Hi Reader,
Travel should make you curious about what is around the next corner, not worried about whether your phone, purse, or personal safety is at risk.
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I am a big believer in being prepared enough that I can then get on with the fun part: wandering through a historic neighborhood, examining every tiny detail of a centuries-old church, or staying out a little later because there is one more street I want to explore.
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Over time, a few simple travel safety items have become part of how I pack.
Not because I expect something to go wrong.
Because I would rather spend a few minutes preparing at home than spend my trip thinking about it.
This newsletter contains affiliate links. If you book through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share experiences and resources I genuinely think are useful for fellow travelers.
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π A theft-resistant purse
When I am walking through a busy city, riding public transportation, or standing in a crowd staring up at some architectural detail while completely ignoring my surroundings, I want my important belongings to be a little harder for someone else to access.
βA theft-resistant purse gives me an additional layer of security without requiring me to spend the entire day clutching my bag.
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π± A lanyard for my iPhone
My phone is my camera, map, ticket holder, translator, research assistant, and lifeline when I travel.
Which means I take it out constantly.
βA phone lanyard is one of those wonderfully simple things that makes it harder to accidentally drop my phone or have it disappear while I am distracted.
And yes, I am frequently distracted by old buildings.
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π¨ My Birdie personal travel alarm
βThis one comes with me on all of my solo trips.
I especially like having it when I know I may be walking by myself outside after dark. It is small enough that carrying it is easy, which means I can keep it accessible rather than buried somewhere in my luggage.
I hope I never need to use it.
That is exactly the kind of travel gear I like.
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Nerd Alert: My favorite travel safety tools are generally the least exciting things I pack. They do not compete with the destination. They simply help me feel prepared enough to pay attention to where I actually am.
I have put these recommendations, along with the other travel products and tools I use, on my Travel Resources page.
Take a look before your next trip and see whether any of them would make your own travels a little easier.
Then you can get back to the important questions.
Like why that medieval cathedral has a carved demon hiding near the roofline. π§
Happy travels,
Audra
The Nerd Traveler
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Here are my personal recommendations to help with booking trips:β
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βοΈ Airline mistake fares and deals, consider signing up for Going.com Premium. They even track when airline points are good options.
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πΆββοΈββ‘οΈBook free walking tours on Guru Walks. Please budget some money (in local currency) for tips, though!
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π§ Book guided tour experience on Get Your Guide and Viator.
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π I always always protect my trip with Travel Safe travel insurance. Click here to see options and to get a quote.β
Unless you have quite a few pre-trip expenses (deposits, tickets purchased in advance, etc.), you will likely not need Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance.
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π€ I created an AI Assistant to help you with your trip planning. It includes my lessons, tips, and trip across my 30+ years of international and domestic travel. It also has two fillable workbooks to help you stay organized. Click here for more details!β
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π³ I use my Capital One Venture X card when traveling. I earn miles with each purchase and do not pay any foreign transaction fees (it was the least expensive way to spend 50 Euros on my recent trip!)
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π I have used Welcome Pickups for my airport transport upon arrival and departure. I like knowing someone will be waiting for me, I can walk past anyone posing as a taxi driver, and usually the driver is a local who can give you more information about your desination.
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π¨ Lastly, I always recommend booking hotel rooms directly with the hotel company. 3rd party booking sites - Expedia, Booking, Trivago, Kayak - could prove to be a nightmare if you have any delays or cancellations.
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