7 Travel Safety Tips for You and Your Squad

Best news ever! You and your squad are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. Your mind is racing with which restaurant to check out on the first night of your trip and whether you’re overdoing it by packing six swimsuits (note: you’re not).
While you’re daydreaming of adventures and luggage space, don’t forget to spend some time discussing your safety strategy with your crew. It’s always a good idea to do a little pre-trip refresher, and making sure everyone’s on the same page will help you all travel in peace. Besides, you have better things to do than spend your vacation dealing with your BFF’s lost passport at the local embassy, like hitting the surf or soaking up local culture.
Copy That
Before you go, ensure that everyone makes a few photocopies of important documents like passports, credit cards, travel visas and identification. Have each person leave one copy with a friend back home, and swap copies with another person on the trip. If one person happens to lose something important, someone else will be able to step in with the copy.
Use the Buddy System
The best part about traveling with your besties is that you’ve always got someone to be your partner in crime. Generally speaking, you’re safer when you’re with someone else, so make a point of sticking with at least one other person on your adventures, especially at night. Don’t be afraid to split off into groups to tackle everything you want to see, but just make sure that no woman gets left behind.
Leave the Goods at Home
When possible, leave your valuables behind. The less you take with you, the less you have to lose and the less thieves are tempted to steal. For those high value items you simply must take with you (think your DSLR), use smart storage solutions with anti-theft features. Check out PacSafe’s Roobar™ locking system to keep your gear ultra safe.
Watch Your Gear
Keep an eye on your stuff as often as possible. For instance, if you’re at the beach with your friends, take turns staying behind while the others play in the water so that someone is always supervising your bags. Same goes at the airport, on the train and while you’re waiting for check in.
Stash Your Stuff the Smart Way
Check out PacSafe’s cute, yet super-stealthy handbags that will help you outsmart sticky fingered pickpockets. The CitySafe™ CS25 anti-theft cross body and hip purse is the perfect size for toting essentials (cell phone, money and your passport), and it features anti-theft features like eXomesh® Slashguard and Carrysafe® Slashguard Straps.
Follow the Local Lead
Local customs will vary from destination to destination, so do your research before you go to learn about what you and your crew can expect at your locale of choice. Once you’ve arrived, take cues from local ladies—they most likely know how to stay safe and smart.
Trust Your Spidey Sense
Ultimately, remember to listen to your intuition. If one of your friends is feeling uneasy about something, take the time to assess the situation. Use your street smarts and always trust your gut.
 
Magee Walker
Magee Walker was a late bloomer to the snowboard scene, but thankfully discovered the joys of the sport after moving to Vancouver and spending weekends in Whistler. She’s now lucky enough to call Whistler her full-time home and spends her days conquering the mountain, by foot in the summer and by snowboard boot in the winter.