Hardening the Target:
"Articles
of Preparation"
2007.10 - Traveling Abroad
Safety begins
when you pack. To avoid being
a target, dress appropriately. Flashy
wardrobe or one that is too casual can
mark you as a tourist. Travel light.
Carry the minimum amount of valuables
necessary for you trip and plan a place
or places to conceal them.
Secure important
travel documents, cash and credit cards.
They are most secure when locked in a
hotel safe, however if you wish to carry
them with you, conceal them in several
places rather than putting them all in
one wallet or pouch. Avoid using fanny
packs, handbags and outside pockets. One
of the safest places to carry valuables
is in a pouch or money belt worn
underneath your clothing.
Keep medicines
in their original labeled containers.
To avoid problems when passing through
customs, bring copies of your
prescriptions and generic names for the
drugs. If you have any doubt about the
legality of carrying a particular drug
into a country, consult the embassy or
consulate of that country first.
Make photocopies
of your travel documents. Make
two photocopies of your passport
identification page, airline ticket,
driver's license, credit cards, and
itinerary. Leave one set behind with a
family member or friend; pack the other
in a place separate from where you carry
your valuables.
Secure and
identify your luggage. Put
your name, address and telephone number
inside and outside of each piece of
luggage, using covered luggage tags.
Remember to lock your luggage and keep
the keys concealed.
Learn about the
country's regulations before you leave.
The State Department offers
Consular Information Sheets on every
country of the world. They describe exit
and entry requirements, health
conditions, crime and security
situations, currency regulations,
political disturbances and areas of
instability, special data about driving
and road conditions, and drug penalties.
Observe local
laws and customs. You are
subject to the laws of the country where
you are; therefore, learn as much as you
can about the local laws and customs of
the place you're visiting. Good resources
are your local libraries, travel agents,
the embassies, consulates or tourist
bureaus.
Adhere to Travel
Warnings. In addition to
Consular Information Sheets, the U.S.
State Department issues Public
Announcements and Travel Warnings when
there is a perceived threat usually
involving Americans as a particular
travel group.
Consider travel
insurance. If your personal
property insurance does not cover you for
loss or theft abroad, or more
importantly, if your health insurance
doesn't cover you, consider purchasing a
short-term health and emergency
assistance policy designed for travelers.
Also, make sure the plan you purchase
includes medical evacuation in the event
of an accident or serious illness.
Arrange your
itinerary beforehand. As much
as possible, plan to stay in a larger,
more reputable hotel that has more
elaborate security. Because take-off and
landing are the most dangerous parts of a
flight, book a non-stop flight when
possible. When there is a choice of
airport or airline, ask your travel agent
about comparative safety records.
Consider getting
a telephone calling card. If
you have one, verify that you can use it
from your overseas location. Access
numbers to U.S. operators are published
in many international newspapers. Find
out your access number before you leave.
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