‘No one plans on security issues’ while traveling: How to stay safer on your trip

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The frenetic summer travel season is a fading memory. The pandemic lockdowns and masking requirements are history. So is it finally – finally – safe to get out there and travel?

Maybe, maybe not. Experts say travel is still fraught with danger, and you could quickly find yourself in trouble. 

There are still threats, including an uptick in Covid cases and several geopolitical dustups. But the biggest threat is – well, you.

“The mistake travelers make is believing the biggest security risk is some external force,” said Adam Bardwell, a former U.S. Army Green Beret and a security operations supervisor at Global Rescue. “In reality, the biggest security risk travelers face is their poor planning, lack of knowledge about the location and ignoring indications of danger.” 

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You don’t have to look far for recent examples. Just last month, a British tourist died after trying to climb the Stairway to Heaven in Dachstein, Austria. It’s a 131-foot ladder suspended in mid-air over a deep gorge. I grew up near Austria’s Alps, and if there’s one thing I know about those mountains, it’s that you can’t be too careful.

Earlier this summer, another British man (I’m sure that’s a coincidence) died after trying to drink every cocktail on the menu at his hotel’s pool bar in Jamaica. The resort serves beverages with names like the Club Stinger and Kamikaze, which should have been enough warning. 

I’m not bringing up these incidents to embarrass anyone, only to say that you can enjoy the thrill of climbing the Alps or chilling with a cold one by the pool without dying. It just takes a little planning and some common-sense precautions.

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Is it safe to travel now?

Probably, but there’s a giant asterisk next to that answer.

A quick scan of the State Department Travel Advisories suggests that the usual suspects for international travel are relatively safe. Popular countries for American visitors, such as England, France and Italy, are all good to go, according to the government. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re safe for you.

John Gobbels, chief operating officer of the air medical transport and travel security program at Medjet, said hotspots can sometimes flare up faster than the government can keep track of them. 

“Growing political tension between China and Taiwan, and the Ukraine-Russia conflict potentially expanding, definitely has people traveling to Asia and Eastern Europe this fall on edge,” he said. “The riots in France, protests across Central and South America, earthquakes, fires, hurricanes and Christmas market tragedies past don’t help traveler confidence either.”

Even if you avoid all those places, travel is still risky, he said, adding that you could go someplace perfectly safe only to get sick. That’s more of a problem now than it was this summer.

“We’re already seeing our usual fall bump in calls from members hospitalized with respiratory issues,” he said, “and this will only increase the rest of 2023 and early 2024.”

What if you’re traveling domestically? The State Department doesn’t rate U.S. travel safety, but Canada and the U.K. do. You can visit Canada’s travel advisory site to find out how dangerous traveling in the States is (and it is). The U.K. advice is deeply troubling (“Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in the USA.”) 

Oh, my.

What kind of precautions should you take before you travel?

This is no time to let down your guard, experts say. 

“It’s a good idea to dial up your usual safety precautions when traveling,” said Christina Tunnah, general manager of marketing and brands at World Nomads.

Here’s a short list:

• Ensure all your routine and travel vaccinations are current, especially if you’re traveling abroad.

• Have a plan B in case something goes wrong. Carry a list of emergency contacts and discuss the game plan with your travel companions in the event something goes wrong.

Of all these, the most overlooked may be careful planning. Consider what happened to Daniela Shields, whose daughter Alli was an exchange student in Hong Kong in 2019. When she bought a Global Rescue membership for Alli, she had no way of knowing that her daughter would be caught in the violent protests. But when the demonstrations started, Alli knew where to turn. Global Rescue quickly arranged for Alli to fly back home and out of harm’s way.

“No one plans on security issues when they travel,” said Shields, an endodontist from Paducah, Kentucky. “When it happens, you need to know how to get help.”

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How to stay safe when you travel

I love reading other travel stories that claim they can keep you safe when you travel with a few easy tips. What nonsense! 

Travel will always be dangerous, to a certain extent. Even the safest places can be problematic. Tourists die or disappear in countries with sterling reputations. 

But there are things you can do to mitigate the risk. Narendra Khatri, principal of Insubuy, said he’s seen more travelers asking for extra safety features on their policies, like telehealth and lost passport assistance. 

“We’re also seeing more interest in standalone kidnap and ransom insurance, particularly for high net worth individuals,” he said. “Many customers who feel they are at risk or traveling to a part of the world where abductions are possible can get a little extra peace of mind with this coverage.”

That’s sound advice. Double-check your travel insurance policy to make sure it covers everything that could go wrong.

But most importantly, don’t be the problem. You can travel more safely by planning for trouble. Don’t assume that travel is safe just because the summer crowds have thinned and the lockdowns are a distant memory. 

Because travel is not completely safe, and it never will be. Take it from me, someone who is on the road 365 days a year.

“Remember,” said Angela Borden, a product strategist of Seven Corners, “anything can happen when you’re traveling.”

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Elliott’s strategies for staying safer

▶ Focus on your health: Fall is a time to double down on your health – and especially this fall. “It’s essential to consider the heightened risks associated with the colds and the flu,” said Rajeev Shrivastava, CEO of VisitorsCoverage, an insurance marketplace. Covid cases and hospitalizations are also rising, so consider taking common-sense precautions like getting vaccinated, masking up on the plane and packing hand sanitizer.

▶ Stay connected: One of the biggest mistakes travelers make is turning off their cell phone’s wireless plan when they’re abroad to save a buck, said Katie Crowe, a spokeswoman for travel Insurer battleface. “Making sure you’re connected is critical for safety,” she said. The workaround? A better connection. Battleface recently teamed up with eSIM company Celitech to allow customers to buy and install an eSIM within their mobile devices through a QR code activation. 

▶ Know who to call when you run into trouble: Few travelers plan for the worst, even after years of the pandemic. “Who is going to help you at 2:30 in the morning when something goes wrong?” asked John Rose, chief risk and security officer at ALTOUR. It can be your travel advisor, travel insurance company or medical membership. (And while we’re at it, you should sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program if you’re leaving the country. That way, if something goes wrong, the nearest embassy or consulate can help you get home.)

Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.