The Ultimate Holiday
Travel Security Checklist
From Smart Lights to Remote Access
Quick Takeaways
- This holiday travel security checklist is built to give you true peace of mind with simple, proactive steps
- Use smart home automation and remote access to simulate occupancy and deter burglars.
- Lock down entry points, pause deliveries, and leave no obvious signs your home is empty.
- Leverage mobile apps and camera monitoring to stay connected—even from miles away.
- On return, review access logs, restore full local routines, and maintain your security habits.
- A proactive “travel mode” for your home system gives you both control and calm.
Begin your holiday travel security checklist by turning your home into a fortress of protection.
The holidays are a time to relax, reconnect, and make memories, but they’re also when many homeowners worry most about leaving their homes unattended. Whether you’re heading across town or across the country, securing your home before you travel can make all the difference. This holiday travel security checklist is designed to give you peace of mind through simple, proactive steps; using smart technology, remote access, and practical habits that deter burglars and keep your home looking lived-in. Because when you know your home is protected, you can focus on what really matters: enjoying the season with the people you love.
1. Before You Leave: Set Up Home‑Base for Holiday Travel Security
Secure all entry points
Lock doors, windows, garage, and basement. Homes left unattended are often targeted. Statistics show that a burglary in the U.S. happens every 25.7 seconds, and empty homes are high‑risk. If you have smart locks, use the remote access feature to verify everything is locked before you depart.
Pause deliveries and tidy up
A stack of newspapers or packages at the porch signals an empty home. Having a trusted neighbor bring in mail or park a car in your driveway adds real‑world presence.
Create the illusion of occupancy
Smart lights tied into an automation or mobile app let you schedule interior and exterior lighting, making it seem like someone is home. A recent analysis found nearly 40% of homeowners had experienced a property crime during the past two holiday seasons—and homes with no visible security features are more frequently targeted
Enable remote access and monitoring
Use the mobile app for your home security system to:
- View live camera feeds
- Receive alerts for motion or door‑sensor events
- Verify locks or lights status
- Trigger alarm arming/disarming remotely
This is more than convenience—it provides a digital “guardian” for your home while you’re away.
Set your system into “vacation mode”
Many modern systems allow customized modes (e.g., “Away—Travel”). In this mode:
- All zones except essential ones are fully armed
- Motion sensors become active inside and out
- Notifications are prioritized to your mobile device
Since criminals often attack when they know a home is empty, having predefined travel mode adds both deterrence and rapid response capability.
2. While You’re Away: Maintain Connectivity and Control
Once you’ve left town, your role changes to “remote protector”.
Here’s how to stay connected and proactive.
Monitor live alerts and feed
Via your security system’s mobile app, set push‑notifications for:
- Door/window sensors opening
- Motion in key zones (entryway, yard)
- Smart‑camera detection of people or vehicles
Every alert gives you a chance to review and act: call a neighbor, notify monitoring personnel, or view live video.
Use smart lights and lock control
Even if you’re thousands of miles away, you can:
- Turn lights on/off or vary brightness
- Lock/unlock doors (for a house‑sitter or neighbor)
- Activate exterior floodlights triggered by movement
This ability helps you simulate life inside the home, which is a powerful deterrent.
Unique insight: Tap into “randomized lighting schedule” via your smart‑home app (not just on‑off timers) to mimic natural activity.
Avoid announcing your absence
It’s tempting to post holiday photos instantly, but that signals “empty house”, the exact profile burglars look for. One study found burglars were more likely to target homes without visible alarms or security cameras.
Instead: share after you return, or delay posts until you’re safely home.
Coordinate with a trusted on‑site contact
Give a neighbour or friend access to your remote app (if safe) or ask them for brief check‑in texts. Having someone physically drop by (or park a car) increases the real‑world “someone’s home” effect.
Check system logs
While away, review your system’s event log via app. Look for repeated “door ajar” events or unexpected light activations. That gives you early detection and helps avoid false alarms converting into real loss.
3. On Your Return: Reintegration & Review
When the vacation ends, take 15‑20 minutes to bring your home security ecosystem back to full normalcy—and take advantage of insights you gathered.
Reset to normal mode
Switch off your “Vacation/Travel” system mode and revert to your daily security routine:
- Disarm interior motion sensors during daytime
- Return smart lights to automatic schedules (or manual)
- Review locks and smart system settings
Review alerts and footage
Check your mobile app or online portal:
- Did any unexpected events occur while you were gone?
- Were any alerts ignored or treated as false?
- Did your smart‑lighting schedule perform as intended?
Use any anomalies to fine‑tune settings for next time.
Update neighbor and mail routines
If a neighbour was helping with mail or parking, thank them—and log what worked or didn’t. Consider enrolling them back into a “holiday house‑watch” rotation.
Perform a quick home security audit
Use a fresh pair of eyes—walk through your home pretending to be a visitor. Look for:
- Untrimmed landscaping obscuring windows
- Items visible from outside that signal valuables
- Any smart‑home notifications you missed
Seasonal variation: While December typically shows lower overall burglary rates, localized spikes happen during holiday travel times when homes are vacant.
Maintain your peace‑of‑mind routines
You’ve deployed smart tools and habits—don’t let them lapse. Treat the system as a living asset: review it yearly or when you make changes (new smartphone, new door, new occupant). A home system with remote access and automation is not “set it and forget it”—it’s a partner in your vacation planning.
Bonus Tips: Smart Tech You Might Not Think Of
- Geo‑fencing automation: Some smart systems detect when your phone leaves the property area and automatically arm the system—useful for unexpected departures.
- Temporary camera views for neighbours: Grant your trusted contact temporary view‑access (read‑only) to one exterior camera for extra eyes.
- Smart floodlight cameras: These combine motion‑activated light with high‑definition video—beautiful for holiday aesthetics and security deterrence.
- Email alerts for major system changes: Enable alerts when major settings change (e.g., vacation mode disabled) to track misuse or unintended resets.
- Check your internet/back‑up power: Many systems rely on your home‑network. Before you go, check your modem, router, and any UPS backup are functioning. A dark home due to power/internet failure undoes your “appear‑occupied” strategy.
Why This Holiday Travel Security Checklist Works: The Psychology of Home Security
While many articles focus on fear of burglary, this checklist leans into prevention, control and peace of mind—an important shift.
Here’s why it works:
- Criminals seek easy, quiet targets—homes showing no activity are high‑risk.
- Smart home automation and remote access mimic occupation, increasing perceived risk for intruders.
- By staying connected (via apps) you convert absence into supervisory presence, which reduces anxiety and risk.
- The combo of physical steps (locks, lighting, yard care) + digital layers (remote access, alerts) gives redundancy, meaning if one layer slips, another stands guard.
Unique insight: Think of your home security system not as just “alarm when something happens” but as a remote presence engine. When you’re traveling, every app‑alert, camera snapshot, light activation is a “micro‑check‑in” that reassures you and deters threats.
As you embark on your holiday travel, the last thing you want is to wonder: “Is my home safe while I’m gone?” With this holiday travel security checklist, you’re taking ownership of that question and converting worry into action.
By securing entry points, pausing obvious signs of absence, leveraging smart‑home remote access and automation, and coordinating with trusted contact(s), you create a layered, dynamic defense for your property. Once you return, review your efforts, reset your system, and carry forward new habits that support ongoing security.
At Guardian Alarm, we believe home security is about empowerment: giving you the tools to protect your home and your peace of mind. Ready to upgrade or automate your system before your next trip? Reach out to our team to explore smart camera upgrades, remote access features, and 24/7 monitoring that travel with you—so you’re truly covered, near or far.
Wishing you safe travels and a secure, worry‑free holiday season.
