Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1367509
By Steve Day, Chair, SDV Neighborhood Watch "A security-wise traveler needs to learn how to travel safely. This awareness begins with a realization that the traveler must take reasonable precautions to protect him or herself, their family and personal property." I have noticed many of our residents like to travel. I remember a trip to Rome, Italy, where I was having a great time as we bounced by the Coliseum on a city bus. When we finally got off, I realized that my iPhone did not get off with me; I was the victim of a pickpocket. Yep, with all of my years in law enforcement, I should have known better. But it happens and I spent the rest of that day trying to change passwords and close accounts. Not fun on vacation. I plan to spend the next couple of The View issues on travel safety. These tips are not to frighten vacationers, but to create an awareness of reality, wherever you are. The following information is sourced from the website www.corporatetravelsafety.com. Hotel Stays: Before your Trip • Use your phone to photocopy all credit cards, airline tickets, passports and important documents, front and back. • Jewelry, luggage, and all valuables you're taking should be photographed before you pack them. • Is the hotel located in a high crime rate area, especially when traveling overseas? Check with the US Embassy's Resident Security Officer in that country and they can alert you of areas to stay away from. Parking • Park your car in a well-lit area. • Do not park in a space with your room number on it. • Lock your vehicle and do not leave valuables in it. • Valet service might be worth the cost if the area is suspicious. • Be aware of loiterers. • Memorize your vehicle's license number for registration purposes. • When returning to your vehicle, keep your keys in your hand and be aware of your surroundings. Checking In • Make reservations ahead of time and secure them with a credit card. • If your room is not ready when you attempt to check in, ask to store your luggage in a locked room. • When completing the guest registry, some women prefer to sign their name in a gender-neutral fashion using only their first initial and last name, such as M. Johnson. • If you are staying in an older hotel which uses metal keys, be sure to note how these keys are controlled. • Ask for two business cards so that you can remember the name and address of your hotel. • Register with your business address (or SDV Lodge address) rather than your home address. • If there are hotel security officers, how can they be reached? • Does the hotel lock the outside doors at a certain hour? • If so, what is the best way to re-enter? Room Location If the hotel has more than one building, request a room in or near the main building and; • On the second floor, but no higher than the seventh floor. • Near a fire exit. • Away from stairwells, elevators and noise rendering machines. • If a woman traveling alone, request the concierge or key service floor, if there is one. Watch for more valuable tips in the next issue of The View. Brews with Buds 6 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | MAY 2021 Neighborhood Watch: Be A Security-Wise Traveler