Back to AirBnB: Travel Safety Tips
I recently posted a review of my experience using an AirBnB rental on my trip to Vancouver. The next day, I was alarmed when an article showed up in my Facebook news feed about a young man who was allegedly held captive and sexually assaulted by an AirBnB host while vacationing in Madrid. The headline, AirBnB Horror Story, served its intended purpose to evoke both shock and fear upon initial reading, and I shared the story with my travel companions. We agreed that while this was a this story was tragic and beyond disturbing, it did not necessarily change our opinion of AirBnB or our host for our stay. However, I believe this tale presents an opportunity to review some safety precautions that I would recommend for anyone traveling abroad. Certainly, you cannot always avoid every situation, but taking steps to prepare for the worst can ensure that you have as safe and enjoyable a trip as possible.
Whether staying with friends, in a by-owner vacation rental, or traditional hotel it is important to take certain security measures. Always be sure to get the address where you will be staying in advance, and provide this to family or friends at home.
When possible, avoid traveling or staying alone. When you are traveling alone, it becomes that much more important to plan ahead and leave copies of your plans with someone you trust at home. This should include addresses, phone numbers, daily itineraries, information for your flight or other travel arrangements. It is also a good idea to leave copies of your identification and travel documents (think: passport) with someone who would be available and able to get them to you in an emergency situation. Consider taking multiple copies with you, and storing those important documents separate from one another. That way if you, for example, encounter a pickpocket, you are not completely screwed.
Same goes for cash. Consider having some petty cash stashed away from the rest of your spending money, as well as a backup credit card. Keep in mind, that overseas oftentimes a "chip and pin" card will be necessary. A lot of U.S. banks are now making those available, and so it may be worthwhile in the long run to look into getting one before you go. You should also make your credit card company or bank aware of your travel plans before leaving. A simple phone call or visit to their website will usually suffice, and can save you a world of trouble during your travels.
I completely understand that getting off the grid, and going unplugged can be a large part of the allure of travel. Evenso, it is a good idea to do some research about your destination, and then call your cell phone company in advance to figure out what you need to do in order to have a means of using your device to communicate in case you need it. Some options may be to add a temporary international package to your service, however, a low cost alternative includes downloading wifi texting and calling apps. The only hangup is that you of course will need to have access to wifi in order to use these services. Facebook messenger actually has a pretty good wifi voice and video calling feature, in addition to the messaging app itself that I found to be pretty reliable on my trip to Paris. The bottom line, is you should have a plan and a means to reach people in a pinch.
Other tips:
When possible, plan to arrive during the day, when the area will be well lit, easy to find, and you are able to get a good sense of your surroundings.
Also, be sure to check out the U.S. travel website when planning your trip to find out all about safety advisories, required documents, and other information specific to our destination that will help you in planning and having the best, safest experience possible.
Whether staying with friends, in a by-owner vacation rental, or traditional hotel it is important to take certain security measures. Always be sure to get the address where you will be staying in advance, and provide this to family or friends at home.
When possible, avoid traveling or staying alone. When you are traveling alone, it becomes that much more important to plan ahead and leave copies of your plans with someone you trust at home. This should include addresses, phone numbers, daily itineraries, information for your flight or other travel arrangements. It is also a good idea to leave copies of your identification and travel documents (think: passport) with someone who would be available and able to get them to you in an emergency situation. Consider taking multiple copies with you, and storing those important documents separate from one another. That way if you, for example, encounter a pickpocket, you are not completely screwed.
Same goes for cash. Consider having some petty cash stashed away from the rest of your spending money, as well as a backup credit card. Keep in mind, that overseas oftentimes a "chip and pin" card will be necessary. A lot of U.S. banks are now making those available, and so it may be worthwhile in the long run to look into getting one before you go. You should also make your credit card company or bank aware of your travel plans before leaving. A simple phone call or visit to their website will usually suffice, and can save you a world of trouble during your travels.
I completely understand that getting off the grid, and going unplugged can be a large part of the allure of travel. Evenso, it is a good idea to do some research about your destination, and then call your cell phone company in advance to figure out what you need to do in order to have a means of using your device to communicate in case you need it. Some options may be to add a temporary international package to your service, however, a low cost alternative includes downloading wifi texting and calling apps. The only hangup is that you of course will need to have access to wifi in order to use these services. Facebook messenger actually has a pretty good wifi voice and video calling feature, in addition to the messaging app itself that I found to be pretty reliable on my trip to Paris. The bottom line, is you should have a plan and a means to reach people in a pinch.
Other tips:
When possible, plan to arrive during the day, when the area will be well lit, easy to find, and you are able to get a good sense of your surroundings.
Also, be sure to check out the U.S. travel website when planning your trip to find out all about safety advisories, required documents, and other information specific to our destination that will help you in planning and having the best, safest experience possible.
What other travel tips or advice would you add to this list?
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