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Nothing ruins a relaxing vacation like spending half your time worrying about things back home. Did I lock the back door? Are my pets safe? Did I remember to leave a porch light on? Luckily, with a little prep and the right gear, you can put a stop to your anxiety spiral and enjoy your time away.
According to our experts, keeping your home safe while you’re out of town boils down to two crucial steps: making it appear as if you never left and monitoring your home for break-ins or disasters while you’re gone. “Nothing screams ‘vacant house’ more than packages and mail piling up on the front stoop,” Hooman Shahidi, SVP of product for home security company SimpliSafe says. Ask a trusted neighbor to collect mail and packages while you’re away, or stop deliveries altogether for longer trips. “The number one tip I have for keeping your home safe while you’re away is simple: lock your doors and windows,” Shahidi adds. “It’s amazing how many people forget to take this simple security step.”
For extra peace of mind, leverage technology to keep tabs on your home while you’re gone. “If you’re expecting a delivery while you’re away, or not sure if you turned off electronics, a smart home security system can give you peace of mind that your home is safe and secure while you’re on the road,” Travis Miller, VP of field sales for ADT says.
To ensure smart home devices ease your worries instead of creating new headaches, choose products that are compatible with your existing devices. “Opt for devices that offer user-friendly interfaces, both in terms of physical controls and mobile apps,” Miller says.
With all this in mind, we’ve curated the most useful home security and smart home devices, so you can spend more vacation time sightseeing and less time thinking of home.
Best Doorbell Camera
Google Nest Doorbell 2nd Gen
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The camera can distinguish between people, animals, vehicles, and deliveries for detailed notifications.
“Everyone can be tempted to show off their amazing trip (on social media), but making that information publicly available – including when you’re leaving and how long you’ll be gone – can open the door for dangerous scenarios back home, like stolen packages or even burglaries,” notes Miller. Doorbell cameras are crucial to have while you’re away to monitor for deliveries, visitors, and unwelcome guests.
The Google Nest Doorbell is a user-friendly, high-quality option with tons of features that come in handy when you’re away from home. This doorbell offers both wired and battery-powered versions. Both offer most of the same features, but the wired version completes 24/7 video recording without running down the battery. The camera can distinguish between people, animals, cars, and deliveries, and the app can even alert you if a delivered package is removed from your porch. The device and app can be used without a subscription, but note that some helpful features — like facial recognition and 24-hour recording — are only available with a paid Nest Aware plan.
Price at time of publish: $180
Best Pet Camera
Eufy Pet Dog Camera D605
Unless you hire a housesitter, your furry friends likely won’t be monitored at all times while you’re away. A pet camera, like the Eufy Pet Dog Camera, can allow you to keep tabs on your pet’s antics and even communicate with them when no one’s home. This model is compact and easy to use, and has a wide-angle lens with a 360-degree range of vision. But best of all, it includes a motion sensor to allow you to follow your pet around the house. If you’re craving more interaction with your pet while you’re gone, you can speak to them using two-way audio and even trigger the device to toss out treats.
Price at time of publish: $200
Best Digital Thermostat
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
If you have pets at home, or live in an area with extreme temperatures, turning your heating and air conditioning system off completely while you’re away likely isn’t an option. But the Nest Learning Thermostat is the next best thing. When you’re home, it learns the temperatures you prefer and the times you tend to adjust the settings, and creates an automatic schedule based on your habits. It also knows when you’ve left the area of your home and can adjust the temperature for an empty house — ideal for saving energy while on vacation. The Nest features a touchscreen, which makes it easy to use while you’re home, and works with both Alexa and Google Home, so you can easily make changes while you’re away, too.
Price at time of publish: $249
Best Light Sensors
Philips Hue Outdoor Sensor
A well-lit home is key to keeping things secure while you’re away. “If you want your home to appear occupied and lively while you’re away, I recommend installing timed outdoor lights and programming them to turn on at a certain hour each evening,” Shahidi says. “Intruders don’t want to approach a well-lit house that illuminates their malicious actions to neighbors and passersby.”
The Philips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor works with your existing fixtures, turning them into motion-activated lights. Lights can be set to turn on automatically when motion is detected, or can be controlled manually via an app. Since the sensor is not connected to a light source, you can place it wherever you’re most concerned about home vulnerabilities. The sensor does, however, require special Phillips Hue bulbs and a Hue Bridge in order to function properly, which makes the overall package a more significant investment.
Price at time of publish: $66
Best Security System
Ring Alarm Pro
A full home security system is a big investment, but one that is worthwhile if you travel often or are gone for long stretches during the day. Miller recommends a system that is within your budget, compatible with other smart devices, capable of video recording for real-time alerts, and with remote monitoring capabilities. Both of our experts strongly recommend choosing an option that offers professional monitoring. “Without it, the responsibility to monitor the security system and call the authorities rests solely on the homeowner,” Shahidi says. “Which, if you’re away on vacation, don’t have great Wi-Fi, or are in a different timezone, can be a pretty tall task and adds extra stress.”
The Ring Alarm Prois easy to set up and use, and offers both self-monitoring and professional monitoring. This system includes a wireless router, which means it can provide backup internet if the power — and therefore your wired connection — goes out. Access to professional monitoring, cloud recordings, and police and fire dispatch requires a subscription to Ring Protect Pro, which runs $20 per month or $200 per year.
Price at time of publish: $300
Best Safe
SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Safe with Digital Keypad
In a perfect world, your security setup will prevent break-ins and immediately alert you to disasters while you’re away. But if a burglary or natural disaster does hit your home, a safe can add an extra layer of protection for your most valuable items and documents. The heavy-duty SentrySafe Waterproof and Fireproof Digital Safe will protect your items in case of fire, flood, or break-ins. This model can withstand temperatures of up to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit and can protect your valuables against up to eight inches of water. Plus, it has two separate locks for extra security: a digital combination lock and a key lock. Heavy-duty does mean heavy in this case — the safe weighs 86 pounds when empty, so keep in mind that moving it around will likely be a multi-person job.
Price at time of publish: $287
Best Gate Lock
Igloohome Smart Padlock 2
It’s a smart move to limit access to your backyard while you’re away, but if you anticipate a housesitter, pet sitter, or gardener needing to open a gate while you’re gone, a smart padlock can make life easier. This Igloohome Smart Padlock can be controlled both by Bluetooth and Wi-Fi — crucial for when you’re out of town and, therefore, out of Bluetooth range. It works with an easy-to-use app and is Alexa- compatible for hands-free locking and unlocking. This version is durable for outdoor use and has a long-lasting battery, too.
Price at time of publish: $159
Best Smart Shades
Serena by Lutron Smart Roller Shades
Curtains and blinds that are closed up tight day and night can be a tipoff that nobody’s home, even if you have carefully timed lights, but travelers also won’t want to leave shades open full-time, exposing your interior. App-controlled smart shades can combat that problem, and as a bonus, they’re convenient for when you are home, too. Serena by Lutron Motorized Solar Roller Shades are incredibly customizable and easy to use, and are compatible with just about every smart home system. They come in over 200 different fabrics, two different top treatments, and a huge range of sizes, so you don’t have to sacrifice style for function. The shades offer an automation feature that allows you to set a schedule for opening and closing while you’re away, and while you’re home, you can set them to let morning sun stream in and block out afternoon glare. Their durability and customization does come with a high price point, but if you’re looking at a long-term investment, these are a great option.
Price at time of publish: $606 for 24 x 36 inch shade
Best Smart Locks
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
If you have a neighbor or pet sitter stopping by to check on your home while you’re gone, a smart lock is the easiest and most secure way to give them access. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is unobtrusive and works with your existing deadbolt. It has Wi-Fi built in so it doesn’t require any kind of bridge in order to use it, and since it works with more than just Bluetooth, it can be controlled while you’re out of town. When you do arrive home, the lock has a handy auto lock and unlock feature, which will unlock (or lock) the door as you approach and leave the house. It’s battery-operated, so keep in mind that you’ll have to keep the batteries refreshed to avoid getting locked out.
Price at time of publish: $200
Best Smart Plug
Kasa Smart WiFi Plug
The key to making it look like you’re home when you’re not is random activity as opposed to a tightly regimented schedule of lights and movement. Smart plugs allow you to plug in existing appliances (like lamps, TVs, and radios) and set them on timers or control them remotely. Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plugs are easy to use, and can either be set on a schedule, or turned to “away” mode, which can automatically turn lights off and on at random intervals to replicate normal behavior. They can also be programmed to turn on or off when a motion sensor is triggered, so your living room lamp can switch on when an outdoor sensor is tripped. The maximum load on these plugs is 1800 watts, which is plenty powerful for most lamps and electronic devices, but use caution and double check the wattage if you want to use it with kitchen appliances like coffee makers or electric kettles.
Price at time of publish: $50 for 4
Best Water Leak Sensor
Moen 920-004 Flo Smart Water Leak Detector 1-Pack
Even an inch of water can cause major damage to your home and the last thing you want to come home from a vacation to is a soggy disaster. A water leak sensor, like Moen’s Smart Leak Detector, can send alerts to your phone immediately if it detects a leak so you can address it quickly. This sensor can also detect changes in humidity or temperature, so even if it doesn’t sense standing water yet, it can catch leaks before they become a huge issue. It doesn’t require professional installation, and it’s small enough to be placed under appliances that use water or in hard-to-reach corners where leaks are likely to occur (like behind the toilet). If you want to be able to shut your water off remotely, you’ll have to invest in a much more heavy-duty option like the Moen Smart Water Monitor, but these small and affordable sensors will allow you to send a friend or neighbor over quickly to stop the flow before it gets worse.
Price at time of publish: $59
Best Smart Smoke Detector
Google Nest Protect Smoke & CO Alarm 2nd Generation
Before you leave for vacation, consider upgrading your smoke detector to a smart version that can be monitored remotely. The Google Nest Protect Smoke Alarm comes in both wired and battery-powered versions and also has a carbon monoxide sensor for even more protection. The Nest Protect immediately sends a phone notification if it detects smoke, fire, or carbon monoxide, and before it sounds a loud alarm, it gives a verbal warning — which is much less jarring if you are home to hear it. It also avoids random middle of the night beeping altogether as the battery loses power by performing nightly tests to make sure all batteries are working properly.
Price at time of publish: $119
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Mandy Harris is a contributing writer at Travel + Leisure, and has vetted hundreds of lifestyle and tech products over the past decade. For this story, she spoke to home security experts Travis Miller, VP of field sales for ADT Security and Hooman Shahidi, SVP of product for home security company SimpliSafe. She also analyzed manufacturer details, expert recommendations, and her own experience with smart home devices to determine the best advice and products to protect your home while you’re away.
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