Summertime Travel Security

As schools let out and summer vacation planning is in full swing, please keep safety top of mind. Just as summer travel is slated to reach pre-pandemic levels, the US State Department has issued a Worldwide Caution on the increased potential for terrorist attacks and demonstrations, and also for violent actions against LGBTQIA+ persons and events.

Other travel concerns this season include natural disasters and weather-related disruptions.

Now more than ever, it’s important to develop a travel security plan that covers personal health and safety and prepares travelers for emergencies. Here are a few tips and resources:

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Personal Health and Safety

• Both polio and measles have had a resurgence in certain areas of the world so it pays to review a destination’s Travel Health Notices on the CDC website and be sure to know vaccine requirements.
• During travel, maintain vigilance near transport hubs, tourist attractions, and other “soft targets” with limited security.
• When out and about, practice good situational awareness. It’s easy to be distracted in new places so keep tabs of your belongings and your surroundings at all times.

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Emergency Preparedness

• Give a copy of your itinerary to a friend or family member who isn’t traveling with you, along with a printout of your passport, driver's license, and emergency information.

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) (or your home country’s equivalent) to receive information and alerts. This makes it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas.
• Check for sudden-onset / natural disasters on the Global Disaster Alert Coordination System (GDACS) website, which is a cooperation framework between the United Nations, the European Commission and disaster managers worldwide.

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General

• Avoid posting about travels in real time to protect yourself on the road and maintain security at a vacant home.
• Consider an extra locking mechanism for hotel doors. A common type is placed behind and under a door to act as a wedge and extra resistance when opening the door; they typically have an alarm mechanism.