There are a number of travel hazards that you may not be aware of, so follow these guidelines to be safe during your holiday vacation:
Social media hazard. If you have holiday travel plans, DO NOT announce them on social media or blogs, where other people, not just your friends and relatives, can find out. Let your friends and relatives know in phone calls or secure emails directly to the individuals, NOT on your website or social sites.
Broadcasting your plans tells potential thieves that your residence will be unoccupied during the holidays, inviting a “visit” from them.
Beware facial recognition tools and AI. Also avoid sharing family photos, especially those of children. They can pose privacy risks due to facial recognition tools and AI. Share these photos only with trusted friends and relatives, and avoid posting them publicly.
Vet travel companies and deals. Another problem are the recent ads from “travel companies” with incredibly low fares or hotel/rental rates. Make sure it’s a well-known, reputable company. Also ensure that the website is legitimate and has the complete name of the company without any spelling errors.
If you receive an email from a company like this, check that the email points to the correct website address and not from a domain in the wrong country, such as Russia (.ru), China (.cn), North Korea (.kp), Iran (.ir), or India (.in). Remember: If it’s too good to be true, it’s a scam!
Holiday greeting emails. Be wary of phishing scams. Cybercriminals exploit the arrival of holiday greetings to send these emails. Avoid suspicious links and attachments, and always verify unexpected communications with the sender, if you personally know them.
Yes, email addresses can and are faked by scammers, but they often don’t bother faking the origin of the email, as they believe that most people don’t pay close attention to who sent the information. Again, always check the original source!
USB ports in airports. Don’t plug your phone, laptop, or other electronics cords into USB ports in airports. They are vulnerable to hackers. Always take a plug and use an electrical outlet anywhere in an airport.
Manos Angelakis was one of the founders, the former Managing Editor for 25 years, the former Managing Editor Emeritus, and former Senior Food & Wine Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. He passed away in 2025 as an accomplished travel writer, photographer, and food and wine critic based in Hackensack, New Jersey. As a travel writer, he wrote extensively about numerous cities and countries. Manos was also certified as a Tuscan Wine Master and traveled to wine-producing areas in order to evaluate firsthand the product of top-rated vineyards. His articles in other publications include Vision Times and Epoch Times.
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