You can have a worry-free trip knowing that the contents of your luggage and the luggage are safe.
Here are a few tips, tricks and downright safety precautions you should take; and with practice, it will become second nature each time you go away from home.
Buy good Ziplock bags. Various sizes and pack anything loose in them.
You will thank me later.
Yes I'm sure.
Make a list of everything in your bags and keep a copy at home and/or with an friend, and one with you.
Do the same with your itinerary: your destination, business address and all emergency contact and financial information.
Lock your luggage with (and this is the glorious part) a TSA approved lock.
www.tsa.gov
This may seem a foolish tip, but with the national security regulations about luggage searches, they want to know what you are carrying. They will open your luggage randomly. They will open ANY and ALL locked luggage. TSA screeners have tools for opening and re-locking baggage with approved locks, thus avoiding damage to the lock or bag if a physical inspection is required.
Remove ALL old luggage and airline tags to avoid any confusion and destination errors. That old sticker from last year's New Zealand trip?, take it off and save it in your travel journal instead, or else…
Place a tag on the inside and the outside of your luggage.
Tags on the inside should include the following information: name, business address and telephone number.
Tags on the outside should have only contact information, a telephone number and/or email address.
Tie a distinctive coloured belt, tag, string around the handles of your luggage or decorate it in a way that provides quick identification. There are even colourful luggage handles you can purchase to decorate and identify that bag that it seems everyone else bought as well.
Remove any dangling straps from your luggage. Most are removable for this purpose. They will catch and tear from all the bags you plan to check. Cinch straps of a backpack tightly so they don't get torn during transport.
Remember to get for a claim stub for every checked bag.
If you are checking a soft piece of luggage, make sure the airline puts it into a large plastic bag for protection.
And people, avoid expensive luggage and ones that look expensive. This is temptation for thieves. They have all day to plan to steal your stuff, make it a little tougher. Save the extra $$ for that cute carry-on.
Also don't buy cheap or frail luggage. It is an excuse for airlines not to reimburse you for damaged luggage. And you WILL regret not spending the extra $30-$40 more.
Pack valuables, such as jewelry, medication, cellular phones and travel documents, in your carry-on luggage. Or don't bring them at all. Anything you will cry and rage about losing, leave home. You'll probably never use it anyway.
REMEMBER THOSE ZIPLOCK BAGS? Pull them out now, it's a real power move.
Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the security checkpoint:
mobile phone
keys
loose change
money clips and wallets
PDA's, ipods, mp3 players, cd players
jewelry (in fact leave it at home)
metal hair accessories
large belt buckles
laptops and video cameras with cassettes take them OUT of their cases and place them in the bin provided at the checkpoint
Some great luggage accessory sites and my personal favourites:
www.flight001.com:
Great site, store and excellent customer service.
www.ebags.com:
Luggage at a decent price. Research the stuff you want first and go there to buy. Good discounts and service.
www.campmor.com:
Campmor specializes in camping and adventure gear but a lot of the storage stuff is great for traveling
www.roadwired.com:
The KeyCard Travelock® Security Kit rivals any locking system I have ever seen. I use it to lock my carry on luggage especially my photo bag. I wear the key around my neck under my clothes on a long chain. It is accessible during the trip and my stuff stays locked. It is not TSA approved so do not use on checked luggage.
www.cb2.com:
Pretty stuff that makes you just want to travel so you can buy something new for the trip. Lovely first aid and sewing kits "to die for".
www.troyland.com/traveljournal:
The Wanderlust Travel Journal. I haven't made a mark in mine because it is so pretty. I prefer to write and draw in my moleskine notebook
www.moleskine.com: Barnes and Noble seems to carry a steady selection of them.
And remember. If you can't carry it or can't bear to be parted from it, leave it home.
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