Travel Safety Tips

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Nobody likes homework (especially for a vacation), but the first rule of travel safety: Don’t be ignorant. Get to know the destination. Your first resource should be the U.S. Department of State website. They have a page for every country. Here you will find what the entry requirements are and if there are any travel advisories, known safety threats to visitors, and health warnings. Just be aware that the information is designed to be overly cautious, so combine that with other information. You will often see a recommendation that you avoid a specific trouble area/region. This does not mean you need to avoid the entire country. 

Also try to learn about the country, cultural norms, popular foods, and the political situation. Read travel reviews and try to find out which neighborhoods are generally safe and which to avoid. Use a professional travel advisor to help find safe and reputable accommodations and book ahead of time. If you prefer to plan on your own, talk to locals, and read reviews from multiple sources.

As with any potential emergency situation at home, it’s essential everyone you are traveling with knows what to do in case of an emergency. Depending on the emergency, you (or someone you need to rely on) may be too stressed or panicked to think clearly or have the time to find the numbers or addresses. We are used to the convenience of dialing 911 for almost any emergency. If there is an emergency number, it may be different, and you must prepare for the possibility of not having a phone or not having service. A quick Google search will give you the emergency code (similar to 911) if there is one, but you should also have the following phone numbers…

• Police
• Fire Department
• Travel insurance 24-hour emergency line
• Ambulance service
• Travel Advisor
• Embassy or Consulate (if there is one)

You should also have the address of the police station and nearest hospital. If you purchased good travel insurance, you should have a 24-hour emergency line (and often a smartphone app) that can help you find help in most situations. It’s a good idea to have this on your phone and uploaded to the cloud, but even still, you should have this on a piece of paper that you carry with you. Consider having it laminated as well. This can be done at any office supply store or copy center. 

If you did not purchase good travel insurance, be sure to have a credit card on you that has at least a few thousand dollars available. In many countries, if you can’t show valid insurance, you will be required to pay in advance, or at least pay a substantial deposit before they will admit you for treatment.

Learn how to say “help me” in the local language. This can be used if you are lost or yelled if you are hurt or someone is bothering you. It is also helpful to know how to say, “where is the nearest; police, hospital, embassy?” It is not enough to write these down. You must memorize them, because you may not have time or the ability to get your notes. If you do not know or remember and are in an emergency, yelling anything in your own language will still get attention.

Don’t even think twice about it. Go ahead and purchase a good travel insurance policy. A good policy is not as expensive as it should be (considering what it covers). It’s actually pretty cheap for most people.

Even if you follow all of these tips, there is a chance you will have a travel mishap or emergency. Even with a minor hiccup, things get very expensive very quickly. This should not prevent you from traveling. Things happen at home too, which is why we have insurance at home. You don’t drive without auto insurance… don’t travel without travel insurance. If you need travel insurance and don’t have it, you can’t go back and make that decision over again. No matter how careful you are, stuff happens. 

The U.S. Department of State recommends a policy that covers trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical, and at least $100K in emergency transportation/evacuation coverage. We recommend you make certain your cancellation/interruption reimbursements are in cash rather than future travel credits. Most people don’t check this detail. It is also important to know if your medical coverage is primary or secondary insurance. Primary insurance can help you DURING an emergency. Almost every travel insurance policy will also cover lost/stolen/delayed baggage and travel delays. Remember that you will be a foreigner, and you need to ensure you have yourself protected. Not to mention, most travel is a significant investment that you don’t want to gamble with.

 Anywhere you travel in the world, there will be people wanting to scam you out of your money or valuables. In most cases, these are just people trying to scam you out of a few dollars. Most people think they are too smart to be scammed, but some people make this their career and spend their entire lives perfecting the craft. Whether it’s a few dollars, a few hundred dollars or even a few thousand dollars… knowledge is power. Do a quick google search for “common scams in [enter country]” and get an idea of what to look out for. Don’t let the results scare you or prevent you from trusting and interacting with locals. Simply use it as knowledge and maybe you can avoid the scammers or put yourself in a position of control, so you are not an easy target. 

You want all your documents and itinerary to be easily accessible, so email them to yourself or upload them to the cloud. This can be almost as important as purchasing travel insurance. Taking precautions, being alert, and simple odds will mean you are probably not going to be robbed or lose your stuff. However, you should plan for it. Getting home depends on items you have in your possession. If they are no longer in your possession, you may be stuck in another country with no resources to remedy your situation. Make legible copies or scans of the following items.

• Passport photo page
• Government-issued photo ID
• Travel Insurance policy (carry the declaration of coverage page)
• Itinerary
• Boarding documents
• Visas (if you needed them to travel)
• Vaccination record

A copy should be left with a trusted family member or friend who you can contact in a crisis. You should keep a copy in your room safe or locked suitcase in your room. It’s also a good idea to carry a copy on you (separate from the originals). You should also email a copy to yourself or upload a copy to the cloud that you can access remotely. 

If your documents are lost or stolen, you do not want to be stuck in a foreign country. There is no way around the hassle, and it may cause some expenses. However, if you have copies, you can still prove who you are and know the details of your travel. A copy of your passport can expedite getting a replacement, and in some cases, you may be able to get home with a copy (after additional security screening and versification). Secure and keep track of copies as if they were the originals, as you don’t want the information in the wrong hands.

You will need access to your credit card info if they are lost or stolen but having copies around can be risky. You need the credit card companies’ phone numbers and your card numbers.  You may also need to book a last-minute flight, and you can do this online if you have your information (including expiration and security code). Even just deactivating a lost or stolen card is difficult if you don’t know your card number. Losing a copy could be just as dangerous as losing the cards, so we recommend breaking up the card number into at least two sections when copying them. This way no document has your full card number. Embed them into phone numbers, addresses, statistics, prices and/or check-in dates. Just remember the system you use. Example: Credit card number 4123 4567 8901 2345 Exp. 02/27 CVV 987 could be…

Claudia Santiago

4123 Cottage St.

Chandler, OH 04567

Office: 232-617-8901

Mobile: 232-572-2345

Membership: 02/14/28

Monthly fee: $9.87

 Whether you are going on a weekend trip or a 3-month world cruise, share your plans with your friends and family at home. Before you leave, email them your full itinerary and verify they received it. They should know your flights, the countries and cities you are visiting, your accommodations or ship name, when you are leaving, what dates you will be in each destination, and when you are coming back. Your travel companions and emergency contact person should have each other’s contact information as well. You should check in with them regularly during your travels and have a way for them to contact you other than cell phone. It is unlikely they will ever need any of this information, but if something happens, or you don’t arrive home, you will be glad someone has this information. This is invaluable if something goes wrong and they need to alert authorities, the embassy, etc. If you are traveling without a solid plan, check in regularly with your current location and any details you have. Let them know if you anticipate any lack of communication. Even if this is just email or social media. 

Even if everything is going great and you encounter only amazing people and experiences, your vacation can be ruined if your bank’s computer thinks that random charge in Costa Rica is fraudulent activity. Your cards may be blocked, and you lose the ability to make legitimate purchases. In many cases, you would be notified that your account is locked due to irregular activity. A few security questions and you are good to go. If you have limited access to phone and internet, this could take days to correct. To prevent this from happening, simply notify your bank and credit card companies that you will be traveling on your specified dates. Also notify them if your plans change. If your bank doesn’t have a system for future travel notification, it’s a god idea to use your ATM card at the airport before you board your first flight and again at your destination airport. This will show them you are traveling.

We all like to share our adventures with friends and family (and make them jealous) but doing this online in real-time can alert people that you will be away from home for an extended period. Posting your itinerary prior to your travel can also put you at risk while traveling. Not everyone has good intentions, and you don’t know who is watching. Once you post something, anyone can see it. If you want to post in real-time, stick to posting in closed groups and private messages. While traveling, make sure geotagging is disabled, and don’t check in at business on social media.

This precaution should extend to people you meet in your travels. It’s not safe to share many details about your travel plans or your accommodations. If someone asks (even if they seem cool and trustworthy – even shopkeepers and street vendors), if you feel rude not answering, it is best to be vague. You can give them a general area or part of town rather than the hotel name. This is not information anyone needs to know. When it comes to your safety, a little fib is acceptable. You can name another hotel in the area. Allow yourself the same freedom for white lies when people ask if this is your first time in their city/country. When they know you are in unfamiliar territory, you may seem like an easier target. If you do not trust them yet or you feel vulnerable, consider saying this isn’t your first visit, or that you have family that live nearby.

If you’re wearing a tin-foil hat and don’t want big brother watching you - too late. If you have a driver’s license or a passport, big brother is on to you, dude. Whenever you board a plane or ship, cross a border and when you check in to most foreign hotels, your passport’s RFID will be scanned. The government can find out where you’ve been and where you’re going. This takes time though. If there is a terrorist attack, a natural disaster, or the threat of political unrest; you don’t want wasted time if you need to be evacuated. It is also helpful to be updated with safety information. By registering with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), your destination’s embassy will be notified of your arrival and where to find you in an emergency. This is a free service for all U.S. citizens. This provides you with reliable safety information and an extra layer of security while traveling abroad.

It can be tempting to cut corners on many details of your trip, but this may not be the safest way to manage travel safety. The cheapest flights, accommodations, activities, and bags (and skipping travel insurance) can open you up to avoidable risks. 

With travel, you typically get what you pay for. 

Budget flights often have you arriving in the middle of the night, which is not the safest time to be dropped in a foreign destination. Even your taxi driver can be a safety concern in the middle of the night.

Budget accommodations are often in undesirable locations or the properties save money by having limited maintenance and security. Working locks are something you take for granted until your hotel or hostel doesn’t have them. You’d like to think that drugs aren’t being dealt out of the next room, but what additional risks are you exposed to when they are? 

Even when you’re booking a nice, reputable hotel, you may see an online booking site has it for $10 less. In almost all cases, everyone charges the same price for the same travel product. If you are getting a lower price, there is usually a reason.  Most often, it’s the contract negotiated for that rate. Think of it like seats on an airplane. You can often book the same seat as either economy or as basic economy (basic means you are agreeing to be screwed if there are any travel hiccups). Same seat, but two different travel products. Most hotels have a similar method of selling rooms.

Be frugal, be smart with your money, but don’t be cheap.

This goes with the bags you choose as well. Spend a little more for a quality bag that won’t fall apart. Spend a few extra dollars on some extra security features as well (locks, luggage straps, security cables, etc.). Even a good suitcase with locked zippers can be opened with a simple Bic pen, and closed back up without you even knowing. 

Most thieves are looking for the fastest, easiest target. Your job is to make it harder. If you are flying, TSA must have the ability to enter your bags. When flying, get TSA locks for your checked bags during flights and another set for in destination. TSA locks have a universal key that TSA agents have. This is not a secure lock, but it may deter baggage handlers from easily rummaging through your bags. The security straps will prevent your bag from being opened, even if someone gets through the zipper.

If you are touring or will be carrying a bag around populated tourist areas, get yourself a quality backpack. There are bags lined with metal mesh to prevent someone from cutting it open, and locks on the zippers. A safe bag to keep your valuables is a worthwhile investment. Many bags with anti-theft features will come with a cable to attach it to something stable, such as a chair or radiator - if not, get a cable. A bike cable-lock can work well, but they are generally bulky. PacSafe  makes some great anti-theft backpacks (we are not compensated for recommending them – we just like them).

Sadly, tourist areas are a playground for grifters, scammers and thieves. Petty theft is extremely common. Even if you are traveling to a generally wealthy country, there will be people less fortunate and people with bad intentions. There are also people who don’t go out with the intention to rob someone, but temptation may be more than they can handle. Even generally good people can do a bad thing. You don’t want to be a target or a temptation.

No matter your level of wealth, you are wealthy in the eyes of someone with less. If you flash wealth (whether real or fake), you may become a target. Not just to thieves, scammers and pickpockets… but even merchants and taxi drivers may feel more inclined to take advantage of you – or worse - set you up for a robbery. The best rule of thumb – if you don’t need it, don’t bring it. If you bring it, don’t flash it. Jewelry, cash, cameras, electronics, and passport (the most valuable thing you have to some people) can draw unwanted attention. A sign of wealth in a poor country could also set you apart as “different” and change the outcome of interactions with locals. This may not be a safety issue but could lessen the quality of your trip.

If you don’t need it for work, your laptop should stay at home. If you have anything that you can’t afford to lose, break or have stolen - it should also stay home. Even wedding rings might be best left at home if you are going to an impoverished region.

You want to do everything to minimize your risk of being robbed, but it’s just as smart to prepare yourself in case it happens. Being prepared can take away a lot of the anxiety of being in an unfamiliar place. Chances are it won’t happen, but you should have a plan.

Cash and credit cards are necessary to travel but have a system to prevent anyone from seeing or accessing your money. Also have a system to prepare for being robbed.

First, setting up a dummy wallet is a good idea. Add any expired credits cards or used up prepaid gift cards, some random business cards and receipts. Make it an actual win for a thief by keeping a small amount of cash ($20-30 in small bills). This wallet should be easily accessible, but not where it can be a target for pickpockets. If you end up getting robbed, you can reluctantly hand over this wallet and not be out too much. You can keep this in your travel bag and use it trip after trip. It is also a good idea to carry an old dummy phone for the same reason.

Only carry what you need, use credit cards whenever possible, and have three categories of cash. 

1.    Have a small amount of cash (small bills are best) and your primary credit card in an easily accessible place, such as your front pocket. When you pull out money for a vendor or a tip, you only want anyone seeing a small sum.
2.    Have the bulk of your cash and cards somewhere concealed, such as a money belt or a zipped inside pocket of an anti-theft day bag. When you run out of your small sum of money, you can go somewhere safe and private to move more over. Generally, any safe place to keep your money is not convenient to access, even for you… so be sure you keep your accessible cash replenished.
3.    Lastly, have a couple of secret hiding spots for emergency cash in case you get robbed (or spend carelessly), such as a pocket sewn or iron-on taped in your clothes, in a hidden pocked of a neck scarf, in the handle of a hair brush, inside an empty chapstick container, under the interior lining of your shoes, or between photos in a photo album. Try to set things up so that you can dump your bag for a thief and most of your money will be secure. Your emergency money will be in a useless item that will be left behind if your bag is taken, and your dummy wallet will fall right out in plain sight. The goal is to make a thief quickly identify your dummy wallet as the real value.

It is also a good idea to stash some emergency cash back home. If everything fails and you are left with nothing, you can call a trusted friend or family member and let them know where to find your stash. They can transfer that to you with Moneygram or Western Union in most countries.

Accidents, injury, and illness can happen anywhere. It’s a good idea to be prepared for the minor ones when you are traveling. This can not only prevent something minor from turning into something more serious, but in remote regions, cruise ships, and resorts – access to basic remedies may be limited or very expensive. A commercially available first aid kit for travel will have much of what you need, but they can get bulky. When in doubt, it’s a good idea. However, they often have many items you wouldn’t need for travel and lack some things that are helpful to carry for travel. Making your own is a good idea.

First aid, basic remedies and prevention items you may want to pack…

• Hand Sanitizer
• Probiotics
• Bandage strips (Band-aids)
• Gauze
• Surgical tape
• Antiseptic wipes
• Blood-Stop powder
• Antibacterial ointment (Neosprin)
• Antihistamine cream and/or tablets (Benadryl)
• Pain reliever (aspirin/ibuprofen)
• Antacid (Tums/Prilosec)
• Loperamide tablets (Imodium)
• Cold/Flu capsules (Dayquil)
• Tweezers
• Small scissors
• Sunscreen
• Space blanket

The point of first-aid treatment is to deal with common, minor, and temporary ailments or help until you can get proper medical treatment. Please note that over-the-counter medication should always be kept in the original packaging for easy identification and to help prevent issues passing through security. If you have never taken any of these medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure it is safe with your specific medical history.

You do not need to be a master of martial arts; you simply need to know how to get yourself out of harm’s way. Basic self-defense classes are not expensive, and many community centers and non-profit organizations offer them for free. You can go a step further and learn a real-world self-defense system like Kav Maga.

The best way to stop a physical threat is to get as far away as possible. If you can’t avoid a physical confrontation, you should know some basic defense moves to stop a threat long enough to get away. If someone with a weapon asks for your wallet or phone, toss it to them and run. Your life is not as important as your possessions. Again, a dummy wallet and a dummy phone are good to have.

Carrying weapons will make travel very difficult or impossible. You certainly can’t fly with a traditional weapon on your person, and cruise lines do not allow traditional weapons either. Even rail or motor coach travel can be a problem. If you absolutely need to have that added sense of security, purchase a tactical pen. These will not usually cause a problem with TSA or customs.

All safety tips discussed in this guide are important for both women and men. It’s great that this section gets smaller and smaller over time, but there are still a few things that are more common to either men or women. Men still have more ego-related concerns, and women still have a much higher risk of sexual assault and being seen as an easier target for other crimes. Traveling abroad does not necessarily increase any of these threats, since they are prevalent here in the states. What is often different: our lack of familiarity with the neighborhoods and not having the same resources to deal with a bad situation. In addition, many people on vacation tend to let their guard down and/or do things they might not do at home.

I do not want to discourage anyone from traveling alone, but this is much safer on a cruise or using tour guides. It is much safer and smarter not to go out on your own when in unfamiliar territory. Even when staying on a resort property, it is always better to maintain a buddy system. This is particularly important at night. Women should use a buddy system whenever possible.

Women might prefer going to bars, nightclubs, or street fairs in a group. Instances of sexual assault are much higher initiating at (or outside) nighttime hangouts. Don’t give out any personal information or the location where you are staying. If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, it is best to get away. Even when grabbing a taxi to go back to your ship or hotel, the buddy system is advised. Late night taxi drivers can be aggressive or try to intimidate you. 

Men should try to leave their egos at home. When you are in unfamiliar territory, the last thing you need Is a physical altercation. Let things go, even if it is difficult for your pride. You have more to risk than usual. Medical care may not be readily available. If it is, you may be paying a lot more than usual (and paying in cash). If your documents are lost or stolen in a scuffle, you may have no way to get home. Someone bumping into you or making a comment might be intentional - trying to initiate a fight. There could be several people out of site with weapons. Something Americans often have a hard time understanding - the police may not be on your side and may very well be in on whatever is happening. Remember that you are a foreigner, so you may not have many rights. Also, remember that police/government may be corrupt in ways you aren’t used to navigating.  

Men… don’t think that you become sexier just because you are traveling. If a beautiful, local woman approaches you, there is a very good chance you are about to be scammed or robbed. If you think you are too smart, too strong, or too sexy… you are wrong. There are often several people involved in scams like this. They can be instant or go on for multiple days to get your guard down. Ask yourself why a beautiful, local woman picked you out of a city full of men. If you haven’t been listed as one of the top sexiest men alive, the answer is probably this… you’re about to be scammed or robbed. 

Your Hotel Room. 

Take all available steps to make your hotel room safe. Make sure your door is locked and use the additional U-latch, chain lock and/or deadbolt. Also make sure your windows are closed and locked. Hotel locks are usually not great security, so consider getting a portable Door Jammer that you can set up under the door. Even a rubber doorstop can help stop or slow down an unwanted entry.

Don’t open your door for strangers. Even if they identify themselves as an employee of the hotel. If you didn’t expect someone to come to your room, call down to the front desk and verify BEFORE opening the door.

Try to make it appear you are in the room, even when you are away. Put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door when you are going out and keep your blinds/curtains closed.

Use the room safe if one is available and/or use lockable straps on your bags – even when you are in the room.

Using a Public Restroom. 

Keep your phone, passport, cash, and credit cards on your person. If your bags are nabbed, you do not want to be stuck in place. If the bathroom door locks, lock the door before using. Even if you don’t need a stall, use one. Bring your bags into the stall with you and stay tethered to your bag. Be sure any zippered pockets are not facing outside the stall. If your bag has straps, or if you have a cable lock, attach all bags together and consider wrapping around one of your legs. Bags being snatched or pilfered from under the stall door (or over the door if hanging on a hook) is very common. Thieves are looking for quick and easy grabs. Your job is to make it more difficult or at least slow them down.

The first rule is not to bring anything you don’t need. Some of us need to travel with more electronics than others and some travelers don’t plan/pay ahead and need more cash on hand. The less valuables you bring, the fewer things you need to carry, monitor, worry about, and risk losing.

These days, almost everyone will be carrying some electronics (phone, camera, tablet, etc.) in addition to cash, credit cards and possibly the most valuable thing – your passport. If you require prescription medication, treat these as you would cash. Being without them could be dangerous and you may not be able to get medications replaced abroad. These things should be kept together in the same bag (if possible). This bag should have some level of security, straps or a cable and preferably with secret or zippered inside pockets. Again, an anti-theft backpack is a great idea for this. If it will prevent you from having all valuables in one small bag - keep toiletries, clothes and bulky (non-valuable) items in a separate bag. 

Your small bag with valuables should always stay on your body. In busy areas, you should always keep it in front of you. If you put the bag down for any reason (resting, eating on transportation), it should be tethered to you or something immovable, such as furniture. If you can keep a constant eye on your bag, it doesn’t always need to be locked with a cable, if it is attached to something to deter or slow down a thief. A strap around your leg or a carabiner attached to a chair or table leg can prevent a snatch and grab. In almost all cases, they are looking for a quick and easy target. Make your cables or straps noticeable. Deterring a thief is usually far more effective than stopping one who has made a decision.

Carry your valuables bag on airplanes rather than putting it in checked luggage. Don’t even put it in an overhead bin. Don’t put it in the trunk of a taxi and don’t put it under a bus. Keep it with you and stow away your larger bags. If there is a chance you may fall asleep, attach it to your seat or your body with a cable lock. If staying at a hostel, bring your own locker padlock.

When there is nothing to lock your bag to and you must leave it unattended, lock it to your travel companions’ bags. This will make running off with the bags more difficult.

There are a couple of things you will see in these tips repeatedly. One is that most theft is because someone sees a quick and easy opportunity. The other thing is that you should stay tethered to your bag. Your job is to make it more difficult (or at least appear more difficult).

We talked about carrying as few valuables as possible, but you should also avoid carrying too many bags. It is hard to monitor multiple bags, and nearly impossible to keep them all tethered to you. Not being easily mobile can slow you down, make you clumsy, and make you more of a target. 

Be especially careful walking on or next to streets and bike paths, where people can ride by on a bike or car and snatch something out of your hand. This has always been a popular way to steal handbags but is now the most common way for people to steal phones. When texting, scrolling, or taking pictures, someone can easily zip by on a bike and grab that phone out of your hand. If you use your phone to take pictures, consider getting a case with a wrist or neck lanyard.

Carry your purse or shoulder bag across your chest rather than just over a shoulder where it is very easy to be pulled off (or even fall off). 

Again, wear any bags or backpacks in front of you in crowded or busy areas. Trains, buses, markets, tourist attractions, and waiting in lines are prime locations for pickpockets. You may look silly, but this is better than losing something important. In many countries, this is a serious art form and you may not even notice you’ve been robbed until much later.

Your back pocket should also be treated as if it doesn’t exist. If you are used to carrying your wallet in your back pocket, you should stop now. Not only Is this a prime target for pickpockets and items sliding out when you are seated, but it is very bad for your spine when you sit on something in your pocket. If you can’t break the habit of using your back pocket, sew the darn thing shut. 

It is not only essential that you have situational awareness but make it obvious to people around that you are aware. Keep your head up, walk with a purpose, keep an eye on your belongings, and look alert. Don’t look nervous or scared (even if you might be). If you look alert and confident, most thieves and attackers will move on to what seems like an easier target. Eye contact is also important. Quick eye contact lets other people know you are aware of their presence and what they are doing. Just avoid staring. Prolonged eye contact can be interpreted as a threat to some people. It can also seem like an invitation to beggars and mentally unstable people. Body language is an important deterrent, and most opportunistic crimes happen to those who were obviously not aware of what was going on around them.

Don’t get so caught up taking pictures that you don’t see the big picture. Many people are far more concerned about sharing their journey on social media than experiencing their journey. This trend is making it very easy for snatch and grab crimes. There are so many reasons to recommend that you experience your moments instead of stepping outside of them in order to share them with the public, but let this be your safety reason… if you aren’t present in the moment, you are an easy target.

Having a drink or two may be one of the ways you relax. Having a drink or two on vacation… even better! Many places are famous for their beer or wine, and if you like beer or wine, it’s recommended that you try the local flavors. If you are visiting a tropical destination, it’s almost required that you enjoy a cocktail on the beach. Just be careful drinking or doing drugs while traveling. When you don’t know your surroundings, it is important to stay in control. As mentioned in the previous tip, it is important to be alert and aware. This becomes very difficult if you have had one (or 5) too many. This is exactly what many criminals are waiting for.

Common sense and good judgement are far more attainable BEFORE you start consuming alcohol. Make sure you have a before indulging. Know how you will be getting back to your hotel or ship. Most hotels will have a business card at the front desk. Keep one in your pocket. Enter the information into your phone but memorize the name of the hotel/ship in case your phone is not available. 

Remember to eat and stay well hydrated. If you are in a hot or sunny climate, or at high altitudes, alcohol can hit you harder and affect you very differently. In any unfamiliar area, be extra careful about how much and how quickly you are consuming alcohol. 

Keep an eye on your drinks and only handle them yourself. Only accept drinks from a bartender or server.

Drugs can put you at even more risk. Your level of impairment may be hard to estimate ahead of time. You’re often dealing with types of people who may not be very trustworthy. Some people just want you to have a good time, but others may have other motives (and they know you are about to be impaired). In addition to the obvious risks, you can also open yourself up to confrontations with the police. You DO NOT want to be arrested in another country. In many countries, you may be jailed for very long periods of time for seemingly minor offenses. As previously mentioned, interactions with police may not be what you’re used to and may not be fair (or legal). There are many instances where the police and drug dealers are working together. You buy something from someone, they alert the police, the police threaten to take you to jail if you can’t pay the fine (bribe) on the spot, and the drugs are returned to the dealer so they can repeat the same process over and over. If you are going to have a run in with the police over drugs as a foreigner, this scam is actually your best-case scenario. Worst-case… you spend a couple years in an inmate-run prison. The U.S. government can NOT get you out of prison in another country. They also can’t provide legal advice or pay legal or medical fees.

As recommended in tip #1, research your destination. Get to know some key points of the culture differences. This includes the way people dress and behaviors or words that may be considered bad manners. The more you research, the more you can walk around like a local. Try to blend in with the locals as much as you can. Not only can this help reduce many general safety risks, but you can offend or disrespect the locals with certain clothes or behaviors that might be normal in your hometown.

If you stand out in a crowd or look like you’re from out of town. you may become a target for scammers and con artists. If you are walking around with the huge backpack, a map out, a camera around your neck and a confused look on your face… you will be very attractive to someone looking to take advantage of a tourist. 

In some countries, certain clothing or lack of clothing may be illegal. This can vary based on your gender. Even when legal, certain styles of dress or not adhering to cultures may be offensive and cause you unnecessary hostility from locals. Not observing another country’s traditions or customs is not only arrogant and disrespectful but can be dangerous.

In several countries it is illegal to wear camouflage. You may be planning to enter a country where it is illegal for women to show their face, or a country where it is illegal to cover your face. There are many places where bathing suits away from a beach are illegal. Even men may be fined for not wearing a shirt in several cities or countries. Many people only consider dress in Islamic countries, but several cities in Europe will fine a man for being bare chested away from a beach. Jamaica and Barbados are two of the countries you can be arrested for wearing camouflage. 

Wandering around confused or standing on the street looking at a map will alert scammers, pickpockets, and even shady vendors that you might be an easy target. Being distracted or lost in a busy, public area is what professional thieves and scammers are looking for. 

Between each tourist area, it is important to get familiar with the area before arriving. Study a map and try to memorize a few landmarks or business you can find easily (shops, cafes, monuments). It is also a good idea to download a map to your phone that you can access without Wi-Fi or data. Try to have an overview of where you want to go, and how to get there ahead of time. 

If you need to look at a map while in a tourist area, using your phone may be less obvious, but phones are a high target item for theft. If you are in a high-theft area, a safer place to break out a paper map or study one on your phone is in a café or shop. This is also a safer place to ask for directions. If you still have a bad feeling, consider going into a bathroom stall to study your map.

If you have lost your bearings and feel lost or out of place, continue to walk with purpose, keep your head up and look confident. This will keep most people from bothering you. Pretend you know where you’re going and duck into the nearest shop or café and check your location.

Having your itinerary crumble due to transportation problems can be just as dangerous as traveling without a plan. Book your tickets in advance whenever possible. This includes all modes of transportation. Not only does this decrease your odds of being stranded somewhere remote, but it reduces the number of financial transactions you need to make while traveling. It can also reduce the amount of cash you need to carry. 

You can reduce many scheduling problems by continuously monitoring for schedule changes, cancellations, and gate/terminal changes. The sooner you find out, the sooner you can figure out your next step. Using trusted airlines and bus companies can reduce the risk of delays and cancellations, and also make it easier to get back on track if an issue arises. Budget airlines and bus lines have less options and provide limited or no service if there is a delay or cancellation. 

Taxi drivers are sometimes the first to scam you when you are traveling. If you know you will be using taxis in advance, try to get a rough idea of the cost from point A to B before you hail a taxi. It’s also a good idea to know the general route and to have a map with you, just in case. Do not get into unmarked, unlicensed taxis. Check for a meter and ask if it is working. If they are not using a meter, agree on the fare before you get in. Before you get in the taxi, take note of the taxi number, and memorize it. If you have trouble memorizing things in a pinch, take a picture of the driver’s ID when you get into the car. If you feel uncomfortable, send this to a trusted friend or family member. Knowing the company and taxi number is also very handy if you leave something behind in the car and want to get it back.

Ride shares such as Uber and Lyft are becoming more popular and showing up in many other countries. If you order a ride share, check the license plate number, the driver’s photo and ask them who they are there to pick up. If they are there to pick you up, they know your name. Do not offer your name first. Ride share drivers will understand your extra step for safety. Although rare, there have been several instances where fake drivers have been waiting at transportation hubs or outside nightclubs and have been successful at taking someone. The drivers know this, and it makes them all look bad. They should be happy you are being cautious.

The most common place travelers have their belongings stolen is on transport. Refer back to tips 17 and 18… do not stow away your valuables. Keep your valuables on you, keep them secure and keep them tethered to you. Also take some time to do a little research about what to expect on each end of your transport.

Travel in numbers whenever possible. Groups are more intimidating, but you also provide extra eyes on your belongings and on one another’s backs. In so many ways, this can keep you safer when traveling.

Renting a car can give you a lot of freedom, but it opens you up to more accidents, more potential laws being violated that you were unaware of, and more excuses to have run-ins with crooked police officers. If having your own car isn’t necessary, try to avoid it. If you do, try to choose a reputable company with a U.S. office. Be sure to get good insurance, drive extra carefully, always park in safe areas, and keep the car locked and secure. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.

Use all safety equipment available. If there is a seatbelt – wear it. If you are riding a bike (motor or non) wear a helmet. Do not operate anything if you are not sober. Try to always remember that you do not know the police, the area, the hospitals, or the ins and outs of the system.

Do your best to plan out your cash for the day. As mentioned in tip #12, carry as little as possible, keep a small amount of cash easily accessible, and keep the bulk or your cash and emergency cash hidden away and secured. 

If you are primarily relying on cash, you may need to have cash exchanged in destination. Even if you exchange at your local bank prior to travel, you may need more. We sometimes spend more than expected, and having money lost or stolen is always a possibility. For this reason, know a few places that exchange currency in the areas you’ll be traveling.

One way to keep your cash to a minimum is to use cash machines. These are available in most of the world and they dispense the local currency. However, they can be few and far between in some countries. Do some research on the availability of ATMs before your trip. Also check to make sure American bank cards and credit cards are accepted. There are very few countries where this would be an issue, but enough that you should check before your departure. As mentioned earlier, also make sure your banks are made aware of your travel plans. 

When using an ATM, try to stick with machines attached to banks. If indoor machines are available, this is the safest bet. ATMs at a bank are less likely to be tampered with. Pull on the card reader to make sure nothing looks tampered with. If you have any doubt, go to another machine. Use cash machines in safe neighborhoods in the daylight hours. You may be a bit relaxed about ATM security at home, but don’t be relaxed when traveling. Cover your pin and be sure nobody is hovering around you. Stay focused on the machine until your transaction is complete and you have removed your cash and card. There are countless scams to distract you from your money or your card at ATMs, and some of them are very good at it. Even investigators watching video playback of a known theft often have trouble identifying when a card was actually taken. Do not let anyone “assist” you with your transaction, do not engage in conversation. If someone points out money that you dropped as you are making your transaction, ignore it. Also, if someone tells you the machine is broken or is eating cards AFTER you have inserted your card and PIN, ignore them. Keep your focus on the machine until your transaction is complete.

A wonderful part of traveling is meeting new people, learning new cultures and experiencing new things. Meeting like-minded travelers is a great way to enhance your trip and can also result in some amazing friendships for years to come. If you are traveling solo, socializing is a great way to meet new friends to explore with. The best way to learn which neighborhoods are safe, where to get the best local cuisine, and where the local hotspot might be… talk to locals. 

The obvious risk - these are strangers and you are in unfamiliar territory. Use good judgement and don’t trust people too quickly. If someone is making you uncomfortable or acting suspiciously, get away and keep moving. Don’t trust someone you jest met with valuable or important things.

Most locals will be friendly and helpful. When asking advice about places that are safe (or unsafe), it is a good idea to get a second opinion. Most of the time you are getting good advice, but some people will answer questions they don’t truly know the answer to, and some may lead you in the exact wrong direction, because they have malicious intentions. These days, you can often find a way to get advice from locals online ahead of your trip. The odds of getting malicious or dangerous advice online are much lower, since it is vague discussion about future travel, rather than leading you down a street in 10 minutes where they can alert someone you are in route. 

Taxi drivers can be a wealth of information, but some may be the first to scam you out of money or put you in harm’s way for a more elaborate scam. As with many of your interactions with strangers, you must trust your gut and seek a second opinion when possible. 

At hotels; the front desk staff, concierge, and bell hops are usually great resources. On a cruise ship; the crew will often know what is available around the ports, as they generally do the same itineraries for long periods of time and get very familiar with the ports. In both cases, these folks typically have a vested interest in making sure their guests are safe. A cash tip for good advice and recommendations never hurts either. Sometimes most effective if you tip AFTER you return from using their advice or recommendation. You can also ask these people how much taxi fare should be and if there are areas of the city to avoid.

This is possibly the most important factor in safety, but one that is often ignored. Your instincts. Listen to your body and trust your gut. You can get into some trouble by not knowing something or not preparing for something, but nothing can get you into more trouble than ignoring your instincts. Experience can fine tune your instincts, but your body will often communicate with you even when you are during an experience that you could never have prepared for. 

Your body may sense danger that your mind is not aware of. You may feel the hair stand up on the back of your neck, an adrenaline rush, butterflies in your stomach or simply get an uneasy feeling. It’s easy to dismiss these feelings as “silly” or “irrational”. Instead, pay closer attention to your situation and examine these feelings. Trust your gut and intuition. These senses have helped keep humans alive for millions of years. 

Know your limits. It is an odd connection for our brains to make, but many people get inspired to face their fears and take unusual risks while traveling. While you are in a foreign country - where the consequence of injury, illness, or theft is higher, and safety standards may be lower – taking more risks to your physical safety than you would at home is the opposite of a good idea. In addition to being a bad idea, most travel insurance will not cover an accident that happens while you are engaged in high-risk activities.

It can be empowering, enlightening, and fun to go outside of your comfort zone. Traveling to foreign countries is enough to satisfy that for many people. When it comes to risk and physical danger, consider exploring that path to enlightenment in familiar territory. If your travel companions are doing something that makes you feel uneasy, listen to those instincts. You may get called a wimp, but your friends and family back home will still be able to welcome you home in one piece – and without having to mortgage their home to pay for your medical care in a foreign hospital that won’t treat you without upfront payment, or won’t remove your handcuffs until you pay your bill. Think I’m kidding?  

On the topic of health – know yours and keep track of it while traveling. Do you have any health conditions that could present themselves while traveling? Discuss them with your doctor and know how to respond. Share this information with your travel companions and emergency contact person. If you take prescription medication, have a supply to last you a week longer than you intend to travel and take them on your normal schedule. Do you get motion sickness? Carry over-the-counter meds to remedy mild cases or talk to your doctor for prescription remedies. Get the recommended vaccines for your destinations (if applicable). Lastly, get good travel insurance! Preferably with PRIMARY medical insurance.

Password protect all devices and install tracking tools. Turn on your GPS, as tracking tools will need this to help you locate a missing device. 

Avoid using public Wi-Fi if possible. Your phone and computer store sensitive information, such as contacts, access to email, bank accounts, credit card information, social media accounts, and personal information. If you must use public Wi-Fi (because sometimes it just makes economic sense), be sure your devices are set for public access to minimize the ability for hackers to gain access to your information. Better yet, set up a virtual private network (VPN) to securely access the internet while traveling.

One of the best way to experience other cultures is experiencing new foods from around the world, prepared by the people in that region of the world. Hygiene, safety standards, and certain bacteria in the food or water may be very different than what we are used to. Stomach ailments plague millions of travelers for a short period during or just after a trip abroad.  What will give us the symptoms of food poisoning is usually harmless bacteria in the water (and sometimes food) that our guts are simply not prepared for. In most cases where simple travel diarrhea is an issue, the locals can drink the water daily without issue, but we may spend 2-5 days in the bathroom with uncontrollable diarrhea after a single glass. This is commonly referred to as “Montezuma’s Revenge”. Outside of any modern city, you should assume the water isn’t safe. Even in modern cities, do a little research to see if Americans tend to have issues. A few things many travelers forget, even if they remember not to drink the water; ice cubes, brushing teeth and showering with your mouth open. 

Don’t be scared of eating new and different foods when you travel. In fact, we recommend you try everything you can. From fine dining to street vendors. Food is a great way to solidify memories in your brain. Our senses help our brains store and recall information.

You can give your gut a better chance of surviving some of the nuisance bacteria that cause Americans such distress by taking a regimen of probiotics. Most experts suggest starting a week prior to travel and continue until a week after you return home. Probiotics can be found in any health food or supplement store. This will build up a defense of friendly bacteria, which can help expel other bacteria (such as the bacteria causing Montezuma’s Revenge).

Here are a few tips to help reduce some risks for the more serious food-related problems:

• If you have any food allergies, print out translations that you can show to severs when ordering
• Purchase a water bottle with a good filter (or use bottled water with intact seal)
• Wash your hands with soap before you eat
• Order your food fully cooked (well done)
• If ordering street food, choose dishes that are piping hot
• Avoid seafood (higher chance of contamination)
• Eat at popular restaurants that are busy
• Try to watch how your food is prepared
• Be cautious with raw fruits and vegetables
• From markets and vendors, only eat fruit you can peel
• Check the CDC’s travel advice for your destination