21 Travel Security Tips | Road-Tested by a Career Traveler 🕶 🔐

NOTE! I no longer use LastPass. They had a series of security breaches in late 2022 that were never properly addressed. I have moved to 1Password and it's even easier to use and reports indicate it is more secure.

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#travelsecurity #travelsafely #travelsafety

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Greetings! I'm Nora Dunn, aka The Professional Hobo. I've been a digital nomad since 2006. I help people design their lifestyles and arrange their affairs so they can travel long term while working remotely. (I also have a ton of crazy travel tales to share from almost two decades of lifestyle travel).

And let's connect on my other social channels!

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[NoraDunn]

NOTE! I no longer use LastPass. They had a series of security breaches in late 2022 that were never properly addressed. I have moved to 1Password and it's even easier to use and reports indicate it is more secure.

[leepagnini]

Ms Hobo, All of your tips were great. I DO have a fake wallet, and I was in Rome, and a pickpocket got my "fake" wallet! I would have enjoyed seeing his face as he saw all of the phony credit cards inside. (These are the cards we get, that DON'T have our name) I also put in a dollar, that is cut, 1/2 inch, diagonally from the center. I wrote "assh-le" on one side, that would be visible, if they tried to put the halves together, and "thief" on the other side.

[jimdellavecchia]

I'm 56 yrs old and from Phila. I do this every day, whether I am on vacation or not!!

[lmahiram]

Your taxi safety tips are brilliant. On my first solo trip I was robbed by my airport driver on my second city in my two month trip... Rome. Photographing the license plate! yes! Always going forward.

[lillianbarker]

The paper copy of the passport saved us when my partner’s backpack was stolen. I don’t wear special travel clothing. I use my normal practical clothes and sometimes a piece of jewelry I don’t mind losing. I have a small crossbody bag that I use at the destination and leave my larger travel bag in my room.

[rhofernandez]

All the tips are great. I love it. I can add one more tip. Leave a copy of your itinerary trip at home or email a copy of your itinerary so they know what day and where you’re going just in case you’re missing. Also if you’re staying at the hotel, always leave the envelope or the cover of your hotel room key inside your room and just take pic of the envelope with the room number in it. Just bring your room key with you without the cover or envelope. Usually the envelope hotel key has the room number and address of the hotel. You don’t want that envelope with the room key fall off from your purse and missing and when you come back to your room at the end of the day, your belongings has been stolen because someone has found your hotel key with room number in it. It happened to my coworker. Her hotel key fell off from her purse and she didn’t know. Someone stole all her stuff in her hotel room. Come to find out in the cctv who stole it but they couldn’t find that person.

[nbopuser]

For hold luggage : wrap everything into a large piece of fabric. Airport thieves can open the suitcase zipper but not reach your things without losing a LOT of time.

[stevepollard]

Many yrs ago myself and my girlfriend were walking the back streets of Naples and as we approached the main street of the market I heard the stall holders whistling to each other. Obviously a code, ( tourist ahead) I held onto my girlfriend and our shoulder bags and moved on quickly.

[neresq]

We have several "laminated" copies of our passports (using packing tape), and we take at least one set with us on every trip. We secure our real passports, and go out with the copies. In our many decades of traveling the world (since the 1970's), we've never had a problem doing this. We've also created, and always take with us, detailed medical histories which list all medications we currently take, all vaccinations we've had (not just covid), past surgeries and major illnesses, and any conditions for which we are currently being treated. Finally, besides having copies in the Cloud of ALL important travel documents, we also put everything on a flash drive, including info for the credit cards we're carrying, and secure it in a safe place.

[marthamryglod]

I travel alone and one of the first things I do when out exploring is go to the local supermarket. Usually Tesco or something, and buy their shopping bag, a baguette, and a few other items. I then put my fanny pack in the bag and stroll around without worrying. I had my bag slashed in Rome and decided to go with the shopping bag. Never had another problem. I also use a doorstop, as well as a bear bell i attach to the doorknob in whatever hotel i stay in. I use a small string of battery operated tea lights as a nightlight so i don't kill myself in the dark trying to find the bathroom!!

[Hippy]

These videos and tips on youtube are extremely useful. Before going to a new place I always check online for safety tips. We were in Barcelona years ago late at night for a nice dinner. The time we're done and waited for the cab, this happened. Daughter and I were sitting on a bench near the main street waiting the Uber. It was only 5 minutes when a group of 3 young girls could be teens came to sit the other side of our bench, acting like innocent tourists. I quickly observed them in the corner of my eye. Exactly as the website warnings on pickpocketing, these girls dressed nicely but when look down to their feet I noticed very dirty feet wearing ugly torn shoes, all of the 3. I pulled my daughter instantly to walk toward a nearest coffee shop. While we get to the store I saw a few young men came to join the girls and they left as we did. This type of trick is very common in Spain, specially Barcelona and I saw many people crying at the airport losing their stuffs. Everyplace has its own manner and tricks different ways. In Florence italy they circle around you pretending to be friendly talking and asking to disturb and distract the victims. I always kept a cold grouchy look to discourage the approach. Paris france seem to be more skilled in this stealing activity. They act fast, instantly by walking near you and pretending touching you by accident. They were once able to open my daughter purse when she was taking photos. She did not feel a thing. Luckily she lost only a little bag of lucky crystals that was on the top of the purse. Everything else remain intact. Since then I don't carry a purse unless we plan to go to a fancy place for dinner, otherwise my fanny pack is my daily company that I carry across the body (, not around the waist) and that hold passport, wallet, keys permanently on my chest and it can be invisible under jacket or coat. The purse is only a decoration accessory holding no important things like scarf, make-up that doesn't cause drama in
Always check online what you need to know before a trip and safety tips and rules.

[catheriam]

Nora, all your tips useful, practical, potential life and/or travel safe inspiring. Yup: the doorstop. Ordering one as we speak. Oh, please, ladies, no flowing, ankle length resort dresses and flip flops off the cruise ship! And "Convertible pants" Ugh! My pet peeve? American men who wear baseball hats in restaurants with linen and cutlery. Linen ON the table means, dude, that Yankees/Cubs/Chiefs hat comes OFF. Ciao!

[toonertimesfour]

Tip: search the internet for local scams at your destination. You may learn about tricks like being given "free" stuff, signing petitions, etc. One scam for my upcoming trip is you might be asked to take a picture of someone or a couple. When you hand back the camera they will "accidentally" drop it and demand you pay for it.

[lillianbarker]

Twice in my travels Ive found myself in a room with an insecure bedroom door lock. Once it was a B&B and I was the only guest (a younger woman)with no door lock and the male owner down the hall. Thanks for reminding me to get security for that for my upcoming trip. 😊

[patticulver]

“Unresolved trauma from wearing convertible pants” hilarious! Love your videos and all of your tips, tricks and advice. Plus, I absolutely LOVE your curly hair! Blessings ❤️

[EricOnYouTube]

Oh, I love convertible pants. they are awesome.

[PurpleMeowKitty]

i go to dollar tree for their security alarms!! stick it on the door & if anyone rattles/opens the door it will go off!!! itll scare the hell out of them!!!

[karenricci]

Great Tips. I also leave a copy of my Passport at home with a Family Member.... Just Incase.
And ... I also leave them copies of my credit cards. And I write down the number on the back of the card, incase it’s stolen.... then you have the number. Happy Travels

[JM.TheComposer]

I find that getting a local hat (like a ball cap) from a local brand really reduces the perception of being a tourist.

[hellahellahella]

Also, I have my passport and driver’s license info MEMORIZED as well as two personal credit card info and 800 #’s MEMORIZED in case of loss/theft or fast access for delayed/cancelled/missed flights - saves me the hassle of pulling out my mobile device or documents in crowded areas and/or faster processing on the phone if the flights were cancelled/delayed.