Before your next trip, there are several essential steps travelers should take to help protect themselves and their possessions. Much of that planning now begins on social media. Travelers are advised not to post online announcements that reveal they are traveling or disclose their destination.

While on the road, it is best to wait until returning home before posting photos of trips or adventures, and that guidance applies to children as well. There is no need to advertise that a home is unoccupied.

When labeling luggage, travelers should include only their name and cell phone number. Adding a home address can reveal where you live to anyone who knows you are away. The U.S. Postal Service also allows travelers to place a hold on their mail, preventing mail from piling up while they are gone.

Finally, travelers are encouraged to resist ordering items online until just before returning home, another simple step to avoid signaling that no one is home.