room safe.
15) Get a room on the 3rd through the 5th floor. This is high enough to discourage robbers from the outside, yet close enough to the ground if there is a hotel fire.
16) Don't have your name and address highly visible on your luggage, unless you really want to be stalked.
17) If you have to ask for directions, ask women with children or families. Ask them if they could tell you where is the ______? Tell them you're on your way to meet your husband, brother, dad, drill sergeant or boss to be safe.
18) Don't leave magazines with your address on the airplane. If you are done with the magazine either throw it away or tear off your address. It's not a good idea to let people know where you live and that you are away.
19) Bring your cell phone or rent one, and put the local emergency numbers on speed dial.
20) Carry a personal alarm when you go out. If you get into trouble, sound the alarm to attract attention and scare the bad guy away.
21) Pay attention to the people around you when you are out. You can check to see if someone is following you by looking at the reflections in store windows while you pretend to be window shopping or get a pair of spyglasses. The spyglasses look like fashionable sunglasses but have secret rearview mirrors that let you check out what is happening behind your back.
