Vacation Safety and Security
The information on this page will help protect you and your property when you’re away on vacation.
When Away on Vacation
- Travel with a friend or in a group when possible. There is safety in numbers.
- Plan your touring. Don’t discuss your plans with strangers. Beware of strangers who seem overly anxious to help you. Select guides carefully.
- Ask your hotel concierge or desk clerk about dangerous areas and avoid them.
- When you go out tell the hotel manager when you expect to return and who to call if you’re not back by then.
- Get good directions to avoid getting lost.
- Find an open business to get directions if you get lost. Don’t appear to be lost by stopping and looking at addresses or street signs.
- Stick to well-lighted main streets and public areas.
- Leave your itinerary with a friend or relative and check in with them periodically.
- Keep track of time and don’t be late for appointments or meetings.
- Shop with a friend when possible.
- Don’t fight for your purse if someone tries to take it by force.
In a Hotel or Motel Room
- If the desk clerk says your room number aloud when you check in, ask for a different room and have the number written on your keycard sleeve and discreetly handed to you.
- If you feel uncomfortable walking to your room alone, ask the desk clerk to provide an escort.
- Determine the most direct route to and from your room, to fire escapes, stairs, elevators, and phones.
- Keep your door locked when you are in your room. Use both the deadbolt lock and the security bar/chain.
- Keep your windows locked, and blinds and drapes closed for privacy.
- Be sure that sliding glass doors and doors to connecting rooms are locked.
Safeguard your room key or card at all times.
- Use the peephole in the door to identify anyone requesting entry. Open the door only if you are certain it is safe to do so.
- If you are worried about being spied on through the peephole in the door cover it with a piece of opaque tape.
- If you haven’t requested room service or housekeeping and someone knocks on your door claiming to be a staff member, call the front desk to verify the claim before opening the door.
- If you receive a call about an emergency that requires you to leave your room, hang up and call the front desk to verify it.
- Report any suspicious persons or activities to the front desk.
- Don’t stay in a ground-floor room, especially if you are a woman and traveling alone.
When Carrying a Purse or Wallet
- Avoid carrying a purse when possible. Wear a money pouch instead.
- Carry a purse with a shoulder strap if you must. Keep the strap over your shoulder, the flap next to your body, and your hand on the strap. When wearing a coat, keep the strap and purse under the coat.
- Keep a tight grip on your purse. Don’t let it hang loose or leave it on a counter in a store.
- Carry your wallet, keys, and other valuables in an inside or front pants pocket, a fanny pack, or other safe place. Don’t carry a wallet in a back pocket.
- Never put you purse or wallet on a counter while shopping.
- Carry a minimum amount of cash. Use traveler’s checks or credit cards whenever possible. Don’t display any cash you do carry.
- Leave credit cards you don’t expect to use at home. Bring two cards. Carry one and leave the other in the hotel safe.
- Store photocopies of your passport, tickets, and other important papers in the hotel safe.
- Keep a record of your credit card and traveler’s check numbers in the hotel safe. Also have the phone numbers to call if your cards or checks are lost or stolen.
When Using an ATM
- Select an ATM with clear lines of sight in all directions, i.e., at locations with no building corners, shrubs, signs, etc. that provide possible hiding places for an attacker.
- Be aware of your surroundings before and during your transaction, especially between dusk and dawn. Return later or use an ATM in a supermarket or convenience store if you notice anything suspicious, e.g., a person loitering nearby.
- Avoid using poorly lighted or isolated ATMs. Complete your transaction as fast as possible and leave the facility.
- Don’t go alone.
- Park in a well-lighted area as close to the ATM as possible.
- Keep your doors locked and windows rolled up when using a drive-through ATM.
- Shield the keypad when using your PIN so it can’t be seen by anyone near you.
- Memorize your PIN and keep it secret. Don’t write it down or keep it in your wallet or purse.
- Make sure that there is nothing in the slot when you insert your ATM card. Thieves can use a small, hard-to-detect skimming device that’s placed over the card slot to capture to steal your PIN and other bank account information.
- Put your cash, receipt, and ATM care away promptly. Count your cash later in private. Do not leave your receipt at the ATM site.
- Avoid being too regular. Don’t use the same ATM at the same time of day and day of the week.
- Make sure you are not being followed when you leave an ATM location. Drive immediately to a police or fire station, or any well-lighted and crowed location or open business and get help if you are being followed. Flash your lights and sound your horn to attract attention.
- Give up your money or valuables if you are confronted by an armed robber. Any delay can make a robber more nervous and increases the likelihood of violence.
While Driving
- Keep your doors locked and your windows closed.
- Know where you are going. Stop and get directions before you get lost.
- Do not stop to assist a stranded motorist. Call or drive to the nearest phone and report the situation.
- Drive to the nearest open business and call the police if anyone is following you.
- Honk your horn or flash your lights to attract attention if you are threatened.
- Keep enough gas in the tank so you won’t run out.
- If your vehicle breaks down or runs out of gas, pull over to the right as far as possible, raise the hood, and call or wait for help. Remain in your vehicle with the doors and windows locked until you can identify any person who comes to help.
On a Cruise
- Be skeptical. Don’t assume you can trust other passengers. Criminals take vacations too.
- Stay sober. Don’t let alcohol impair your judgment. Only drink beverages you have seen prepared. Ask that bottled drinks be served unopened.
- Set rules for your children and keep an eye on them. Make sure they don’t drink. Report any crew members who serve alcohol to minors.
- Meet fellow passengers in public areas, not cabins.
- Use all locks on your cabin door. Never open it to a stranger.
- When you enter your cabin check the bathroom and closet before closing the door.
- Don’t socialize with the crew. Make sure your children know that crew areas are off limits.
- Dress down. Leave expensive jewelry and watches at home. They only make you a target for thieves.
- Lock all valuables in a safe and guard your key card as you would a credit card.
- Don’t stand or sit on the ship’s railing.
- Never go to any isolated areas of the ship alone, especially in the evening and early morning.
- Know where the members of your party are at all times. Report a missing person immediately.
- Attend the ship safety drills and learn its emergency procedures.
- Bring phone numbers of U.S. embassies or consulates in the cities on your itinerary so you can contact them if a problem arises. You can get them online at www.usembassy.gov.
Protecting Your Home When You’re Away
- Use timers on lights, radios, TVs, etc. to make them go on and off during the day and night to make your home appear occupied.
- Stop mail and newspaper delivery, or have neighbor pick up anything left at the home.
- Keep grass watered and cut. Water and trim other landscaping.
- Ask the neighbors to watch your home and report any suspicious activities.
- Leave your itinerary with a neighbor so you can be contacted in an emergency.
- Disconnect your electric garage door opener and padlock the door, preferably on the inside.
- Visit your local SDPD Area Station to request vacation home checks when you’ll be away.
- Set your burglar alarm and notify your alarm company that you will be away. Then if an alarm occurs when you are away the company will not call your home first to verify the alarm; it will notify the police directly. Also provide the alarm company with an up-to-date list of persons to contact about the alarm and the need to secure your home after a burglary.
Securing Your Property at a Hotel or Motel
- Use all available locks on the doors and windows.
- Make sure the door is securely locked when you leave your room.
- Unpack and place your belongings in the closet and dresser. Arrange things so you can easily tell if something is missing. Keep a list of all things you brought from home.
- Lock your suitcases so they cannot be used to carry things out. Consider hiding electric appliances and other valuable items in your suitcase.
- Don’t leave cash, checks, credit cards, jewelry, vehicle keys, etc. in the room. Take them with you or lock them in the hotel or motel safe.
- Report any lost or stolen items to the hotel or motel management as well as to the police.
Securing Your Property in a Vehicle
- Park in open, well-lighted, and populated areas near your destination.
- Lock your vehicle and take your keys with you.
- Never leave any valuables in plain sight.
- Conceal maps or travel brochures that might indicate you are a tourist.
Protecting against Terrorism
- Before you leave go the U.S. Department of State website www.travel.state.gov to check Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings.
- Avoid large chain hotels or ones near U.S. embassies or consulates. Choose small hotels in quiet neighborhoods.
- Visit major attractions at less-busy hours.
- Avoid restaurants and clubs frequented by Americans.
- Don’t wear clothes that advertise your nationality.
- Register with the nearest American embassy or consulate or do it online at https://travelregistration.state.gov so you can be contacted in the event of a crisis or emergency.
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