- Contact the embassy. Before you book a trip, call the American embassy in the country you'll be visiting and ask for the Regional Security Officer (RSO). You can get the number by contacting the State Department at 888-407-4747
The RSO should be able to answer questions about disease outbreaks, high crime areas, weather issues, where to get the best exchange rates and problems American travelers have had.
- Don't dress like an American. Letting others know that you're an American may lead the crooks to assume that you're a wealthy tourist worth robbing or, even worse, worth kidnapping for a ransom.
Keep all watches and jewelry at home. If you must bring jewelry or other valuables, make sure they're insured. Also, avoid using expensive luggage. Keep cameras hidden when not in use.
- Outsmart pickpockets. You might want to keep your money, passport and credit cards in a wallet that attaches to your belt and is concealed under your clothing.
If you wear a fanny pack, keep the pouch in front. One common trick of pickpockets is to bump into you in front and back (pickpockets typically work in teams) and quickly slice the bottom of the fanny pack, catching the valuables as they drop. Women should carry purses football fashion.
Don't bother getting traveler's checks - these days, credit cards have wider acceptance. Keep just enough cash in your pocket to satisfy a mugger.
- Prepare for medical emergencies. Make sure you have the proper immunizations before heading out of the country. Plan several months in advance - some vaccinations require multiple doses with weeklong intervals in between. If you take medication, bring extra in case you have to stay longer than planned.
- Keep important information with your passport. Write down the phone numbers of the American embassies in all the countries you plan to visit. Also, include your blood type and whether your blood's Rh factor is positive or negative.
Make copies of your passport and keep them with you in case you lose your original. Leave copies with friends or relatives at home as well.
