Travel security Archives - EbonyTravelers | Tips From The Experienced Traveler

Absolute travel essentials.

by Donna Hunter, PhD | Sep 29, 2021 | 0 comments

When it comes to travel essentials, everyone has different choices. Travel essentials can range anywhere from a travel wallet, change of clothing, toiletries, portable chargers to snacks. Although those bare travel essentials might be great, I’d like you to consider the absolute travel essentials. Here is my list of the absolute travel essentials I think you should always have on your person and never travel without.

Your ID

No matter your travel destination, your ID is essential. There are cases where you have lost your ID and can still travel but know that you will have a few hours delay proving your identity. In most cases, you need a valid government-issued form of identification, and this identification must match the name under which you are traveling. If you are traveling internationally, a passport is needed. Not only should you travel with your ID, but it should always be with you or in your person.

A credit card

A credit card is a traveler’s best friend. It provides security, convenience, and it makes it easier to make purchases when you travel. Certain credit cards can get you better exchange rates, can be tied to different travel reward programs or services, and gives you the flexibility to make safer purchases. Paying with a credit card will allow travelers to monitor their bills and expenses upon returning home. Most importantly, you can more protect yourself from liability due to fraudulent activity. Like your ID, every traveler should always keep at least one credit card on their person.

Your cell phone

It is advisable to always travel with a cell phone. Ideally, travelers should make preparations with data plans for making calls. However, almost all airports offer free Wi-Fi where you can get connected in an emergency. In addition, your cell phone will provide the ability to access resources such as travel information, destination guides, language apps, or currency converters. While some of these resources require a data plan, many are also available in offline mode. Downloading movies and books on your phone is a perfect example of using it in offline mode. Most importantly, we keep everything on our cell phones. Even though they can are replaceable, once stolen, the data is not easily replaceable.

In my last blog post, I discussed theft on an airplane. Theft can happen anywhere, and travelers should always be aware of this possibility. However, if your bags are stolen or misplaced, your ID, credit card, and cell phone are things you cannot replace very quickly. Imagine not being able to contact your friends and family in an emergency. Not being able to check into a hotel, rent a car, or purchase an airline ticket back home. While many things are considered essential for travel comfort, think about what is critical to your travel safety and security.

Have you ever misplaced any absolute travel essentials? Comment and let me know.

5 Covid friendly hotel stay tips.

by Donna Hunter PhD | Dec 16, 2020 | 0 comments

Having flown as a career for over 20 years I have stayed in many hotel rooms and so the experience has taught me a lot about what to look out for in terms of cleanliness.

1. Check the hotel sheets. No one wants to sleep on possible dirty covid sheets. I can’t tell you how many different times I have gone into a hotel room just dying to shower and get into bed and found that the sheets have not been changed. If you do this when you first get into the hotel room, there is plenty of opportunity for the hotel to fix the issue before you are ready to go to bed.

2. Make sure the sheets are visibly dirty before you check out of the hotel and prevent any possible Covid spread. I think it’s just a matter of kindness to the next guest and just plain hygienic. Don’t feel bad as the hotel should automatically be doing this anyhow. I always wiped the bottom of my shoe across the sheets before I checked out.

3.Place a face towel or hand towel on the bathroom counter to place all your items on. Especially in this time of covid you do not want to transfer any germs to your face or hands. It’s also a visual reminder of anything placed on the counter and it helps in not forgetting items like jewelry in the bathroom.

4. Take an extra washcloth and wipe the toilet seats down. I think we all assume that the hotel room has been cleaned thoroughly but my experience has shown that the toilet seat is often overlooked.

5. Treat hotel room floors like airplane bathrooms and never assume it’s just water. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve passed through hotel corridors and seen the remains of a hotel room party gone wild. Let’s face it, the hotel does not have the manpower or capability to thoroughly clean hotel room floors, nor do they often have time between checkouts. Covid can be easily spread through bodily fluids.

I hope my tips have been helpful, check back in for more of my lived travel experience.

Unexpected travel experiences!

by Donna Hunter PhD | Dec 2, 2020 | 0 comments

Every once in a while, travel brings some unexpected challenges. Recently my family had an unexpected travel experience. The current COVID policy with taxi services is that no passenger sits next to the driver. Therefore with 3 or more passengers an Uber XL or similar is needed. Unfortunately, this comes with third-row seating and unless you are familiar with the car you get, it is up to the driver to let the third-row passenger out of the car.

My brother, wife, and two nieces recently traveled to New York and took an Uber XL from the airport. As they arrived at the hotel, my brother, wife and one niece got out of the Uber waiting on the driver to let my other niece out of the third-row seat. As this was happening a random man jumped in the car and proceeded to carjack the Uber with my niece still inside. My quick-thinking other niece jumps back into the Uber and now both have been carjacked.

Everyone calls 911 and my brother tracking the Uber drive, jumps into a cop car with the Uber driver and the chase begins. However, the carjacker realizes he is being tracked and dumps the Uber driver’s phone. Meanwhile, my nieces are in the Uber screaming to get out, and as standard in NYC, no one pays attention. They demand to be released and the driver complies but somehow they decided they would not get out unless they had their luggage. The carjacking resumes and my nieces must have been screaming so much that the carjacker one again and stops and puts them out with their luggage. My nieces are then picked up by a pursuing cop who takes them to the precinct while the chase continues for the carjacker.

I don’t know how that chase ended but it was an unexpected trip and experience for my nieces and my family. I’ve never had anything remotely similar happen in my travel experiences. It was a reminder that in all travel we need to be vigilant and self-aware.

Have you had any unexpected travel experiences? I’d love to hear about it.