Honeymoon Planning > Safe Travel

Tips for Safe Travel

Many honeymooners travel to exotic and unfamiliar destinations. It is important to be aware of travel safety measures and to find out about specific problems or hazards at your honeymoon location. Some of these may seem to be commonsense or excessive. It all depends on your destination and your comfort level. Read these precautions so that if you are in a similar situation, you already have a good idea of what to do.  As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

What does the government say about your honeymoon destination? Look at the U.S. Department of State website when picking your honeymoon destination and then once again before leaving on your honeymoon. These advisories are primarily for large-scale conflicts or problems and don’t necessarily reflect how safe tourists are from local criminals. Some locations have a much higher incidence of street crime. Some websites list information about tourist crime in certain countries. World Travel Watch shows information about safety issues for travelers to different countries around the world. Visual Tourist is also a good site to look up your location and read the warnings.

Pack light Dress to fit into your destination. Don’t wear expensive jewelry or clothing. Leave at home anything that is irreplaceable or very valuable, including your diamond ring! Buy a $20 fake to wear around.  If it gets stolen, you will be the one laughing! Dressing too casual can also be a sign that you’re a tourist.

Protect your possessions in your room. Lock suitcases while away and put anything important in the hotel safe. Items have been stolen from hotel rooms and are often not returned or compensated. Make sure your door is locked when you leave and put an extra bolt or chain on while in the room.  Request a room on the 2nd – 6th floors.  Rooms on the ground floor are easier to access for thefts and rooms that are too high may not be accessible from a fire ladder. Be familiar with the layout of the hotel and fire escapes, which can be hard to find during a fire.

Money, Credit Cards, Traveler’s Checks, Documentation… Only bring as much cash as you need, carry traveler’s checks and credit cards. Leave home everything in your wallet that is unnecessary to have abroad such as social security cards, extra credit cards, check book, library cards, etc.

• Credit cards & ATM cards (front and back).  Record international telephone numbers & keep track of credit limits or balances.
• Passport
• Traveler's checks
• Detailed itinerary
• Airline tickets and hotel reservations
• Numbers and addresses for local American consulates

Leave one copy with a friend and put the one in a location that is separate from your valuables. Write your name, address and phone number on luggage in covered luggage tag to prevent people from knowing your name or nationality. Place a copy of this information inside of the bag as well, in case your tags get ripped off.  Use luggage locks whenever possible.

When away from your resort or hotel, use the hotel safe to protect all important documentation, extra traveler’s checks and credit cards. Bring only what you think you will use while away. This way, if your wallet gets stolen with one of your credit cards, you will have another one waiting at the hotel, along with the photocopied information for how to report your stolen card.

Getting through Customs Leave all medication or prescriptions in their original containers. If there are any medicines that could be problematic, bring a note from your doctor with the reasons why you are taking the medicine and with written permission. If you have any concerns about certain items being brought into a country, clarify with that countries embassy or consulate. Some medications are acceptable but only until a certain quantity and then it becomes illegal.

Acculturation Read about customs and laws in your destination to familiarize yourself with how you should act. Some actions, which may be normal for you at home, can get you into trouble in other countries. Don’t find this out the hard way. You are not under the U.S. protection while in foreign countries and can be held accountable for illegal activity, even if it wouldn’t be considered illegal in the U.S. If you are unsure if something is appropriate, ask a relevant source, don’t just follow suite of other tourists.

Learn several words of the native language if it is different from your own.  Know how to ask for the police and a hospital, as well as letting someone know you are in trouble. Carry your hotel name, address and phone number with you in case you forget or something happens to you and medical personnel need to figure out where you are staying.

Luggage and Purse Protection Never leave your luggage unattended, even for a second. If your luggage is too heavy or large to lug around, pack lighter. Walking with overstuffed arms makes you appear as an easy target. Get luggage that is easy to carry or pull and that leaves one arm empty. Test this out before you depart.

While walking around in town, don’t put your wallet in your pocket or wear a fanny pack or handbag. Wallets in back pockets while walking in crowded areas is a high-risk situation for theft. Place all money and valuables in a concealed pouch underneath your clothes, with some cash in your front pockets or somewhere accessible. Thieves watch tourists, so don’t let them know that you have a concealed pouch. You can also use a bag with a strong shoulder strap and wear it across your chest. If you need more money out, go someplace private to retrieve your money or credit cards.  Whenever you do anything, especially in tourist areas, be thinking that someone could be watching what you’re doing. Remember that anyone can be a pickpocket, not just those you would stereotype. A child or well-dressed person can easily steal your bag because you put your guard down around them. Some of the best thieves are the nicest people you could ever meet!

While carrying a bag or purse, make sure it is fairly secure to your body.  Place it on the table in your eyeview when you’re eating, not a target dangling from the back of your chair. If your belongings are lost or stolen, get a police report to show to your insurance company for claims.

Money Don’t carry large amounts of cash.  Cash traveler’s checks as you need them. Only exchange money with an authorized dealer. Many crooks say they will give you a better rate but not follow-through. Verify that your credit card is returned to you after paying a bill or getting money out of an ATM. If you are carrying a lot of cash, put it in a concealed and secure location.

Transportation Only purchase tickets for train, bus travel, shows or museums from the authorized dealer. You could be getting a deal but more likely you are getting ripped off. Don't use transportation, especially taxis, that don't show government authorization. If the taxi does not have the appropriate markings, leave and find another. This could be someone just trying to make some money illegally or you could end up being mugged. If your gut says that there is something wrong, there probably is.

Don’t fall asleep on trains, buses or taxis unless your partner is staying awake. If you must sleep, secure your luggage to your body and sleep on top of it. Consular Information Sheets report the safety on public transportation, refer to these to find out what form of transportation is best for your destination. Choose a rental car that looks common for the location and doesn’t scream “wealthy tourist”. Try to put any valuables in the trunk. Criminals have even been known for reaching in to driving cars and grabbing purses or bags. Use safe transportation at night instead of walking, especially if you’ve been drinking and your judgment may not be at its best.

Safety Back at Home Make sure your house is taken care of by a friend. Whether this means having a housesitter sleeping or someone stopping by to collect the mail and newspaper, it is important for your house to not appear abandoned.  Criminals look for signs that people are away. If this isn’t an option, make sure you stop your mail, newspaper and wedding registry mailings. Put your lights and water on automatic timers. Check all window and door locks to verify they are in good condition and place extra security on high-risk break-in areas of your house. There are inexpensive window locks or bars that can protect these easily accessible areas.