THE MONTHLY ESCAPE

October 2025 Edition

Hey ,

I love camping, and always have. But most of my friends? Not so much.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It means I usually get my favorite camping spots all to myself. But when we do meet up, it’s almost always at an Airbnb. No tents, no campfires, just wifi and someone else’s leftover coffee filters.

On a trip last month, I was lying in bed staring up at the ceiling when I spotted something strange. Right above me was a smoke detector that looked... off. It wasn’t just me being tired. It actually looked tampered with. That little red flag kicked off a whole spiral about how easy it is to overlook safety when we’re not in our own space.

And speaking of smoke detectors, the setup in my rental room at home isn’t much better. There are two of them mounted barely a foot apart. Why? Because instead of replacing the old one, my landlord slapped up a new one and called it a day. Real five-star logic there.

And yes, these are LED Christmas lights that are awesome all year!

All of this got me thinking. Whether you’re traveling, staying with friends, renting a place, or just navigating the chaos of modern life, we trust a lot. Sometimes too much. This might be a good time to talk about easy things you can do to keep yourself safe. Stuff that takes a few minutes but can make a real difference.

🏔️ Trust Your Gut & Stay Aware

If travel has taught me anything, it’s that gear is only part of the safety equation. The bigger part is learning to trust yourself. That gut feeling you get when something seems off? Listen to it.

Whether I’m hiking a new trail or checking into a place I’ve never stayed before, my instincts usually nail it. If a smoke detector looks sketchy, it’s probably worth checking. If the route on the map gives you a bad feeling, skip it. And if a place feels weird the second you walk in, that’s a red flag. You don’t need to explain why. Just trust it.

I’ve learned that your brain picks up on stuff before you even realize it. It notices patterns, signals, and changes in your environment long before your conscious mind catches up. That weird feeling? It matters.

Now, I’ve built habits around it. I always scan the space I’m staying in, bring solid emergency gear, and plan for what could go wrong. But all of that starts with one thing, paying attention to that internal voice when it speaks up.

The main idea is simple. Your mind is the best safety tool you have. Everything else is just backup.

🔧 TESTED WISDOM

Something I learned from my law enforcement days is that safety works best when you plan in layers. For today, let’s do a quick breakdown on some of the things you should be aware of.

Digital Awareness

Before I travel, I check my digital footprint. For example, LinkedIn made an update in September 2025 that lets them use your personal data for AI training without asking. Go into Settings, then Data Privacy, then Data for Generative AI Improvement, and turn it off. It takes less than a minute and keeps your information private.

Physical Checks

From inspecting my Airbnb for strange setups to packing for winter conditions, I never skip the basics. I keep a short list of things I always check and carry, and I will cover some of those just below.

Situational Awareness

This is the one I rely on most. Whether I am deep in the woods or in a busy city, I always know my exit options. I never ignore a gut feeling. That instinct has helped me more times than I can count.

Why this works

When you start planning in layers or sections, it gives you backup. If one part fails, the others protect you. And of them together are giving you the same warning, you should pay attention.

Start small and then build from there.

🗺️ READER INTEL

Finding Hidden Cameras Where You Would Not Expect

While researching accommodation safety, I came across one of my favoriate channels, Project Untethered on YouTube. Their travel safety tips are practical, fast, and honestly something every Airbnb and hotel guest should see.

One video in particular breaks down exactly how to check for hidden cameras. It is easy to follow and only takes a few minutes. And judging by the comments and view count, it has helped a lot of people.

Here are a few other videos worth watching if this topic hits home:

• What hidden cameras actually look like
• How to use a hidden camera detector
• Examples from Portable Professionals who shares some additional travel strategies
• Bonus video on hotel scams that will make you rethink how you check in

None of this is over the top, if you ask me. These are real safety habits that take very little time and could save you from a serious situation. One of these videos has over a million views, which should tell you this is more common than people want to believe.

🚨 PREPAREDNESS CORNER

Fall Travel Safety Reality Check

October and November bring quick shifts in weather, especially if you are planning a road trip during the holidays. If I could share one thing with every traveler this season, it would be simple. Do not wait until you are stranded to start thinking about safety.

Weather Can Flip Fast

Fall is unpredictable. You might be in shorts at the trailhead and grabbing a jacket by the time you hit the ridge. Always bring extra layers, even if the forecast looks perfect. I cover that and a lot more in this post.

Vehicle Prep Matters

If a road trip is in your future, now is the time to prep your ride. Check your battery, fluids, tires, and make sure your emergency kit is packed. The colder it gets, the more breakdowns you see.

Rethink Your Route

Some roads are not worth the gamble. If a route feels sketchy, trust that feeling. Have backup options ready, especially through mountains or rural areas.

Final Reminder

Even if it still feels like summer, winter prep starts now. This is very important if you are in the mountains! You will be glad you took the time.

💤 Sleep Quality and Safety Go Hand in Hand

Let’s be real. Nothing wrecks your judgment faster than being sleep-deprived. Poor sleep makes you foggy, slows your reaction time, and turns basic decisions into uphill battles. If you’ve ever driven, hiked, or worked after a sleepless night, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

For a lot of us, sleep is already a struggle. Add in travel, new environments, or a weird mattress, and it gets worse. That’s where testing products comes in handy. I recently tried out AGZ, the new sleep supplement from Athletic Greens, and wrote an honest review based entirely on how it worked for me.

Better sleep means better judgment. That holds true whether you are on a trail, behind the wheel, or just trying to stay sharp. Just remember that I’m always honest in my reviews and that includes this one.

If you’re interested, check out my honest AGZ review.

🏕️ COMMUNITY CAMPFIRE

Have safety tips of your own? I want to hear them. Just hit reply and share what you’ve got.

Need some inspiration?

Here are a few ideas to get the fire started:

• The smartest travel safety move you have made
• Questions about cold weather prep or online privacy
• Gear that saved the day or completely let you down
• Strange rental stories that made you think twice

Don't forget, you can also join the conversation on Discord at wildeescape.com/discord

Thanks for being part of this adventure.

The Monthly Escape is more than a newsletter. It is a space for people who believe good prep leads to better stories and safer trips.

One last thought to carry with you. The goal is not to remove every risk. It is to manage it in a smarter way.

📧 Know someone who could use a little help with travel safety?

Feel free to pass this along.