World Travellers

Casey Phillips our expert of the day, writes:

I am always going on business trips for work. The one thing I cannot travel without is my trusty laptop. As much as I love my MacBook, it is always an annoyance having to put the laptop through security, carry it with me around the airport, and finally, get it, along with myself, onto the plane. Normally it is not a question for me; I always bring my laptop as a carry-on.

However, on my most recent business trip I decided that because I was not planning to do any computer work on the plane, there was no reason to carry it with me. I regrettably checked it in with the rest of my luggage. This was the worst mistake I could have made. For a seasoned business traveler, this may seem like a blunder only a novice would make. However, sometimes we all need a little reminding. I hope by relaying my story, I can save you from making the same mistake I did. A laptop is an extremely valuable portable device. Whether you are in the office or on the go, it can quickly provide you with access to important data, information, and software. However, it is for these same reasons that laptops are of great interest to thieves, and, consequently, highly vulnerable to theft.

M. D. Robinson our expert of the day, writes:

Going away on vacation should be an enjoyable experience but everyone has a horror story to tell. Perhaps your hotel room was robbed, or perhaps a careless spouse accidentally gambled away more money than they realized, or perhaps you simply lost your wallets somewhere between the airport and hotel. Here are 10 ways to make sure that your trip is a success in spite of those obstacles.

1. Use a hidden wallet to carry most of your valuables and identification.
2. If you feel comfortable sending it in the mail, mail money orders or travelers checks to yourself at your hotel so that even if you lose some of your money, more will be coming.
3. While you dont have to be too strict, you should have an agenda and leave it with someone at home. This way, if something happens in the area where you are vacationing, your loved ones will be able to have a fairly good idea of where you are.