Top 10 Safety Tips for Travelers

1. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport (and visas, if required). Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport!

2. Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit.

3. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, the U.S. Constitution does not follow you! While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.

4. Make 2 copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.

5. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

6. Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.

7. If you plan to stay abroad for more than two weeks, upon arrival you should notify by phone or register in person with the U.S. embassy in the country you are visiting. This will facilitate communication in case someone contacts the embassy looking for you.

8. To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.

9. In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.

10. If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy.

Arrival At Destination

-Reconfirm your future flights - the local office may be able to assist.

-Exchange a small amount of US dollars for local currency at the airport for taxi, tips, etc. You will usually get a better exchange rate at a bank.

-Know who will meet you and ask them to be inconspicuous.

-Register with consulate if staying several days.

-Know your route from airport to lodging.

-Request room above ground floor but not too high.

-Check for exits and emergency instructions.

-Plan your escape in case of fire.

-Be sure your phone works -- call the desk.

-Check the door locks - use doorstop if necessary.

-Don´t leave your key at the desk.

-Always put valuables in the security boxes.

When Driving in a Foreign Country

-Drive defensively - not aggressively.

-Always keep windows up and doors locked.

-Keep valuables and belongings out of sight.

-Know your route, plan it ahead of time, and vary your routes.

-Be suspicious of "accidents".

-If attacked try to crouch down and drive away.

-Keep the gas tank full at all times.

-Watch for tampering with your auto - easier to spot on a dirty auto.

-Avoid driving or renting expensive automobiles.

Travelers Safety Hints

-Always remember that you are a guest in another´s country.

-Obey all laws of the country you are in - no drugs - no smuggling.

-Baggage - Most airlines allow two bags (max. 70 pounds each -- some size restrictions apply) for direct travel to and from the USA.

-Check bags to your final destination.

-Know what you are hand carrying for someone else.

-Cash - Many countries require that you declare all of the cash (sometimes traveler checks as well) which you are bringing into the country.

-Count your cash before leaving in an inconspicuous location.

-Keep your currency forms with you.

-Never discuss financial matters in public.

-Travel Documents - Check all travel documents before leaving to ensure that they are valid for the duration of your trip, including extensions.

-Airline Tickets - Check your airline tickets to ensure that routing is as planned and that you know ALL of your stops.

-Packing Hints - The clothing you pack should always be appropriate for the climate and activities on your itinerary. The normal attire in many overseas office is fairly casual; however, you may need a suit for visits to government offices. In general, pack
Clothing that is wrinkle-resistant, drip-dry and comfortable.

-Comfortable walking shoes.

-Versatile styles that can go from casual to dressy.

-Toiletries in unbreakable plastic bottles.

-Include soap and washcloth.

Pack In Your Carry-On Bag:
-An all-weather coat - Europe can be cool anytime of the year.
-A supply of any medication and extra pair of prescription glasses or contacts lenses.
-A change of clothing.
-Duplicate suitcase keys.
-Familiarize yourself with the currency and exchange laws of the countries you plan to visit.
-Tape your name, address, and passport number inside your suitcases.
-Take a pocket calculator for converting currency, etc.
-Take prescription slips for any necessary medication and eyeglasses.
-Carry a small notebook with your camera to record where photos were taken. Most countries prohibit photographing military and governmental facilities.
-Keep sales receipts handy for customs.
-Get someone to write your hotel address in the local language and keep it with you.
-Avoid ice cubes wherever you´re advised not to drink the water.
-Avoid raw vegetables wherever you´re in doubt.
-Most visas are valid for 30 to 90 days from issue - check validity with your schedule.
-Many airports require payment of an airport exit tax - be sure you have the correct amount in the correct currency.
-Many hotel porters require a "verification of payment" slip before they will carry your bags out of the hotel. Ask for this slip from the cashier when you check out.

Safety on the Street

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home. Be especially cautious in or avoid areas where you are likely to be victimized. These include crowded subways, train stations, elevators, tourist sites, market places, festivals and marginal areas of cities.

-Don´t use short cuts, narrow alleys or poorly-lit streets. Try not to travel alone at night.

-Avoid public demonstrations and other civil disturbances.

-Keep a low profile and avoid loud conversations or arguments. Do not discuss travel plans or other personal matters with strangers.

-Avoid scam artists. Beware of strangers who approach you, offering bargains or to be your guide.

-Beware of pickpockets. They often have an accomplice who will:
· jostle you,
· ask you for directions or the time,
· point to something spilled on your clothing,
· or distract you by creating a disturbance.

-A child or even a woman carrying a baby can be a pickpocket. Beware of groups of vagrant children who create a distraction while picking your pocket.

-Wear the shoulder strap of your bag across your chest and walk with the bag away from the curb to avoid drive-by purse-snatchers.

-Try to seem purposeful when you move about. Even if you are lost, act as if you know where you are going. When possible, ask directions only from individuals in authority.

-Know how to use a pay telephone and have the proper change or token on hand.

-Learn a few phrases in the local language so you can signal your need for help, the police, or a doctor. Make a note of emergency telephone numbers you may need: police, fire, your hotel, and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

-If you are confronted, don´t fight back. Give up your valuables. Your money and passport can be replaced, but you cannot.

Safety in Your Hotel

-Keep your hotel door locked at all times. Meet visitors in the lobby.

-Do not leave money and other valuables in your hotel room while you are out. Use the hotel safe.

-Let someone know when you expect to return if you are out late at night.

-If you are alone, do not get on an elevator if there is a suspicious-looking person inside.

-Read the fire safety instructions in your hotel room.

-Know how to report a fire. Be sure you know where the nearest fire exit and alternate exits are located.

-Count the doors between your room and the nearest exit. This could be a life saver if you have to crawl through a smoke-filled corridor.

Safety on Public Transportation

If a country has a pattern of tourists travelling internationally being targeted by criminals on public transport, that information is mentioned in the Consular Information Sheets under the "Crime Information" section.

Taxis: Only take taxis clearly identified with official markings. Beware of unmarked cabs.

Trains: Well organized, systematic robbery of passengers on trains along popular tourists routes is a serious problem. It is more common at night and especially on overnight trains.

If you see your way being blocked by a stranger and another person is very close to you from behind, move away. This can happen in the corridor of the train or on the platform or station.

Do not accept food or drink from strangers. Criminals have been known to drug food or drink offered to passengers. Criminals may also spray sleeping gas in train compartments.

Where possible, lock your compartment. If it cannot be locked securely, take turns sleeping in shifts with your traveling companions. If that is not possible, stay awake. If you must sleep unprotected, tie down your luggage, strap your valuables to you and sleep on top of them as much as possible.

Do not be afraid to alert authorities if you feel threatened in any way. Extra police are often assigned to ride trains on routes where crime is a serious problem.

Buses: The same type of criminal activity found on trains can be found on public buses on popular tourist routes. For example, tourists have been drugged and robbed while sleeping on buses or in bus stations. In some countries whole bus loads of passengers have been held up and robbed by gangs of bandits.

Patterns of Crime Against Motorists

In many places frequented by tourists, including areas of southern Europe, victimization of motorists has been refined to an art. Where it is a problem, U.S. embassies are aware of it and consular officers try to work with local authorities to warn the public about the dangers. In some locations, these efforts at public awareness have paid off, reducing the frequency of incidents. You may also wish to ask your rental car agency for advice on avoiding robbery while visiting tourist destinations.

Carjackers and thieves operate at gas stations, parking lots, in city traffic and along the highway. Be suspicious of anyone who hails you or tries to get your attention when you are in or near your car.

Criminals use ingenious ploys. They may pose as good Samaritans, offering help for tires that they claim are flat or that they have made flat. Or they may flag down a motorist, ask for assistance, and then steal the rescuer´s luggage or car. Usually they work in groups, one person carrying on the pretense while the others rob you.

Other criminals get your attention with abuse, either trying to drive you off the road, or causing an "accident" by rear-ending you or creating a "fender bender."

In some urban areas, thieves don´t waste time on ploys, they simply smash car windows at traffic lights, grab your valuables or your car and get away. In cities around the world, "defensive driving" has come to mean more than avoiding auto accidents; it means keeping an eye out for potentially criminal pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders.

How to Handle Money Safely

To avoid carrying large amounts of cash, change your travelers´ checks only as you need currency. Countersign travelers´ checks only in front of the person who will cash them.

Do not flash large amounts of money when paying a bill. Make sure your credit card is returned to you after each transaction.

Deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money, buy airline tickets or purchase souvenirs. Do not change money on the black market.

If your possessions are lost or stolen, report the loss immediately to the local police. Keep a copy of the police report for insurance claims and as an explanation of your plight. After reporting missing items to the police, report the loss or theft of:

-travelers´ checks to the nearest agent of the issuing company,
-credit cards to the issuing company,
-airline tickets to the airline or travel agent,
-passport to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

To Locate an American Embassy

Excellent Embassy Locator and Contact Information: www.tripresource.com/embassy.htm

Safety in Your Hotel

-Keep your hotel door locked at all times. Meet visitors in the lobby. -Do not leave money and other valuables in your hotel room while you are out. Use the hotel safe. -Let someone know when you expect to return if you are out late at night. -If you are alone, do not get on an elevator if there is a suspicious-looking person inside. -Read the fire safety instructions in your hotel room. -Know how to report a fire. Be sure you know where the nearest fire exit and alternate exits are located. -Count the doors between your room and the nearest exit. This could be a life saver if you have to crawl through a smoke-filled corridor.

Top 10 Safety Tips for Travelers

1. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport (and visas, if required). Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport! 2. Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit. 3. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, the U.S. Constitution does not follow you! While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. 4. Make 2 copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport. 5. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency. 6. Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers. 7. If you plan to stay abroad for more than two weeks, upon arrival you should notify by phone or register in person with the U.S. embassy in the country you are visiting. This will facilitate communication in case someone contacts the embassy looking for you. 8. To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards. 9. In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques. 10. If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy.

How to Handle Money Safely

To avoid carrying large amounts of cash, change your travelers' checks only as you need currency. Countersign travelers' checks only in front of the person who will cash them. Do not flash large amounts of money when paying a bill. Make sure your credit card is returned to you after each transaction. Deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money, buy airline tickets or purchase souvenirs. Do not change money on the black market. If your possessions are lost or stolen, report the loss immediately to the local police. Keep a copy of the police report for insurance claims and as an explanation of your plight. After reporting missing items to the police, report the loss or theft of: -travelers' checks to the nearest agent of the issuing company, -credit cards to the issuing company, -airline tickets to the airline or travel agent, -passport to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Travelers Safety Hints

-Always remember that you are a guest in another's country. -Obey all laws of the country you are in - no drugs - no smuggling. -Baggage - Most airlines allow two bags (max. 70 pounds each -- some size restrictions apply) for direct travel to and from the USA. -Check bags to your final destination. -Know what you are hand carrying for someone else. -Cash - Many countries require that you declare all of the cash (sometimes traveler checks as well) which you are bringing into the country. -Count your cash before leaving in an inconspicuous location. -Keep your currency forms with you. -Never discuss financial matters in public. -Travel Documents - Check all travel documents before leaving to ensure that they are valid for the duration of your trip, including extensions. -Airline Tickets - Check your airline tickets to ensure that routing is as planned and that you know ALL of your stops. -Packing Hints - The clothing you pack should always be appropriate for the climate and activities on your itinerary. The nor

When Driving in a Foreign Country

-Drive defensively - not aggressively. -Always keep windows up and doors locked. -Keep valuables and belongings out of sight. -Know your route, plan it ahead of time, and vary your routes. -Be suspicious of "accidents". -If attacked try to crouch down and drive away. -Keep the gas tank full at all times. -Watch for tampering with your auto - easier to spot on a dirty auto. -Avoid driving or renting expensive automobiles.

Airplane Ticket Protection Policies

Today, most airlines are issuing only nonrefundable tickets. Travelers who must cancel or change travel plans are forced to forfeit the cost of the ticket or incur hefty change fees. With Travel Guard's Air Ticket Protection Plan, you are covered. The Air Ticket Protection Plan covers against unexpected trip related expenses such as: • Trip cancellation, interruption and delay; • Lost, stolen or damaged baggage or travel documents; • Pre-Existing Medical Condition Waiver; • Flight Accident; • Baggage Delay; • Ticket Change fees (up to $100 if purchased within 7 days of deposit and for a covered reason).

Travel Assistance Programs and Plans

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How to Avoid Legal Difficulties

When you are in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws and are under its jurisdiction NOT the protection of the U.S. Constitution.

You can be arrested overseas for actions that may be either legal or considered minor infractions in the United States. Be aware of what is considered criminal in the country where you are. Consular Information Sheets include information on unusual patterns of arrests in various countries when appropriate.

Some of the offenses for which U.S. citizens have been arrested abroad are:

Drug Violations: More than 1/3 of U.S. citizens incarcerated abroad are held on drug charges. Some countries do not distinguish between possession and trafficking. Many countries have mandatory sentences - even for possession of a small amount of marijuana or cocaine. A number of Americans have been arrested for possessing prescription drugs, particularly tranquilizers and amphetamines, that they purchased legally in certain Asian countries and then brought to some countries in the Middle East where they are illegal. Other U.S. citizens have been arrested for purchasing prescription drugs abroad in quantities that local authorities suspected were for commercial use. If in doubt about foreign drug laws, ask local authorities or the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Possession of Firearms: The places where U.S. citizens most often come into difficulties for illegal possession of firearms are nearby - Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. Sentences for possession of firearms in Mexico can be up to 30 years. In general, firearms, even those legally registered in the U.S., cannot be brought into a country unless a permit is first obtained from the embassy or a consulate of that country and the firearm is registered with foreign authorities on arrival. (Note: If you take firearms or ammunition to another country, you cannot bring them back into the U.S. unless you register them with U.S. Customs before you leave the U.S.)

Photography: In many countries you can be harassed or detained for photographing such things as police and military installations, government buildings, border areas and transportation facilities. If you are in doubt, ask permission before taking photographs.

Purchasing Antiques: Americans have been arrested for purchasing souvenirs that were, or looked like, antiques and which local customs authorities believed were national treasures. This is especially true in Turkey, Egypt and Mexico. In countries where antiques are important, document your purchases as reproductions if that is the case, or if they are authentic, secure the necessary export permit (usually from the national museum.)

Trip Cancellation Insurance Policy

Purchase your ProtectAssistTM policy within 15 days of your initial trip deposit (Day one is the initial trip payment date): -We'll double the baggage and travel documents benefit; -We'll waive any pre-existing medical conditions that could eventually cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip; -You'll receive protection against airline, cruise line or tour operator default.

Trip Protection Policy

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