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Best Travel & Vacation Security Products
Keep your home safe while you’re away. Ranked by vacation-readiness. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Table of Contents
SMARTSAFEGEAR SCORE
Blink Mini 2 — Best Indoor Monitoring While Away
~$30 · 1080p Night Vision
Check in on your home from anywhere in the world. Two-way audio lets you speak to house sitters or scare off intruders. Works with Alexa for voice control.
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August Wi-Fi Smart Lock — Best Remote Access Lock
~$150 · Auto-Lock & Guest Access
Grant temporary access codes to pet sitters, neighbors, or house cleaners while you’re on vacation. Auto-lock ensures the door is always secured. Full activity log.
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Smart Plug (2-Pack) — Best Light Timer Simulator
~$15 · Schedule Lights Remotely
Make it look like someone’s home by scheduling lamps to turn on and off at random intervals. Control from your phone anywhere. Works with Alexa and Google Home.
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Tile Pro Tracker — Best Luggage & Valuables Tracker
~$30 · 400ft Range
Track your luggage, camera bag, or valuables while traveling. Loud ringer helps locate items in hotel rooms. Community network finds lost items anywhere.
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Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — Best Package & Visitor Monitor
~$100 · Motion-Activated Alerts
See who comes to your door while you’re thousands of miles away. Motion zones reduce false alerts from passing cars. Two-way talk to delivery drivers.
Check Price on AmazonGoing on vacation should be relaxing, not stressful. But according to the FBI, homes are most vulnerable during extended absences. The good news? With the right preparation and a few smart devices, you can monitor and protect your home from anywhere in the world. Here is your complete pre-vacation security checklist.
Before You Leave: Quick Summary
Set up smart cameras with alerts. Put lights on smart schedules. Lock all doors with auto-lock enabled. Hold mail and packages. Tell a trusted neighbor. Test everything before you go.
One Week Before: Preparation
Test All Security Devices
Walk through your home and verify every camera, sensor, and smart lock is online and working. Replace any low batteries now rather than discovering them dead from 2,000 miles away. Check your Wi-Fi speed at each camera location to make sure you will get reliable streaming while away.
Set Up Smart Lighting Schedules
The biggest giveaway that a home is empty is dark windows every night. Smart plugs ($15-20 each) or smart bulbs ($10-15 each) on randomized schedules make your home look occupied. Set different rooms to turn on and off at realistic times. Vary the schedule slightly each day so the pattern is not obvious.
Arrange Mail and Package Holds
USPS offers free mail holds for up to 30 days at usps.com. For packages, either pause deliveries or have them sent to a pickup locker. Piled-up mail and packages are a clear signal that nobody is home. A video doorbell with package alerts adds an extra layer of awareness.
Brief a Trusted Neighbor
Give a trusted neighbor your phone number and let them know your dates. Ask them to grab any unexpected deliveries, take out your trash cans on schedule, and park in your driveway occasionally. These small touches maintain the appearance that someone is home.
Day of Departure: Final Walkthrough
Lock Every Entry Point
Check every door and window. If you have a smart lock, enable auto-lock so it locks automatically in case anyone checks on your home and forgets to lock up. You can also verify lock status from your phone at any time.
Activate Away Mode on Cameras
Most smart camera apps have an Away or Armed mode that increases sensitivity and sends alerts for any motion. Enable this before you leave. Make sure all cameras have clear views and are recording to cloud or local storage.
Close Blinds Strategically
Close blinds on ground-floor windows to prevent anyone from looking in and seeing an empty house. Leave upper-floor blinds in their normal position since changing everything looks unnatural.
Unplug Non-Essential Electronics
Unplug TVs, computers, and kitchen appliances to protect against power surges and reduce fire risk. Leave your router, smart home hub, and security cameras plugged in.
While You Are Away: Monitoring
Check Camera Feeds Daily
Spend 2 minutes each morning checking your security camera feeds. Look for anything unusual like unfamiliar cars parked nearby or people approaching your property. Most apps let you scrub through motion events quickly.
Respond to Alerts Promptly
If you get a motion alert, check it immediately. If something looks wrong, you can trigger a siren remotely, speak through the camera, or call your neighbor or local police. Many smart camera subscriptions include emergency dispatch features.
Do Not Post on Social Media
Wait until you are home to post vacation photos. Real-time posts announce to everyone that your house is empty. If you must share, limit your audience to close friends only.
Essential Smart Devices for Travel Security
Video Doorbell — See who approaches your door from anywhere (Our picks)
Indoor Camera — Monitor main living areas 24/7 (Best under $100)
Smart Lock — Lock/unlock remotely, grant neighbor access (Top picks)
Smart Plugs — Automate lights on realistic schedules
Entry Sensors — Get alerts if doors/windows open unexpectedly
Total Cost for Vacation-Ready Security
Camera ($35) + doorbell ($50) + smart lock ($150) + smart plugs ($30) = about $265 total. One-time investment, peace of mind on every trip.
See Budget OptionsFrequently Asked Questions
Should I leave lights on when on vacation?
Not constantly. Lights that are on 24/7 look just as suspicious as a dark house. Use smart plugs or bulbs with randomized schedules that mimic realistic daily patterns.
Can I monitor my home security cameras from another country?
Yes. All major smart camera brands (Ring, Wyze, Google Nest, eufy) offer smartphone apps that work from anywhere with internet. You get the same live view, alerts, and two-way audio whether you are across town or across the world.
How do I stop package theft while on vacation?
The best approach is to pause deliveries entirely or redirect to a pickup locker. If a package does arrive, a video doorbell with package detection will alert you immediately so you can ask a neighbor to grab it.
