Sherry Hardage with her safety first purse with zippers and a cut-proof strap. Courtesy photo

Solo Traveler

My friend Monica recently wrote to me about her upcoming trip to England. It will be her first trip overseas. I couldn’t help her with suggestions about things to see or do in England since I’ve only been to Scotland. But I was able to give some advice on security.

With travel apps, travel sites, bloggers rambling on about their adventures, guide books, and a plethora of travel related magazines, it seems like any needed answer would be forthcoming from a simple hunt via Google.

Yet, somehow, hearing what to do from a friend carries much more weight and gives a heightened sense of security. That was certainly the case when I decided to save a bundle of money by traveling to Juarez and catching a Mexican airline for a flight to Chiapas. When I mentioned it to people, the horror and fear on their faces made me quit talking about it.  

Instead, I listened to my friend John, who always goes into Mexican border cities to fly south. He recommended a particular bridge in El Paso, told me what to expect at the crossing, where to pick up the Visa, and how to pay for it later since the border agents don’t take money. Once across the border, all I needed to do was take a taxi to the airport. His recommendations worked flawlessly.

Monica’s concerns were how to protect her passport, and whether or not she should get one of those nylon bags, meant to be worn under clothes, for her passport and money. I know Rick Steves and many other travel writers recommend them, but I’ve never used one.

My preference is a good travel purse with a cut-proof strap. They have several zippered pockets. The pull-tabs can be clipped together for added security, and a flap folds over to hide the tabs. Men usually protect their paper money by keeping it in the front pants pocket. A lot of male travelers carry leather satchels with a strap across the chest. The worst place to keep money is in a billfold in the back pocket. With a slight distraction, a pick-pocket can disappear with your wallet in a flash.

Good hotels have small safes in the room or at the reception desk. I leave my passport in a safe, along with anything else of real value. Only if there is no better option do I carry the passport with me. It is the most important thing and incredibly difficult to replace if lost or stolen.

I often stay at rented apartments, or in a room in someone’s home. People who live in a place have tried and true ways to protect valuables. I ask about security and then do the same things the locals do.

Apartments in cities usually have multiple entry points; a main door at the street, maybe a second door beyond the mailboxes, and then multiple locks on the apartment door. It’s highly unlikely that an apartment would be burglarized during the few days that I am there. It’s even more unlikely that my apartment would be robbed and my purse stolen on the same day.

As with most things in life, good habits prevent problems. I never carry room keys in my purse. I always put them in the front pocket of my pants or in the zippered pocket of a coat.

The other good habit is to take at least two debit/credit cards on any trip; one stays with the passport, and one is carried in zipped pockets or purse. If my purse disappeared, I could return to the room to get the other card. I would never be stranded without an ability to get cash.

The only things you really need when traveling are money and a passport. Everything else can be purchased.

Editor’s note: Sherry Hardage lives in Los Alamos and has been traveling solo in the Americas, Europe, and Asia since she retired from Honeywell in 2009. She is a photographer, writer  and guide who organizes tours of Chiapas, Mexico through her website www.mexadventures.com.

Follow her continuing adventures on the travel blog: https:////sherryhardagetravel.blogspot.com/.

Hardage welcomes comments at hardagesa@aol.com.