Seven Safety Tips for Tech-Savvy Travelers

If my recent airport experiences have taught me anything, it's that nearly everyone loves to travel with electronic gadgets, from laptops, tablets, and eReaders to smartphones, digital cameras, and Mp3 players. I, too, am guilty of owning and relying on almost all of the above, and though such technology can add a lot of value to my day-to-day existence (and, for that matter, my own travel experiences), it's also true that such a reliance on technology makes us all vulnerable to cyber thieves, especially while traveling. “Expensive electronics, and even more valuable data like pictures and videos, can,” according to FinderCodes [2], “be easily stolen if travelers aren’t being incredibly careful.”

So, although I've shared a variety of relevant tips in the past – such as protecting your gadgets from airport security [3], securing your laptop while traveling [4], safeguarding your identity [5], and protecting electronic data from the pitfalls of air travel [6] – some of this advice bears repeating. To help the frequent traveler, FinderCodes – which I previously featured in a post about Thanksgiving-related travel advice [7] – has offered the following seven tips for tech-savvy globetrotters to follow:

ᴥ Identify yourself: Keep PDF copies of your important documents in an encrypted file on your laptop or tablet. If you get mugged (or are just forgetful), you can always show copies of your identification when catching your return flight.

ᴥ Keep it close: Smart thieves are always looking to nab pricey devices! Make sure to keep your iPad, smartphone, and laptop properly stowed in your bag, with no corners exposed where pickpockets can easily grab them.

ᴥ Code it: Travel can be hectic, and we’re all prone to losing important items. QR code-based FinderCodes increases the likelihood of those items getting returned to you safely. The FinderCodes Travel Lost & Found Kit [8] (which, incidentally, helped me to keep track of my luggage on a recent trip to Montana) blends scannable QR codes, smartphones, the Internet, and durable identification tags to enable a quick, secure, and hassle-free return of lost valuables.

ᴥ Privacy first: Thievery isn’t only for physical devices. Hackers can easily access your data on public Wi-Fi networks in airports and coffee shops. Consider using a VPN such as proXPN [9] to protect your personal data, and important passwords, from prying eyes.

ᴥ Go mobile: Use airline apps to check in for your flight. This quick, paperless route will keep you organized without a paper trail.

ᴥ Watertight seal: If your trip involves water-related activities, protect your electronics from the possibility of water damage. Be sure to enclose any valuable devices in Ziploc bags, or place them in a watertight plastic bin or custom waterproof housing while traveling.

ᴥ Back, back, back it up: Don’t leave for a big trip without backing up all your important data. Whether you’re using a cloud-based client like CrashPlan [10] or an external hard drive, make sure your important data is archived.

Although such tips can certainly help to protect you and other tech-savvy individuals while traveling, the best advice really boils down to the following tip: No matter where you go, it generally pays to be cognizant of your surroundings and keep an eye on your precious possessions at all times.

So, do you have any additional tips for keeping tech-savvy travelers safer and less stressed on their next trip?

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As always, I’m open to ideas for future posts. If you have any suggestions, burning questions, or destinations that you’d like me to explore in greater detail, please comment below, contact me via laura [at] wanderingsoles [dot] com, or connect with me on Facebook [11] and Twitter [12].

Disclosure: While I occasionally accept free or discounted travel assistance when it coincides with my editorial goals, my opinion is never for sale, which means that everything written in my American Nomad blog and Moon travel guides is my unbiased reflection of the things that I see, do, and experience while traveling across the United States.

Photo of my coded luggage at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport [13] / Text © 2013 Laura Martone

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Laura Martone is Moon’s American Nomad [14] and the author of Moon New Orleans [15], Moon Michigan [16], Moon Florida Keys [17], and Moon Baja RV Camping [18].