Going on vacation means taking the time to relax and enjoy yourself.   Don’t let this relaxation stop you from taking simple precautions to ensure this time will be stress-free and safe. Following the next 9 steps will assist you in your safe traveling endeavors:

Prior to Your Arrival At Your Vacation Rental Home

Verify References – Prior to your arrival, ask the owner for references from past occupants.  Call the references to see how their stay was and ask any questions regarding your upcoming rental unit.

During Your Stay At Your Vacation Rental Home

Lock Your Doors – Sounds simple but many don’t follow this simple rule.  Lock your car and house doors when not in use.

Check Smoke Detectors – Test the smoke detectors to ensure that they are working.  If they aren’t functional, contact the owner immediately.

Turn on lights when arriving late – Turn on porch lights when you expect to arrive late.  This will give you clear path when you arrive a night.  Ask the owner if they have motion sensor lights for their property.

Check Safety Gates – Check all safety gates especially if you have children.  Ensure the gate around the pool is secure and functional.  Do the same for any stair security gates if the home is multi-leveled.

Emergency Contact Information – Ask the owner for emergency contact information regarding the property.  This includes should include the owner’s contact information, security system password (if it initiated accidentally), hurricane preparation information, local emergency and non-emergency phone numbers.

Don’t open doors for people you don’t know – If you aren’t expecting guest or don’t know the person at the front door, don’t answer it.

Keep Valuables In A Safe – Keep your valuables in the safe provided by the vacation rental home.

Act like the locals – Try to blend in with the locals and not look like a complete outsider.

• Do you typically carry your wallet and cash in fanny pack in your daily life?  If not, don’t do it on vacation.
• Put your money in your front pockets and be aware of your surroundings.
• Turn your music down if you are wearing an Ipod.
• Wear a bluetooth device when driving so you always have your full attention on the road when driving.