Travel Safety Tips and Products (Part 2) |
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When you get to your hotel (or before you leave) make a photocopy of your passport and use this as your ID once you arrive at your destination. DO NOT give up your passport to anyone. Especially if you are in a country where corruption runs rampant. If you are asked for documentation show them your photocopy. Remember, your passport is the ONLY way you can get back into the U.S. The U.S.Consulates office gave me this advice while visiting Mexico City a few years back. If the hotel you are staying at has safety deposit boxes or a safe keep your passport there. The only time your passport is definitely required is when you enter and depart the country. Visit www.travel.state.gov for more information.
Okay now that I have all of that out of the way. What other steps can we take to have a safe vacation? There are all sorts of products on the market to help keep you safe while traveling and all of them are inexpensive, compact and easy to use. When you are out and about some good solutions would be pepper spray, personal body alarms or Screechers (compressed air alarm).
Pepper spray is definitely one of my favorites because it is one of the best products you can carry for personal defense and it will significantly put the odds in your favor when used properly. Pepper Spray does come with some considerations though. If you choose to travel with pepper spray the airlines will only let you take containers up to 4 ounces and only in your checked baggage. The most popular size in the United States is a ½ ounce keychain pepper spray. You have probably seen your friends with one of these units at one time or another. You cannot take pepper spray with you through security screening or in your carry on baggage. A quick tip if you do decide to take Pepper Spray with you is to place it in a heavy Ziploc bag and seal it up tightly. This way if for some reason the can leaks (this is rare) do to the reduction in air pressure at altitude it will not stain your new bathing suit. Depending on where you are traveling pepper spray may not be legal. Hawaii, Mexico & US territories (Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, etc.) will allow pepper spray. Canada does not allow pepper spray for personal defense. Most other countries that are westernized allow pepper spray. However, we always suggest you do a little research to make sure the product is legal at your final destination. Pepper spray will cost you from $10.00 to $30.00 and you can purchase online, sporting goods store or a firearms dealer.A good starting point for this research is the US State Department. Visit their website at www.travel.state.gov.
Another choice you have would be to carry a personal body alarm. A personal alarm is a small electronic siren that emits a loud 120db ear-piercing siren when activated. Most of these alarms are simply activated by pulling a pin or pushing a small button. They are very loud and intended to be a deterrent. Some of these units have LED’s that flash very brightly when the alarm has been activated. This not only gives you an audible alert but a visual one as well. Some are small enough to carry on your key chain. |
