To make travel more enjoyable and less stressful (owing to how often things go wrong) it is often a good idea to re-iterate a few simple rules that can help prevent disaster. Often these problems can leave a bitter taste in the mouth and leave you with a dislike of the destination, its people and cost a great deal of money. In the worst case scenarios, passports, credit cards and cash may have to be replaced.

Maybe it’s just that traveling safely requires some common sense and most of the time these days, we do not require it as someone else is always accountable for our mistakes! If you ever get that distinct feeling that something is wrong, which often happens on vacation, that’s your instinct giving you a warning that you should take notice of.

It is a common mistake for many travelers to carry all of their valuables with them in the belief they are safer, this could not be further from the truth. Consider just what you require for your trip out and take that, placing everything else that is of importance in your room or hotel safe.

One easy thing to do to protect your money is not carry all of it around at once or leave it in just one location where a thief can steal everything you have quite easily. Many couples traveling will have 2 credit cards, both accessing the same account but it is much easier to use two cards, each accessing separate accounts so if one is lost or stolen, there is a backup.

Some of the easiest possessions to steal are bags and cameras owing to the way people carry them without even recognizing that they are an easy target for thieves so ensure the straps are over the head and across the chest if you want to hold on to them. Try to be aware of where you are when you stroll around and don’t make an easy target for the snatch thieves on the back of bikes.

There are many ways to scam tourists and you are vulnerable when you are on vacation so it is an easy task as these people are very good at what they do. Complacency is a dangerous trait and we have all been guilty of it when we are on vacation, remember this is what they do every day to make money and feed their families.

If you use a small backpack or day bag when wondering the streets or local markets why not buy a small padlock because would be pickpockets will be put off straight away. Another good idea is to use a hikers (or climbers) small shackle that can be used to safely secure your keys to a belt or bag for those people that frequently lose their keys.

A word of warning to those men that always have their wallet in a back pocket; try putting it somewhere else as this is the first place that criminals look and it is an easy target for them.

There is absolutely no reason why when you are on vacation you shouldn’t be able to travel safely and have a great deal of worry free fun; just stick to the points mentioned here and use your common sense at all times.