It’s almost Spring and that means: Time to Travel!  One of my biggest dilemmas for traveling with my niece is that she needs to take prescription medication every day. We all know how important it is to keep medications locked at home (and in childproof containers), but what can you do to protect your medicine while traveling? Imagine traveling with multiple nieces or nephews and/or friends and sharing a hotel bathroom. Chances are, there will be at least one prescription, if not a few.

The solution: Use a small luggage lock to “lock” the zipper compartment of each traveler’s personal care bag/toiletry kit with medications.  Since you can lock your luggage with TSA approved luggage locks, there is a variety of styles available: I prefer the multi-use lock plus cable. You can use it on your suitcase zipper en route (airport security has a pass key to open them) and then use it on your personal care bag zipper upon arrival.  By using a lock on your personal care bag in your hotel bathroom, it will also ensure housekeeping doesn’t accidentally move or have access to important medications.

Since I’m all about packing light, I’m always looking for new innovative ways to save space & weight in my bag. By traveling with a TSA Lock & Cable and using it in a variety of ways I’m accomplishing both of these things. Whether you’re taking a road trip for the weekend or going on a European getaway, here are some additional great uses for a TSA Lock & Cable:  

Lock your bag at the bell desk
Sometimes you arrive too early to check into your hotel and they offer to store your bag while you do a little sightseeing. Depending on the hotel, ever wonder if your bag will still be there when you return? Travel with two locks and use one to secure your large zipper closed so no one has access into your bag and use the cable lock to secure your bag to the luggage rack.  

Lock your bag in your hotel room
Traveling with an iPad, camera, etc?  Instead of hiding items under a piece of clothing, hoping housekeeping doesn’t take it (or break it accidentally) I always put anything important inside my suitcase and then lock it with a TSA lock.  Yes, if someone really wanted to get into my bag they could, but this at least will slow them down.

Lock your backpack or handbag zippers
If you’re traveling to touristy areas, it can be very easy for someone standing behind you in line to reach into your backpack. It’s best to wear your backpack in front when you’re in a crowd, but for added security use a TSA lock to “lock” your zipper pulls together.  

Lock your bike when traveling
Not all bike rental shops provide locks (or they charge a fee).  Pack your TSA lock & cable and use it to secure your bike when not in use. It is also useful to lock sports equipment such as skis, etc.

Lock your bag to the train/bus rack
When traveling by train or bus, often bags are stored away from you: under the bus, at the back of the shuttle, etc. If you are separated from your bag, quickly lock it to anything secure. If you’re traveling with someone else, lock your bags together-it is more difficult for someone to grab two bags than just one.

Photo: Robert S. Donovan via Flickr cc
Published: February 17, 2014