Usually, traveling abroad never goes by without giving an extra thought to safety. With so many stereotypes created in movies of horrible Russian Borises and Natashas (thank you, Hollywood!), no wonder many foreigners are very cautious when coming to the FSU countries. However, if you call on your common sense to guide you and take note of a few of our tips, you will not find any disturbance during your trip.

1. Keep low profile. Of course, you may be an impassioned patriot of your Motherland, but when you're abroad try not to take a stand and prove it to everyone around. Many foreigners I know have come to Ukraine and Russia expecting everyone to fall at their feet. They made a point of showing they are foreigners and letting everyone know they don't give a damn about the culture of the country they were visiting. Results were very discouraging: the least harmful being that they ended up ruining their own trip, the worst ? running into some trouble with locals.

When you go out on the streets, the best thing for you is to try to fit in the crowd. This way you'll have the agvantage of being able to observe people from the inside. Don't make a statement that you are a foreigner; you'll keep off cheaters, thieves and people looking for someone to take advantage of.

2. Be selective. You run a chance of setting yourself up for disappointment if you are going to get acquainted with girls in night clubs or on the streets. For one, girls in the clubs are rarely looking for lasting relationships. Secondly, by meeting someone in such a way you are simply opening up for more opportunities of people to take advantage and scam you.

Whatever you decide to do, sharpen all your sensors and don't follow every chance to get acquainted with strangers.

3. Use common sense. It is practically impossible to predict every situation you might find yourself in. Even if you don't know the language of the country you're in, using common sense will get you a long way. Be attentive, don't forget about body language and rely on your sixth sense. If you feel that a situation or a company you're in is getting to be unpleasant, I would advise you to leave. It's much better to be safe than sorry. And don't worry about what others will think: your safety is above all.

4. Get to know the locals. Getting to know someone local to the area you are in will save you time, keep you safer and help you make the most of your stay. If you get advice from a local about places to visit and things to do, you will most likely be warned of what to avoid in order not to get in trouble. There are more chances for you to be directed to places that will be safe to visit and given pointers on how to make your visits or shopping. If you can get someone local to shop with you for souvenirs or gifts, you'll definitely have higher chances of getting a better deal and keeping cheaters away.

5. Keep your cash in several places. Since not all stores take credit cards or accept traveler's cheques, you will have to use cash during your visit. The best decision is to keep it in several places. In such a way if something goes wrong and you lose you wallet or it gets stolen, you will have a reserve to fall back on.

6. Put away valuables. If you are renting an apartment, chances of your belongings being safe are much higher than if you are staying in a hotel. Cases of theft from hotels have lessened over the recent years, but still it is much better to put away your jewels and other valuable things from plain sight.

7. Money exchange. I would advise you to use banks for money exchange instead of the booths in the market or on the street to avoid being cheated. They may offer a little bit higher rate, but the guarantees of accuracy and honesty are next to nil. At the airports and hotels exchange rates are higher, so in case you have to use them, exchange as small amount as possible.