Why I Stopped Using Hotel Safes (And What I Do Instead)
After a hostel in Prague taught me hotel safes are security theater, I rebuilt my valuables strategy from scratch. Here's what actually works.
travel
Articles filed under travel
Building a Pre-Trip Security Audit Routine
The 48-hour checklist I run before every international departure—device hardening, credential rotation, backup verification, and the stuff I learned by forgetting it once.
Handling Sudden Border Closures Without Panic
Protocol for monitoring restrictions, pivoting travel plans, and keeping documentation ready when borders slam shut on short notice.
Rebuilding a Compromised Phone Mid-Trip
Step-by-step process for wiping, rebuilding, and securing a smartphone after compromise while you’re still on the road.
Off-Grid Communication Options When Networks Collapse
Tools and protocols I use when cellular and Wi-Fi go dark—satellite messengers, ham radio basics, and prearranged codes for critical updates.
Shipping Gear Across Borders Without Customs Pain
My logistics playbook for moving equipment internationally—carnets, manifests, insurance, and tracking so nothing disappears at customs.
Anti-Surveillance Tradecraft for Travelers
Practical techniques I use to detect tails, reduce digital exhaust, and stay boring when operating in higher-risk environments abroad.
Building a Travel Medical Intelligence Binder
The medical intel pack I carry—vaccination proof, clinic shortlists, telehealth plans, and rehearsals so medical surprises don’t derail a deployment.
Handling Cash-Only Clients Without Risk
Workflow for managing clients who insist on cash—contracts, receipts, AML awareness, and accounting practices that keep you compliant and safe.
Pop-Up SOC: Monitoring Incidents from Airports and Layovers
How I spin up a lightweight security operations center from airport lounges and gate areas when incidents hit mid-travel.
Locked Out of My Google Account Abroad — Here’s What I Learned
The midnight scramble I went through in Buenos Aires when Google froze my account, plus the backup playbook I use now so I’m never stranded without access again.
Protecting API Keys and Secrets While Working Away from HQ
How I manage API keys, tokens, and secrets on the road—temporary scopes, rotation workflows, and CI hardening so nothing leaks when I’m coding from a hostel.
Why Your Email Gets Flagged More When You Travel
Real-world tactics I use on the road to keep my email out of the spam folder when hotel Wi-Fi, VPN hops, and new devices freak providers out.
Travel Drone Ops Without Breaking Local Laws
How I prep, fly, and store drone footage across countries—covering permits, airspace intel, flight logging, and data handling so you never lose your bird at customs.
Emergency Evacuation Binder for Nomads
The grab-and-go binder I keep ready for sudden evacuations—contact trees, logistics, legal documents, and rehearsals that make leaving less chaotic.
Hotel Wi-Fi Blocks Everything?
Play-by-play troubleshooting when a hotel network kills VPNs, streaming, and remote work tools—tested on five continents.
How to Tell If a Wi-Fi Network Is Safe
A field checklist for evaluating new Wi-Fi networks before you hand over your passwords or corporate logins.
Safe Ways to Access Bank Accounts Abroad
How I manage banking, transfers, and 2FA while traveling full-time without giving fraud departments a heart attack.
How to Use a VPN at Hotels
Step-by-step instructions for getting your VPN online at hotels that throttle, block, or endlessly reset captive portals.
Safe Ride-Hailing Playbook for New Cities
My protocol for vetting ride-hailing drivers, routes, and handoffs so late-night pickups in unfamiliar cities stay predictable instead of risky.
The Real Dangers of Hotel Wi-Fi
Real incidents I’ve encountered on hotel networks—rogue access points, credential harvesting, captive portal bait—and the playbook to stay safe.
Why Hotel Wi-Fi Still Isn’t Safe in 2025
Three hotel Wi-Fi breaches I investigated this year and the defensive playbook that came out of them.
How I Keep My Password Manager Travel-Ready Without Lockouts
A pragmatic workflow for slimming vaults, staging backups, and surviving travel lockouts when you live inside a password manager.
Surviving 12-Hour Layovers Without Losing Work Momentum
My airport routine for turning terminals into productive workspaces—gear, workflows, and tactics tested across three continents.
My Travel Incident Response Kit (Digital + Physical)
Everything I carry to handle device theft, data breaches, or sudden outages while traveling—and the drills I run so I can deploy it under stress.
Staying Ahead of SIM-Swap Attacks While Using eSIMs Abroad
How I keep multiple eSIMs active without inviting SIM-swap fraud—carrier settings, identity locks, and monitoring tactics that actually work on the road.
Building a Portable Records Vault for Passports, Visas, and Permits
How I mirror my critical travel documents in multiple formats so a lost passport or random checkpoint never derails a trip.
How I Handle Cash, Currencies, and Hidden Fees in High-Risk Cities
Systems I use to manage cash safely in cities where ATMs, taxis, and street bureaux can all bite you if you’re careless.
Working Through Rolling Blackouts Without Missing Deadlines
Power contingency plans I use in cities with unstable grids—battery kits, scheduling tricks, and comms workflows that keep clients happy.