Holiday safety tips from Honeydew Police

Personal Safety:

• Know the police station’s location and number, as well as other relevant emergency numbers
• Always inform someone when you plan on leaving and coming back
• Do not display valuables like cell phones or jewellery in public or in your vehicle
• Keep your handbag closed – and do not leave it unattended
• Do not carry large sums of cash with you
• Insist on having credit card transactions processed in your presence
• Stay away from dark, isolated areas during evenings
• Plan your route beforehand and do not ask directions from strangers.

Safety at the airport:

• Make sure your bags and luggage have locks and name tags
• Watch out for staged mishaps, like someone bumping into you or spilling a drink; this could be a ploy to divert your attention and steal your bag or passport
• Do not allow people to tamper with your bags. Plastic wrapping for luggage is advisable.

Safety at the hotel or guest house:

• Ensure that identifiable hotel staff assist you with your luggage upon arrival
• Never leave your luggage unattended, unless it is locked away in your room
• Store valuables in the safety deposit box
• Keep your room locked at all times
• If someone knocks, check who it is before opening the door
• Meet visitors in the foyer, not outside your room.

General safety tips:

• Keep a photocopy of your passport and other important documentation in your hotel or guesthouse
• Keep a list of your credit card, bank card, passport number and airline ticket numbers. Keep the originals in a safe place.
• Write down the serial numbers of your travelers’ cheques and keep the list safe
• Write down the serial numbers of your cameras and other valuables and keep them in a safe place.