3 Ways to Stay Safe When Travelling With Your Family

Purchasing an excellent family holiday insurance policy is the first thing you can do to ensure that your long awaited break is not only hassle-free, but trouble free as well. The following three safety measures are also must-dos, however, and should be on top of your priority list.

At the airport

While your family holiday insurance policy will provide some protection for unfortunate events that may happen while you’re at the airport, it certainly helps to stay proactive, alert and mindful. For example, when you’re waiting for your luggage at the carousel, do not stand back and be polite – get in there and grab it as soon as you see it. This reduces the chance of someone else picking up your bags – by accident or deliberately. As well, unless absolutely necessary, avoid having your money converted to local currency at the airport. Quite apart from the fact the rate is usually lower, this applies to any other crowded places as well, where people could see you handling your money – it's possible thieves might be observing you.

During transport

Be wary of people who are extra friendly to you at the airport, hanging around and going the extra mile to help you find a taxi or being extra chatty about your travel plans. If you’ve read the travel advisory issued by whatever company provided your family holiday insurance, you will know the inherent dangers of placing your trust in complete strangers. The same is true of sharing a taxi with people you’ve just met; you cannot risk it, especially if you’re travelling with children. Make sure you only get into an official taxicab – and only with your own family. If you’re driving a rented car, be aware of the risks of carjacking in the location you're travelling - some places are worse than others for this kind of crime. Regardless, always keep your doors and windows closed and locked, especially if you’re stuck in traffic. Be alert but not alarmed.

At the hotel

Next to purchasing your family holiday insurance the most important task is choosing your accommodation. Do your research and check out reviews on Trip Advisor and similar forums. Your best bet is to choose a hotel that offers unmarked swipe cards (instead of numbered keys) as locking mechanisms for their rooms. Such swipe cards are wise in case you lose your key or someone steals it, as it will not identify your room and can save you from potential burglary. When you have arrived at your hotel, ensure your entire family creates a safety-oriented mind-set: be aware of emergency exits, the location of stairwells and fire escapes, and the exact address of the accommodation. Most importantly, always lock your hotel room when you’re leaving or retiring for the night. A handy purchase for travelling is a small portable door alarm that is triggered when the door is opened.

Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Insuremore. We provide low cost travel insurance and offer a range of policies including family holiday insurance, annual, multi-trip and single-trip insurance. For all your travel cover needs, Insuremore can help you in the quickest and most cost-efficient way.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.