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Being home for the holidays is sure to beat the hectic hustle and bustle of an international trek away from home. But with plenty of preparation, travel doesn’t have to be trying.

To make that holiday wish come true, we’ve gathered the following information to help you navigate your travel itinerary with ease. So read on to find out how you can travel safely this holiday season.

Prepare for lift-off
Although some airline regulations may feel like a ruse to ambush our carefully-laid holiday plans, the opposite couldn’t be truer! The rules are tough for a reason: your safety. Word to the wise? You must know to go, go, go. So here are some holiday travel tips — straight from the mouth of the airlines — to make the journey smoother:

  • Do:
    • Check flight status often
    • Arrive on time
    • Pack smart and light
    • Travel early or late in the day to avoid the rush
    • Pack coins, keys, jewelry or other metal items in your carry-on
    • Keep your identification and itinerary handy
  • Don't:
    • Wrap gifts, as they could be unwrapped for inspection
    • Over pack
    • Make jokes, threats or act belligerent
    • Book connecting flights, if possible

Crowd control
Crowded stores, busy streets and long lines may seem like minor holiday inconveniences to you. They also serve as a major opportunity for petty thieves, pickpockets and other criminal types. Here are some tips for mastering the “holiday crush”:

  • Don’t carry more cash than you’ll need for the day
  • If you must carry a handbag, get one with short straps that you can tuck securely under your arm
  • Don’t keep all your cash, credit cards, checkbooks or identifying documents in the same place — it’s an identify thief’s dream
  • Don’t keep money in your back pocket; go for a front pocket, or even better, a side pocket in your jacket
  • Keep the smaller bills you’d pull out repeatedly separate from your larger money supply to fool any “watchers”
  • Use a money belt or other hidden pouch close to the skin to tote money
  • Keep both hands free so you can react quickly

Road rules
As peaceful as the day of the holiday can be, the days before the holiday are usually full of hustle and bustle — more crowds, cars, blaring horns and unfortunately, more traffic accidents. But the majority of road accidents don’t happen in cars. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that of the 1.2 million people killed each year in road-traffic accidents, about 65 percent involve pedestrians.

So whether or not you’re manning the wheel during your trip, you should still take extra precautions to lead the way, either as a driver, passenger or passer-by. Some tips:

  • Obey all speed and traffic laws
  • Take it slow in ice, rain or other hazardous road conditions
  • Wear your seat belt
  • Don’t drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Ask a reputable source for a reliable car or taxi service
  • Check the tires, breaks, lights or seat belts before driving any rented vehicle

Home safety
With all the focus on safety abroad, it’s easy to forget the precautions of making your home a safe place while you’re away. Experts agree that home burglary rates spike during typical vacation periods because the robber correctly assumes the residents aren’t home. So here’s how to make your home look “lived in” even when you’re five thousand miles away:

  • Don’t leave lights burning 24 hours a day; install timers to light up rooms in your home at different times
  • Leave your car in the driveway
  • Suspend newspaper or mail deliveries
  • Don’t publicize the fact you’re going away, or leave a message stating it on the answering machine
  • Trim the lawn before, or arrange to have it cut regularly while you’re away
  • Ask your local police to do a “vacation watch”
  • Leave curtains and shades in normal, open positions


Give yourself a treat this holiday season —
the gift of safe and sound international travel.

Personal Safety during Travel. Accessed November 17, 2008 at http://www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/personal.htm.

Carrying Your Holiday Cash Safely. Accessed November 18, 2008 at http://www.holidaycityflash.com/article/carry_cash1.htm.

Keep your wits – or lose your wallet. Accessed November 18, 2008 at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/735958/Keep-your-wits---or-lose-your-wallet.html.

10 Tips for Holiday Travel. Accessed November 19, 2008 at http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=625&category=13&page=2.

Airports Offer Tips to Prepare Holiday Travelers. Accessed November 19, 2008 at http://www.aci-na.org/news/2007_nov12.

Before You Go Away. Accessed November 19, 2008 at http://www.harboroughonline.co.uk/pp/gold/viewGold.asp?IDType=Page&ID=6844.

15 Keys to Protect Your Home When You are on Vacation. Accessed November 19, 2008 at http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/05/31/15-keys-to-protect-your-home-when-you-are-on-vacation.htm.