Business Travel Safety

So I have just printed my boarding pass for my first monitoring trip with my new company. This reminds me that there are some great travel safety tips I would like to share with you all. Most of these are common sense or things I have picked up along the way from employers and other monitors. I know this is long but I hope you will find it helpful. Feel free to add comments if you can think of other important tips I may have left out.

Before you leave:
Use common sense when booking your flight and hotel. Monday flights get delayed so take an early one or just fly in Sunday night so there is no risk that you will be late to the study site. Friday flights are always oversold and late, try to return home on Thursdays when possible or stay over the weekend and explore a new city. Think about what time zone you are traveling to so that your flight times are practical and safe -- don’t arrive after dark if possible. Choose the right hotel – ask the site for suggestions or speak to other monitors you know. I like to read reviews on Trip Advisor. The most important criteria are not necessarily the rewards, pool/amenities, and mini-bar (but good room service is important). Instead, choose a property that has at least 3 floors (more on this later), ensure that there will be no outside entrance to your room (like at a motel), and stay in a safe neighborhood (even if this means a longer commute to the site).

OK, this is a business trip, not a fashion show. Keep your luggage light. This is not just a practical suggestion but an important safety tip. When you are struggling with several bags you are distracted and less aware of your surroundings. This can leave you vulnerable and make you a target for crime. Not to mention, the more pieces of luggage you have, the easier it is for something to become lost or stolen. Pack only what you need and leave extra room for all the important souvenirs/shopping you will bring back (or CRFs and regulatory study documents, whatever).

Print your itinerary and boarding pass before you go. I always forward a copy to my personal email (since I can access that from the internet and I like to sync it to my PDA) and to my boyfriend or a family member and my admin. Print an additional copy of your itinerary so you have a backup and put it in a different location in your luggage. When you are at the airport fumbling around for your itinerary, it might give criminals the impression that you are unorganized and an easy victim. You should know where your documents are at all times and your cash.

Just bring enough cash to pay for a light meal and a cab ride. I recommend splitting up your cash and credit cards (put some in your pocket, some in your purse, some in your briefcase, etc.) so if you are robbed you will not be in such a bad way. I think it is a good practice to leave behind copies of your Driver’s License and Credit/ATM Cards (including a copy of the back which has all the number you call if they are lost or stolen).
Don’t forget to bring your insurance cards (auto/health) and personal/business contact info (# for your boss, colleagues you will meet at the site, the site’s contact info!). In addition, I always program the hotel phone number and address into my GPS and cell/PDA. Don’t forget to program in the travel agent’s name and #, too (as well as after hours contact info). Print maps to the site and hotel so you will know where you are going. The rental car place will help you with this, you can contact AAA before your trip, or just use a website like maps.google.com. Remember, even if you are taking a cab or black car, maps are still important. You will want to pay attention to the route the driver is taking and ask questions if necessary to avoid getting ripped off (running up the meter) or becoming diverted to an area that is unsafe or otherwise incorrect.

If you are in a public place keep
a low profile and try not to draw
attention to yourself. Casual
conversations with strangers can
be dangerous so ensure you are not
making yourself vulnerable by giving
away information about where you
are traveling, staying, or emphasizing
the fact that you are alone on the trip.

When you arrive/At your destination:
Now you are in a new and unfamiliar city and you are vulnerable for many reasons. You need to blend in (always know where you are going, pay attention to your surroundings, walk confidently, don’t flash wads of cash, and leave flashy/expensive items at home – like your jewelry and the Coach bag). Do not accept rides from strangers or unmarked cabs. When you are at the airport, restaurants/bars, or in the cab, do not give away personal information through conversation (always ensure that your name and address are covered on your luggage tags).

Cabbies always ask me if I am in town for business or pleasure. It is fine to be polite and carry on a conversation but keep it light and be smart. I’ll often answer, “business, but I am meeting my friends/husband later tonight.” If they ask what you do, use your discretion, but a safe answer is always, “Oh, work is boring, have you been driving your cab long?” If you can ask them a question about themselves or the city you are in, you can divert the conversation to more neutral topics. If the cabbie is nice, I always ask for their card and usually book them to return to the airport (plus if you find yourself lost while walking, you can call the cab and have them come pick you up). Your hotel can also help you find a safe transport back to the airport.

OK, so you rented a car. It is best to put your luggage in the trunk but make sure you keep the maps your cell phone and your GPS up front with you within easy reach. After you glance in the backseat (make sure nobody is hiding there), get in and lock the doors. Now figure out how the windows work and adjust the seat/mirrors/steering wheel before you leave the garage. Don’t keep your purse on the passenger seat. When you pull up to a stoplight or an intersection, someone could smash your window and reach in to grab this. I keep mine on the floorboard of the backseat (next to the person who is laying there – jk!). Always keep the gas tank at least half full – this is especially important in the winter or in rural areas where gas stations are not as frequent and cell phone coverage may not be as reliable (if you are driving in these areas a GPS is not always reliable so pay attention to road signs but at least the GPS can help you find a gas station where you can ask for directions).

Only park in well-lit places and remember where you parked so you can walk purposefully back to your car instead of wandering around aimlessly clicking the button and looking for flashing taillights (this is unsafe!). Every time you leave your car, lock the doors and check the handles to ensure it is locked. When you do return to your car check for flat tires; Criminals will let the air out of your tires so you have to stop later along the roadside and you will be vulnerable and open to their attack. Don’t click the button to unlock the car until you are right next to it. If there is a large van or someone standing near your car you can go back inside and wait for them to move on (or request an escort from security). You could also enter your vehicle from the passenger side (I appreciate that you will look silly but it is most important to be safe and you could always pretend that you wanted to quickly check for something in the glovebox). Most abductions happen during the day in public places like grocery stores or strip-mall parking lots so please pay attention even if it isn’t nighttime. Lock the doors as soon as you get in and buckle up. This is the most important, leave right away – don’t sit in your car and organize receipts or talk on the cell phone. This is just not safe.

Every hotel starts to look the
same eventually but never
let your guard down and
keep these safety tips in mind.

OK, finally you are checking in to your hotel. Request to stay between the third and eighth floor. The third floor is high enough that it is unlikely someone would break into your room from the outside, the eighth floor is the maximum within the range of fire rescue equipment. The room number should be written on the key envelope and handed to you. If it is spoken aloud, you must request another room. It is not safe for other people in the lobby to overhear your room #. Always ask for 2 keys (this makes it look like you are not alone plus you are less likely to get locked out if you always have one in your purse and one in your pocket). If you lose your keys don’t just ask for another copy, have them re-key the room (this is really easy for them with key cards). If it is an actual metal key, you need a new room – sorry, but you do! If the parking lot is not near your room, use the valet and if it is very late, it is always prudent to request assistance to your room.

Placing the “Do Not Distrub” sign on your door at all times will give the impression that you are in the room and possibly deter would-be thieves. If you go out, leave a light on for the same reason. You can call room service and inform them that you are doing this so they will still come and freshen up your room while you are away anyway. If someone knocks on your door, don’t open the door, ask who it is and call reception first to ensure that they are hotel staff. This tip might be overkill, but I just heard it and found it interesting…If you must let someone in your room, first turn on the shower and close the bathroom door. This gives the impression that you are not alone in the room. I suppose if they are there to fix the bathroom or something you will look like kind of a knob so decide if you are willing to risk it. ;)

Also, because I haven’t mentioned it anywhere else, be sure to avoid conflicts when you travel. Remember, you are trying to keep a low profile. This means your conflicts or the conflicts of others. If the airline or hotel piss you off (unbelievable, I know, but trust me it happens –ha!) just write down the details of what happened, time/date, names of people who were involved and make a complaint to corporate when you are back home. When you are involved in conflict you won’t be paying enough attention to your surroundings and this could be dangerous. If you see a disturbance or someone who needs help or is hurt, feel free to go find them help but do not help them yourself! I know this seems heartless, but you can make yourself a victim by getting involved.

Conclusion:
Even if the city you are traveling to is a place that you frequent regularly, you always need to look AND be alert. Always follow your instincts. If you are in a place where you feel vulnerable or unsafe, leave. It is always better to look foolish than to become a victim. Use common sense and have a great trip! Add a comment or drop me an email if you have other great tips for business travel safety.



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• Little Wrap Dress February 2011
• Fueling up the Rental Car January 2011
• Tips for Frequent Travelers February 2008