Millions of people travel around the holiday season. Indeed, this is one of the busiest times of year for the U.S. customs and border patrol. Thousands of Americans will visit family internationally this season. One of the most popular destinations is Mexico, where unique holiday festivals and celebrations beckon tourists and expats alike. But if you decide to go to Mexico this Christmas, you have to take action to protect yourself. What should your travel plan include this year?

All travel, whether near or far, creates a security risk in several aspects. You need to protect yourself, your home and your vehicle during times on the road or at a destination.

Preparing Your Home for Winter Travel

Before you leave home for a holiday trip, you need to protect what you’ll leave behind. Numerous security threats might target your home while you are gone. These might include:

• Fires

• Structural or major system damage

• Theft or vandalism.

Because you won’t be home to safeguard against these threats, the chances of a problem occurring increases. Therefore, your chances of having to file a home insurance claim might go up. While your homeowners insurance often will cover such losses, you generally don’t want to have to file a claim in the first place. The more protective steps you take, the lower chances of having to do so.

Some of these might include:

• Reinforcing all locks and arming the home’s security system for the length of your departure.

• Turning off the water and HVAC systems in the home. If necessary, ask a friend to turn on the heat or wrap pipes in the event of deep freezes.

• Stopping mail delivery and paper delivery. Potential thieves might look for an accumulation of mail as a sign that you are not at home.

• Shutting off the electricity. However, it is often a good idea to leave some lights on timers to give the impression that someone is at home.

• Putting valuables like money, credit cards, jewelry and electronics in a locked area, like a safe.

• If you plan to leave a vehicle behind, park it close to the home, lock it and do not leave any valuables visible inside the car. If you have a garage, place it inside.

Protecting Yourself During Your Visit

Foreign travel means experiencing environments that you don’t face every day. Therefore, you have to get ready. Travel and immigration requires care and preparation.

• Make sure your passport is valid. Keep it with you at all times. You do not need a tourist visa in Mexico, you might need other visas if you plan to work or study, or stay for an extended period.

• Research Mexico’s customs declaration information. Often, you will face restrictions on what you can and cannot bring into the country.

• Talk to your doctor about any dietary or medical needs you might face. They can recommend to you where to seek emergency medical care. Have all of your prescriptions filled and carry them in marked bottles. Do not attempt to bring illegal or unlabeled substances past customs.

• Pack with security in mind. Do not store large amounts of cash in one place. Keep locks on your bags, and take an inventory of belongings. Do not advertise openly if you have expensive belongings on your person.

• Consider taking out a travel insurance policy or international health insurance coverage. These policies might help you in case of theft or loss of belongings or interrupted travel. They might also help you receive medical attention. Talk to your insurer about which policy is best for you.

Get Your Car Ready

You cannot just hit the road when you plan to go to Mexico. Driving internationally requires care, because Mexican traffic and insurance laws vary from those in the U.S. Therefore, you must take a few precautions into account.

• Enroll in a Mexican auto insurance policy. Mexican law does not recognize U.S. policies. However, you must carry coverage to drive legally. A Mexican policy can cover liability issues, physical damage protection, legal assistance, options for U.S. repairs and other items. Keep proof of your policy with you at all times.

• At times, you need a vehicle import permit to enter Mexico. However, if you plan to drive only within the free zone near the U.S. border, you might not need this protection.

• Service your vehicle before your trip. Change the oil, rotate the tires and test the battery as needed. Make any repairs to small issues that might get worse if ignored.

• Carry a few emergency essentials in your vehicle. These might include a first aid kit, emergency blanket, jumper cables and a wheel jack.

• Never leave your vehicle exposed to hazards. Lock it and arm the security at all times. Do not leave valuables on view inside the car.

• Remember, driving practices differ in Mexico. Therefore, it never hurts to slow down, take your time and obey the local rules of the road.

• Take care when driving at night, especially in rural areas. Poor lighting, loose livestock and the potential for highway crime might all increase in these situations.

In other words, if you would not do something at home, don’t do it during your trip to Mexico. The more security steps you take, the better chances of protecting yourself and your belongings during your trip.