For some, summer gives them a chance at freedom. That's right, there are lucky folks out there traveling without crayons, wipes and snuggle bunnies. They are leaving the kids at home.
According to the 2006 Statistics for the Travel & Tourism Industry, 43% of weekend trips are taken by couples without their children. In addition, children are now more likely to travel with family members other than their parents:
- 20% of grandparents have been on a trip with their grandchildren in the past year
- 15 % of singles have been on a vacation with their nieces, nephews or other young relatives in the past year
So how do you ensure that your children remain safe and protected while traveling without you? Forms4Parents.com. (Editor’s note: now forms4travel.com.) They've got a form for everything: travel consents, temporary custodial authority and medical authorizations. No lawyers. No excruciating mounds of paperwork. In fact, the forms are prepared online and downloaded in a matter of minutes!
Protecting yourself from identity theft while traveling
Once you’re out on the road, Trusted ID has made it their business to protect your valuable information. According to their information, every two seconds someone fall prey to ID theft.
Lyn Chitow Oaks from TrustedID shared some valuable tips:
What should parents pack in their wallet for travel? As you head out on vacation, you should limit the information you carry. Empty your wallet of any credit cards, identification cards or personal information you don’t absolutely need with you. We suggest you identify one credit card you would like to use for your expenses (leave your debit card at home). If someone was able to access your debit card, they then would have access to your bank account and all the assets in that account. With a credit card you are limited to the funds available to you by the credit card company and if you report it missing or stolen right away in most cases you will be liable for only the first $50.
What are some common mistakes parents make that lead to identity theft? Identity theft can happen to anyone even when you are careful, but here are a few tips to help:
- Keep your personal information in your home locked up and inaccessible to those who do not need the information.
- Provide your children’s information only to those who need to know and ask them why they need it. School records, sports league paperwork, are examples of places where your children’s personal information is kept and they may not need all the information requested.
- Encourage your children not to share information with anyone who doesn’t need it. Even a casual conversation can provide information to an identity theft about where they live, what they like to do, where they were born, and so on.
What are your other travel tips for parents? Keep your information safe by:
- Paying your bills before you leave. Don’t try to pay them on the road.
- Avoid using public internet spots and if you need to use them beware of shoulder surfers who are watching you type information on websites. Have someone stand behind you and shield yourself from prying eyes.
- Leave the checkbook at home and carry only the cash you need.
- Use your in-room safe rather than the hotel safe – only you will know the password to access it.
Thanks Lyn! Now we want to know what you are up to this summer?
Summer Trip: I have just come back from one of the most amazing travel experiences of my life - Africa!
Dream vacation: My dream vacation is a trip around the world. I love meeting new people and immersing myself in new cultures.
Won't leave home without: Besides, my husband? Something really comfortable to wear on long flights or other transport vehicles.
Nicole Feliciano is a freelance writer and mother of two girls based in Brooklyn, New York. Admittedly style-obsessed, she spent seven years in women’s fashion with Polo Ralph Lauren before taking on the world of parenting. Now she uses her keen eye to spot trends for hip families and shares her picks on her Momtrends blog as well as national print and online publications.
