GoRoundTheWorld.com - RTW Travel - Packing

Security

Like it or not, we all have to deal with unscrupulous individuals at times. I met an American who was staying in dorm accommodation at the YMCA in Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand. Someone had entered the dorm room while everyone was sleeping and stole many of the dormer’s bags. The American lost his day bag, money belt, and backpack. Included in his money belt were all of his money sources and his passport. He was faced with getting to the North Island of New Zealand, to Wellington, to get his passport replaced at the American embassy. And until he could get his passport replaced, he was unable to receive wired funds from relatives to help him - none of the wire services will give someone money without government identification. Such a predicament can make an entire journey turn sour. The good news is, there are ways to prevent that from happening.

This page addresses ways to better ensure the security of your personal belongings and money sources while traveling. It also addresses ways to ensure your personal safety.

Security of Your Belongings

There are two rules-of-thumb when it comes to securing your belongings: (1) lock it up and (2) divide and conquer.

Lock It Up

Whenever you need to be away from your travel bag or day bag, ensure they are closed and securely locked. Also ensure they are fastened with a second lock to a permanent or large, unmovable object.

As far as locks go, it may be advisable to use a combination lock as opposed to a lock which requires a key. That way there is no key which can be lost or stolen.

As far as securing your bags to a permanent or large, unmovable object, it is best to employ a wire made of high-quality, durable metal such as steel. Pacsafe makes a very secure protective cover for your bag - it is a latticework covering made of stainless steel which can be fastened to many permanent or large objects. The stainless steel latticework (or “mesh”) makes it difficult for someone to cut into your bag with a knife, which unfortunately is how many thieves get around the problem of a bag secured to something else. See the sidebar on this page for more information.

Divide and Conquer

Never keep all of your money sources in one place. Keep some money sources with you at all times - keep one of your credit cards, some of your travelers’ checks, and all cash with you at all times. Leave other credit cards and the balance of your travelers’ cheques securely packed away, even if it means leaving them behind, well-hidden, in your room or in an in-room safe. Credit cards and travelers checks are replaceable if stolen, and travelers checks are difficult to cash without proper identification.

For the cash and other money sources you keep with you, place some in your money belt and some in your pocketbook or wallet.

Keep your passport with you at all times possible, and leave copies of it behind in your bag or in an in-room safe when you are out for day trips.

If you find yourself in dorm accommodation or needing to sleep in a public place such as an airport or train station, then sleep with your money belt on, wearing it between you and your undergarments. You should keep your passport and the majority of your money sources in your money belt under these circumstances.

Personal Safety

Taking care of your personal safety encompasses not only common sense, such as not walking down dark alleyways at night, but also being prepared for unexpected circumstances such as blackouts, accidents, and severe weather. I will assume that those using this website have developed their own common-sense rules of everyday safety. Therefore, this next section will focus on the latter, being prepared for unexpected circumstances.

Unexpected circumstances which may pose an immediate risk to your personal safety include natural disasters (floods, mudslides, hurricanes, typhoons, or other severe weather), fires, blackouts, gas leaks, and other, similar incidents. Each set of circumstances is unique and will require different procedures to ensure your safety. A comprehensive list of instructions about how to react to any kind of emergency would be far too much to consider in advance or to include on this website; however, being better prepared to receive and act on such instructions isn’t:

Pack a small halogen light which can be worn on your wrist or head as well as carried. These are inexpensive and may be purchased at most camping or hardware stores. They are extremely bright, which not only may light the way to safety for you in a dark setting, but will be more easily noticed than other lights by emergency personnel should the need arise. You may want to consider a halogen light with both a “solid” setting and a “blink” setting should you need to signal for help.

Pack a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman-type toolkit. This will not only be convenient for making adjustments to your surroundings here and there, but will allow you to build or cut through different barriers if need be.

Pack one or two candles and some matches to provide emergency lighting if necessary.

Some mobile phones have built-in radios, which can be used for receiving instructions in some emergencies. If you don’t already have one, consider purchasing a cell phone with such a feature for added assurance while traveling.

Pack a whistle. Again, this may be used for signaling to emergency personnel when other means fail.

Such preparations may seem silly to some, but, disaster does strike. If it happens to strike near you, you need to be prepared.

A Pacsafe stainless steel, mesh protective cover for your bag, shown fastened to a permanent object. The stainless steel latticework deters knifing through your bag.