Travel
SecurityIf you are traveling by air, it is far better to have someone drive you or to take public transportation. If you have to drive, many off-airport parking lots are better secured 24 hours/day than the airport lots (and often cheaper). At Detroit Metro Airport, for example, there is a well-known 24-hour parking lot just north of the airport. Prices are less than parking on the airport grounds, shuttle buses pick you right up at your car and drop you off there, the same shuttles take you directly to your airline terminal door and—because of their constant “shuttling” through the lot—it is a very secure location. Be sure to leave plenty early since getting through security checkpoints often can be time consuming. Also, if you have a medical condition, such as the metal rod at the base of Blackdog’s spine, get a letter from your doctor since you will set off the alarm.
Pack as lightly as possible, and be sure to lock your bag if you must put it into baggage. Some airports will open your bags, some will screen them, some baggage workers also will steal items. Carry-on really is the best way to go. Safeguard your airline ticket or boarding pass.
Try to establish taxi fares from the airport to your destination so taxi drivers won’t take advantage of you. On one trip to my home office north of Chicago, the cab driver picked me up and I gave him the address. He didn’t know where it was. I told him it was next to the train station. He didn’t know where that was! I did get him there, but he took a much longer route since he had no clue where he was going. [I think he was in the wrong profession.] The next day, I gave the taxi driver both the address AND directions for the shortest route. Much better idea. Never ride in an unlicensed taxi.
Where you stay is very important. Avoid “dives.” Even Motel 6, Red Roof Inn and the like have good security these days. Most critical: Most hotels and motels today use key cards, the plastic cards you insert into a door lock to open it. When you register, they take the key card, put it into a paper folder, write your room number on it and hand it to you. As SOON as you get into your room, throw the paper folder away and keep ONLY the key card. There is nothing on that card to identify what room you are in. But if you keep the folder with it and you lose it, someone can take your card and clean out your room. Also remember that most good motels and hotels will have closed-circuit TV security in hallways and major areas. And, of course, know where the nearest stairs from your room to the ground level are in case of an emergency. You can also add protection when you are in the room by using a doorstop, a chair propped under the doorknob, a personal motion alarm or even your own portable travel lock. Never leave valuables in plain view and either take them with you when you go out for business or have them locked in the hotel safe. You don’t want to leave your return plane ticket on the desk in your hotel room, or anything else of any value at all.
Traveling overseas has taken on a whole new meaning today. You can check online with the U.S. State Department to see what countries might NOT be good to visit—or may not even be allowed. Tourism today in the Middle East has dropped a bit. Check for State Department publications that will advise you on that as well as other matters such as visas, shots, etc.
Always be careful when traveling, and try to blend in where you are. Two of the national security conventions I attended were in Las Vegas. Because we were there for work, I wore a suit and tie; and frankly it was easier to just wear the same clothes for dinner after work rather than change to something more casual. Well, if you have been to any Las Vegas casino, you know there aren’t too many people in suits and ties there—except security and other management personnel. So I definitely stood out. On the other hand, there was no way to tell that I wasn’t a security officer, so it was of no concern. But in many cases, such “dress” behavior will cause problems. Dress for the location!
