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No matter where your holiday travels take you this year, it’s important to be safe, and that goes for your wallet and your health. While there’s no way to eliminate the risk of fraud while traveling, there are preventive measures you can take.
Tips for Safe Holiday Travels
The holiday season is often a wonderful time spent with family. However, between worrying about scams, health concerns and more, it can also be stressful. Here are some top travel tips that will help you reduce your risk so you can enjoy your holidays as much as possible.
Avoid traveling while sick.
Never travel if you’re sick, whether you have the flu, a cold or COVID-19. Also, avoid traveling with anyone else who is ill to prevent spreading a virus to others, especially those whose immune systems may be compromised. Travel picks up a lot during the holidays because many people are going to be with their families, which means there are a lot more opportunities to come down with an illness. Wear a mask to protect yourself and others if you wish, and remember to wash your hands frequently.
If you’re traveling abroad, do some research beforehand to find out if there are any health and safety concerns in the region. Talk with your doctor about any region-specific vaccines and medications you may require at least a month before you leave. Your health insurance should cover injuries or illnesses you may get while traveling within the U.S., but it may provide little to no coverage for international travel, which is when travel insurance comes in handy.
Consider travel insurance.
Travel insurance is a safety net that can be helpful in avoiding out-of-pocket expenses for trip delays, cancellations, baggage loss and other unforeseen events. Many travel insurance policies will reimburse you for things that weren’t refundable, such as unused activities, accommodations or travel, if they needed to be canceled for one of the reasons the policy covers. The right travel insurance should also cover hospital and doctor’s fees.
Digitize important documents, if possible.
Your wallet is filled with important items that can be exploited, including your Social Security card, credit cards and passport. Leave documents that you don’t need for your travels, such as your Social Security card, at home and take photos of other things you may require in an emergency, such as a backup credit card, prescriptions and your passport.
Minimize the amount of cash you carry.
It’s important to have cash on hand while you travel, but be careful how much you carry with you. The holidays are, unfortunately, a good time for thieves to take advantage of others. Not having cash at all or having as little as possible in your wallet can minimize your wallet’s value to a thief. Plus, many retailers accept credit cards, and fraudulent transactions can often be disputed.
Wondering how to safely travel with cash? The best practice is to divide it up and store it in different places, such as hidden compartments in your luggage, a hidden money belt around your waist and secret pockets in your clothing.
Be careful when using public Wi-Fi.
Using a public Wi-Fi network can open up your sensitive information and data to hackers. This is because information transmitted on unencrypted networks can be viewed by anyone else who is connected to the same network. If you’re not asked to enter a key when connecting to a network, then it’s not secure. Consider using virtual private network apps, such as HotSpot Shield (available for both iOS and Android), to encrypt your connection, thus shielding your sensitive information and identity from hackers.
Protect Your Finances Beyond the Holiday Season
The right credit union or bank is an essential partner in helping you monitor your accounts and protect yourself against fraud. Explore the account options available to you through 7 17 Credit Union by opening an account today.
