Travel Safety Tips

Sadly, tourists often fall prey to crime. Here are some safety tips to make sure that your Branson vacation is everything a family vacation should be.

1. Do not Twitter or FaceBook that you are heading for your dream vacation. Criminals love to know when your home is vacant. Make sure that everyone that lives in the house knows this rule.
2. When filling out your luggage tags omit the home address information. If possible, use a work address. You should also use travel tags which have the address covered. Use covered luggage tags as well.
3. When carrying your luggage be very careful when carrying it. If you are walking with someone carry the luggage between the two of you. If you put your bag or purse down, try to wrap the strap around your leg or a chair leg. Anything which makes the luggage item less "snatchable".
4. NEVER check anything that you simply cannot afford to lose. If you are not traveling alone make a photocopy your passport, driver's license and credit cards. If possible send these copies to your destination as a registered mail item.
   
   
5. Make sure that any prescription medicines are filled properly and kept in their original bottles. If traveling outside of the United States check for any medicine restrictions.
6. Avoid walking the streets in low traffic areas with expensive jewelry, watches, or camera bags which state that they would be good items to steal and sell.
7. Only stay in a hotel that uses electronic cards to open room doors and that there is a security peephole deadbolt lock.
8. Do not wear name tags in public.Pay the driver upon arriving at your destination and while you are still sitting in the vehicle.
9. When using a cab pay the driver while you are still in the cab. This helps reduce snatching risk.
10. Be aware of 'staged' car accidents meant to catch you off guard. If you are involved in an accident of any kind try to stay in your car until the police arrive.
11. Park only in well lit and well traveled areas.
12. If your cell phone does not work in your travel destination consider a Track Phone for emergency use.
13. When dealing with officials in public settings ask for identification and use your phone to confirm the validity.
14. If traveling with children, bring along an updated photograph of each child in the event that you become separated. Your children should also carry information which would help them be identified if separated from you. Have child ID cards for you and the child to carry.
15. Have an emergency plan for the entire family. This includes whom to call, how to contact emergency personnel, etc.
16. Monitor your conversations in public places. Others are listening.
17. Bring along a basic first aid kit with bandages, iodine, mosquito repellant, sunscreen, alcohol packets, dramamine, Pepto Bismol, diarrhea medicine, etc.
18. If you like to jog or engage in activities that put you out at odd times purchase portable alarms that emit a loud sound.
19. Watch for street scams on the street. Children, or domestic arguments, are often used to distract adults to pickpockets can work.
20. Never show a lot of money when in public.
21. Be aware of your surroundings. One important key to safe travel is situational awareness. Distractions can put you at risk. Know your surroundings, note where exits and security stations are located, and stay in control of every situation.