Look were not super secret spies, moving down dark alleys in eastern bloc countries trying to thwart the KGB or Stasi.

If your not comfortable leaving your own house to go into the back country without leaving some sort of notice, why should your guard be less when in your in unfamiliar location, state or country.

Being on vacation from life is not the time to drop the preparedness you practice in your everyday life.

I don't tell the front desk I am going to the shopping district and then having dinner with friends, but I do tell them that I am going on a 2.5 mile out and back trail run starting out heading east and if I don't call or check in in 90 minutes Im lost.