Make sure your holiday memories stay with you for the right reasons

Taking a weekend or extended break is often associated with leaving the rat race behind, putting your feet up and not having a care in the world.

Sadly, for many South Africans, leaving their homes for a peaceful getaway ends in tragedy and trauma because they return to find their house cleaned out or they fall victim to criminals at their holiday destination.

Charnel Hattingh, Head: Marketing and Communications for Fidelity ADT shares 5 tips for staying safe at your destination:

1: Always speak to the establishment beforehand and ask specifically about security. Look for reviews online. Do not only rely on what their website says. Getting word-of-mouth referrals is always a good idea.

2. Take care of your valuables by locking them away in a safe or taking them with you when you leave your unit. Always lock up and close the windows securely.

3. If you are in a fairly remote area, preferably do not sit outside after dark. Bushveld fires and a little after-dinner tipple is wonderfully relaxing, but you can be vulnerable.

4. Ask the manager about panic buttons and emergency contact numbers. Remember, an emergency is not necessarily only a criminal attack – there could be a fire in your unit or a medical emergency.

5. Just as you should have at home, have a plan of action in place in case your family is held up on holiday. While it is difficult to stick to a script in such a traumatic event, it will help if everyone in the family, including young children, knows what to do and not to do. The main thing is to ensure everyone remains calm.

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