We all have different levels of risk we are willing to live with. I have friends who feel that traveling anywhere outside the U.S. is risky. Which is funny, because I’ve also met Europeans who think travelling to the U.S. is very dangerous. Watching movies and TV shows from our country has given them the impression that just about everyone here carries a gun. Sadly, their … [Read more...]
Travel Safety – Choosing Safe Destinations
The first step you can take to have safer travel is to choose your travel destinations wisely. First let me say that I’m not a person who looks at the U.S. State Department’s Travel Warnings site and, if a country is on the list, immediately scratch it from my list of possible destinations. I’m also not a danger junkie who immediately puts it on my to-go-there list. I’m … [Read more...]
Travel Safety – Natural Disasters
Hopefully you will never be exposed to a natural disaster like a tsunami, earthquake, or hurricane during your travels, but if you travel long enough, particularly in higher risk areas, you may eventually encounter one of these. Here are some guidelines to help you avoid harm. Tsunamis After the Indonesian tsunami that killed 230,000 people in 2004 and the 2011 … [Read more...]
What to do if your Passport, ID, Cards and Money are Stolen
Imagine this scenario...you left your passport, ID, credit cards, debit cards and most of your money in your hotel room, hidden in a place where you think no one will ever be able to find them. You are carrying only the cash you need for the evening in case you get robbed while you are out. You return to your room later and find that everything you hid is gone. What do you do? … [Read more...]
Securing Valuables While Traveling
Every country has pickpockets and thieves. As a traveler, you will automatically be targeted by these individuals. Don’t feel bad…foreign travelers who come to the US get the same treatment by thieves in this country. That’s because they know that travelers are typically carrying more cash and valuables on their persons and in their luggage than ordinary citizens. Add to … [Read more...]