5 Surprising Holiday Travel Dangers You’re Overlooking – And How to Avoid Them

Holiday travel is both exciting and stressful. Many travelers tend to focus on the more obvious hazards of traveling such as flight delays or bad weather, but tend to overlook some less obvious dangers.

These five holiday travel dangers are definitely worth considering before you even start making reservations for your next trip.

1. Overlooking Safety in Crowded Airports and Train Stations

Once travelers find themselves in a busy terminal, they also tend to find themselves in a more vulnerable position, often without even reaslizing it. The more people you have around you, the higher liklihood there is of getting pickpocketed, particularly in certain areas such as the larger cities of Europe. It’s important to secure luggage and bags before leaving the house so there isn’t a concern once you find yourself in the midst of massive holiday crowds.

Other potential issues in busy terminals are getting separated from your friends, family, or group as well as luggage getting lost. Make sure you have a plan in place for both of these things.

How To Avoid It During Holiday Travel:

• Use anti-theft bags and backpacks with zippers you can lock.
• Keep valuables close to your body and out of sight.
• Set meeting points in case of separation.
• Stay alert and avoid distractions like your phone in crowded areas.

2. Assuming All Holiday Accommodations Are Safe

“Not all accommodations are created equal.” While most people will associate that statement with things like cleanliness or staffing, fewer people associate it with the safety of the accommodation itself. Holiday scams are a huge issue on booking sites now, so doing your due diligence when booking is crucial for a safer stay.

How To Avoid It During Holiday Travel:

• Research reviews from other travelers—look for recent comments on security and cleanliness, then verify those reviews as best to can to be sure they are not AI generated.
• Verify booking sites and avoid “too good to be true” deals. Never arrive at booking sites through email links or text messages. Always go directly to your browser and type in a reputable booking site URL and go from there.
• Ensure your accommodation has proper locks, security cameras, or a 24/7 concierge. Taking hotel room locks is always a good ideas as well. Particularly for solo, female travelers.
• Consider staying in established, well-reviewed locations or trusted chains. While they may cost a bit more, knowing that you have a reliable place to stay is often worth it’s weight in gold.

3. Ignoring Winter Weather Hazards

Always consider the weather where you are going. Big storms and canceled flights aside, slippery roads, icy walkways, and things like unexpected snowstorms are always a safety hazard.

How To Avoid It During Holiday Travel:

• Check weather forecasts regularly and prepare for the worst with snow boots, umbrellas, and extra layers, even if you have to pack and pay for an extra suitcase.
• Pack winter-specific items like a travel-sized shovel or ice scraper for your vehicle if you are driving to your destination.
• Stay flexible with travel plans to account for delays caused by storms. Always allow yourself extra time to get to your destination.
• Choose destinations where winter conditions are less extreme or plan travel dates around big weather risks. Plan smart to stay safe.

4. Falling for Holiday Travel Scams

AI-generated ads and fake websites have seen a huge increase in since the technology was first introduced. Scammers are more than happy to relieve you of thousands of dollars if you aren’t vigilant about verifying sources and offers.

How To Avoid It During Holiday Travel:

• Be cautious of unsolicited emails or texts offering discounts—double-check the sender’s details, and never click links from inside those texts or emails.
• Use trusted websites for booking accommodations, activities, and flights.
• Pay with secure methods like PayPal, and never use wire transfers or gift card payments for travel arrangements.
• Always read the fine print when booking online, especially with holiday promotions.
• Check for little things such as spelling errors or purposely misspelled URLs.

5. Overpacking and Not Considering Personal Safety Essentials

Believe it or not, overpacking can present a safety issue. Not only does taking to much create stress and sometimes delays, overpacking can make you less aware of your surroundings because you are busy focusing on all the stuff you have to haul around. This is also a great way to lose important things such as needed travel documents.

How To Avoid It During Holiday Travel:

• Pack light and smart, focus on essentials, don’t forget medications, and take chargers, and identification in your carry-on.
• Use packing cubes or travel organizers to keep everything easily accessible and organized.
• Keep a digital copy of important documents (passport, tickets, hotel reservations) on your phone, and turn off face recognition and fingerprint recognition. Only use your phone code while traveling.
• Carry a backup power bank and travel adapter for your devices.
• Download any travel apps you’ll need before you ever arrive at your departure airport.

Staying Safe Is Common Sense

With a little forethought on what could possibly go wrong, it’s easy to prepare for the unthinkable. Some common sense and realistic expectations of the area you will be visiting will go a long way to keeping you safe.

Stay aware and focused during travel, verify all booking sources before sharing your personal details, and always pad your travel time to reduce distracting stress.