Well I was supposed to be heading to Death Valley with my 15 year old son this morning! But! Had a pc of bad luck!! Never canceled a trip due to painful kidney stones. I bought "Travel Guard" travel insurance, not due yo sickness but! For TSA's "(which I called them as To Steal Anything) sticky fingers, and lost luggage!
With a doctor's note I just "hope" I don't get "SCREWED" by them!
I also learned a valuable lesson? If you want to go yo the desert!
1. rent the 4x4 vehicle, then book your trip!
2. When I booked (2) airfare tickets Watch out!! For the hidden "booking online fees!!
3. Take a (phone) photo of all your stuff, in your bag!(I had a backpack filled with desert hiking and survival gear)!
4. Take a copy of all your receipts and bar code of your new travel gear(in case someone at TSA steals something) or your luggage is lost!
5. Make sure you write down all those important numbers (like liensce, credit cards, etc) and put it in a pocket in your person, Not in your suitcase!
6. Place your wallet in your front pocket (pants) not in your jacket or rear pocket where it could be stolen.
7. Don't inform anyone in a social network (in my case I an my son was going, but other members stayed home) because you never know? That so called friend online could be a thief(always be safe)
8. Carry your doc's with you, online tickets, iternary etc.
9. I find if you use like a bright yellow or other color tape, wrap some on your bag handle (it is easier to see in a baggage carousel)
10. Take your phone charger and other electronics with you!
11. In case of lost luggage, I was going to put some of my clothes and with his (just one day's with) in each other's bag ( just in case one or the other's bag is lost) or take a change of underwear, socks in your backpack (to carry on board)
12. I tend to put a TSA lock on my backpack pockets, just in case someone else has some sticky fingers as you sit in your chair waiting for a transfer or eating.