If you plan on going out of town for spring break this year, here are a few useful tips. Remember before you take off to tell your friends and relatives where you will be vacationing, when you will depart and when you expect to return.

1. Hotel rooms—Avoid picking up bed bugs by checking the bed sheets and the upper and lower seams of the mattress. If you don’t feel sure about how clean your hotel bed is, make sure to ask the hotel management staff to change your sheets.

2. Safe sex—Take some condoms for your friends and yourself while traveling just in case. Do not make risky decisions while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Make sure that every physical encounter is consensual.

3. Helpful apps—If you have and your friends have iPhones, you can share your location with each other on “Find My Friends” to see where they are at all times in case someone in the group gets lost or if someone’s phone gets stolen. For Android users, “Familo” is the way to go. Always have the Uber and Lyft apps downloaded on your phone with your card information just in case you quickly need to leave a situation.

4. Plan ahead—Before going out, have a plan that everyone agrees with to avoid any kind of confusion. Be sure everyone knows what places you will be visiting and for how long. If you’re driving long distances, take plenty of breaks and change drivers to avoid a car accident. Always keep your hotel address and phone number available in case of an emergency. 

5. Protect belongings—Don’t carry all of your money around with you. Try not to leave your backpacks, purses and other belongings out of your sight. In your hotel, make use of the safe or anywhere you can lock your belongings. If you are being robbed, do not resist. If you’re traveling abroad, make sure to always know where your passport is.

6. While drinking—Lower your risks of being drugged by never losing sight of your drinks. Avoid accepting drinks from people you don’t know. Don’t accept drinks that come from an open can or bottle. When going out, try not to be alone in an unfamiliar place, especially at night. Do not drive if you plan on drinking.