Tips to Make Your Vacation Safe, Happy

Planning a vacation? Here are some tips from the Office of Consumer Affairs to avoid crime and assure a safe, pleasant trip.

While planning your vacation: 

• Buy your vacation package from a local business that you have researched and trust. Check with Consumer Affairs for a history of complaints. A Google search could be informative. 

• Beware of “free” trip offers. These are generally frauds that may leave you stranded. At the very least, they are not free and require you to pay for taxes, fees, upgrades, or for specific days. 

• Use a credit card when paying for your travel plans. If you have a problem, you can file a dispute with the credit card company. 

• Watch out for vacation rental scams. Check out the company listing the property. Look for reviews and see if you can contact prior renters. Avoid a rental listing that requires payment sent via wire transfer services. These are almost always scams, Consumer Affairs warns. 

• Always get confirmation of your booking.  

Before you leave: 

• Do not post your vacation plans on social networking sites and instruct children not to post as well. You're sending an invitation to a burglar to visit your home while it is unoccupied. Do tell immediate family members such as grandparents where you are going. 

• Stop your mail and newspaper or have a neighbor collect them. A full mailbox signals that no one is home, and it presents an opportunity for identity theft. 

• Put indoor lights on timers. Ask neighbors who you trust to watch your home for activity. 

• Leave your checkbook at home and clean your wallet of unnecessary cards and IDs. Credit cards are the safest way to pay, because they offer more protection. Or consider using traveler’s checks, which can be replaced if lost or stolen. 

• If vacationing in another state or country, you may wish to contact your credit card company and let them know where and how long you will be traveling. This will help their fraud department recognize fake charges if your card is used elsewhere. 

While on vacation: 

• Do not leave valuables out in the open in your hotel room. Use the hotel safe. Leave any valuables you don't really need at home.  

• Be careful of shared hotel computers and public Wi-Fi networks. Do not access your financial information on a public computer as someone might be using software to steal your identity. 

• Watch out for pick pockets. Keep your purse closed and carry it closely. Keep wallets in front pockets. 

• Do not advertise that you are a tourist. Place maps and travel brochures in the glove compartment.