Travel Preparations
Introduction
Welcome to The Travel Files, your guide to a safe trip abroad.
In the following pages you will find valuable tips for traveling, including a list of items that may help you with your personal
safety, methods to make you "street-smart."
Making Reservations
When finalizing travel plans, go to a professional. Travel agencies have
the knowledge and experience to help you arrange a trouble-free trip.
* Shop around for a reputable travel agency.
* Be sure your travel agent briefs you on all aspects of your trip.
* Minimize the number of transit connections; the more direct your route, the safer and more
secure you'll be.
* Check if your carrier's point of origin is a high-risk area.
* Double-check all tickets and reservation materials for errors.
* Call the Department of State's Overseas Citizens Service (202) 632-5225 to ask about traveler
advisories in effect for your destination.
* Watch for news of potential problems at your destination.
* Ensure your personal affairs are in order.
* Leave a detailed itinerary with your family, friends, and/or co-workers in case of emergency.
Notify them immediately of any changes.
Passports
A passport is an essential document when traveling abroad. Contach your local
passport office, courthouse, or post office for application procedures. If you already have a passport, check the expiration
date to see if it will be valid for the duration of your trip. Should you return to the U.S. on an expired passport,
you are subject to a passport waiver fee of $60.
* If traveling with Family, each member must have an individual passport.
* Check your new passport for accuracy before signing it. If you find errors, return
the passport for corrections.
* Leave your passport in a safe deposit box.
* Make two photocopies of the front pages of your passport and write your passport number on
each. Leave one copy with a friend or co-worker and carry the other copy with you (but in a place separate from your
actual passport).
* Carry two copies of your passport photo. Should you lose your passport, you'll need
to apply for a replacement at the nearest Consular office.
Visas
In many countries, special notations and stamps known as "visas" are often required
prior to entering a country or when extending a stay in that country. For more details, obtain Visa Requirements of
Foreign Governments from your passport agency or write to Passport Services, Department of State, Washington, DC 20524.
* Apply to the Embassies or Consulates of the countries you plan to visit. Be sure to
get the countries' latest visa requirements.
* Passport offices cannot help you get visas.
* Be sure to obtain visas before you leave; apply far in advance of your departure date.
* Carry two extra passport photos in case you want to apply for an additional visa during your
trip.
Medical Documents
* Find out if your medical insurance will cover you when you're abroad. If not, you may
want to consider a supplemental short-term policy specifically designed for international travelers.
* Carry prescriptions in their original containers so you can replace medications
that are lost or stolen, obtain refills as necessary, and avoid any hassle at Customs.
* If any immunizations are required for your trip, have your doctor sign an International
Certificates of Vaccination or "yellow card" obtainable from your passport office, or write to the Superintendent of Documents,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, and ask for booklet PHS-731
International Driver's License
An International Driver's License is mandatory in most countries and can be obtained
from your local chapter of the American Automobile Association (AAA).
*Check with the embassy or consulate of the country in which you plan to drive for specific
requirements.
Traveler's Checks and Credit Cards
Traveler's checks and credit cards are the preferred ways to handle your money.
If traveling abroad, you may find that money orders, cashier's checks, and letters of credit may not be honored. In
less developed countries, it is best to check beforehand to determine what they will accept.
Traveler's Checks
* When you purchase traveler's checks, count them to be sure none are missing and sign as instructed.
* Record the numbers of the checks on a separate sheet of paper in case of theft or loss.
* Cash traveler's checks or exchange money at legitimate places only.
* Before embarking on your trip, find out about loss-reporting and replacement procedures for
the cities you plan to visit.
* If loss or theft occurs on a weekend or during off-hours, consult the phone book for a 24-hour
number.
Credit Cards
* Take only the credit cards you may need and leave all others at home in a safe place.
* Make two photocopies of the credit cards you take (keep separate from the cards).
* Be sure not to charge over your limit.
* Verify any changes before signing and keep all sales slips until the billing has been received.
* Check all receipts to be sure the numbers haven't been altered.
* For financial emergencies, major credit card companies provide cash.
* If your credit cards are lost or stolen, report the situation immediately to your card company
by calling their toll-free number.
* You are liable for only the first $50 of any unauthorized charges, but prompt reporting of
a loss or theft you can avoid this charge.
Packing
* Don't take anything with you that you can't afford to lose. Valuable jewelry is best
left in a safe deposit box or at home.
* Carry minimal amounts of cash. Bring traveler's checks and one or two major credit
cards. Keep these with you at all times, not in your carry-on luggage. If possible, obtain a small amount of your
destination country's currency.
* Remove from your wallet or pursue any organization, government, or company identification
cards that won't be needed during your travels.
* Contact the Centers for Disease Control at (404) 332-4559 for immunization requirements.
* On luggage id tags, use your business address and telephone number. Use only luggage
tags that have a cover. Put your name and address inside each piece of luggage and be sure to close the luggage closed
closed securely. An additional lock or special luggage fastener may be helpful.
* Leave apparel with obvious U.S. logos at home. Pack conservative clothes that will
enable you to blend in, rather than stand out.
Transportation
At the Airport
* Upon entering the airport, take a few minutes to "size up" the situation. Note
exits and safe areas.
* For a smooth check-in, arrive early to ensure that your baggage gets on the flight.
Do not check baggage at curbside. Keep all claim checks.
* Do not use business cards to identify your luggage.
* Remove from your luggage any tags from previous flights. This will help prevent misrouting
of luggage.
* Never leave your belongings unattended; and conversely, stay away from any unattended baggage.
* Cooperate with security personnel. Be prepared to describe all electronic items you're
carrying. If you have a laptop computer, be prepared to give a demonstration upon request.
Trains
Trains are hotels on rails. There are many first class train systems around the world
that are clean, fast, and on time. Others are overcrowded, have minimal accommodations and comforts, and run on unpredictable
schedules.
* Travel light; you may have to carry everything yourself.
* If you have a lot of luggage, check it in the baggage car.
* For maximum security, book a private sleeper.
* Make reservations ahead of time to avoid waiting in lines and to make sure that you have
a seat or room.
* Be sure you are at the correct station; many cities have more than one railroad station.
* Be sure you know how to pronounce and spell the city of your destination so that you'll
recognize it when announced and can confirm it by looking at the city's name posted on the station.
* Immigration officials usually board the train at each border crossing; have necessary documents
ready.
* Always keep you luggage near you and secure.
* Either carry your own food and water (tap water on some foreign trains is undrinkable) or
have currency from each of the countries through which you'll be passing to purchase food and drink.
* If you have a private compartment, learn your porter's name and ask him to announce himself
when knocking.
Subways
* Avoin long, dimly lit, or vacant entrances to subway stations. Enter and exit at the
end of the station where a clerk is on duty.
* Choose a seat in the middle cars which tend to be more fully occupied than those at the end;
avoid empty cars.
* When waiting, be alert; don't get so involved in reading or daydreaming that you fail to
notice a person approaching. Don't sleep.
* Be aware of people jostling you on busy cars.
Taxis
* Select your taxi carefully. Most countries require licensed cabs to post the driver's
identification where it can be seen by passengers; make sure the photo matches the driver.
* Ask airport information or your hotel desk clerk to recommend a reputable taxi or limousine
company.
* Learn the route to your destination (ask for directions) so that you will be aware if the
driver is taking you out of the way to run up the meter.
* Do not reveal personal information to driver or passengers.
* If possible, travel with a companion.
* Travel light.
Accommodations
Choosing a Hotel
* Use hotels recommended by your travel agency or stay at reputable chains.
* Your passport may be held by the front desk for review by local authorities. If so,
obtain a receipt and retrieve your passport at the earliest possible time.
* Request a room between the second and seventh floors. Most fire departments don't have
rescue equipment to reach beyond the seventh floor. Also, ask for a room away from elevator landings and stairwells.
* While in your room, keep the door closed and lock. Use the deadbolt and privacy latch/chain.
* Keep money or valuables in the hotel safe deposit box. Don't depend on a room safe
for security.
* The least secure places for hotel guests are the parking lot, indoor garage, corridors, and
elevators. Don't linger in these areas; be alert and keep moving.
* Keep your room number private. Tell the fron desk not to give out your name and room
number; if you have a car, check to see that the parking pass doesn't show your room number.
* Don't answer the door to unanticipated guests or service personnel. If in doubt, call
the front dest to verify credentials.
Storing Money and Valuables
* Don't become a victim of your own carelessness, e.g., leaving your traveler's checks in the
last hotel or on the writing table in the bank, misplacing your airline ticket, or leaving a restaurant without retrieving
your credit card.
* Carry as little cash as possible it can be easily lost or stolen and is not traceable; don't
carry more cash than you can afford to lose.
* Don't keep all your funds in one place. Keep cash in a money belt, wallet, or purse.
Keep your traveler's checks separate, and your credit cards elsewhere.
* For extra security, sew Velcro stips on pockets and purse flaps.
* Valuables are best kept our of sight.
* Don't display a large "wad" of money; it may invite trouble.
* Be alert when using automatic bank teller machines.
* Keep your valuables in the hotel safe. Be alert when you retrieve them as this is the
time when a thief may try to distract you.
* Immediately report any loss or theft to the police at once. Request a copy of the report
for insurance claims or tax deduction.
* Take a minimum number of credit cards; "plastic money" is the first thing many thieves look
for.
* Destroy the carbon copy of credit card charge forms.
* Save all credit card receipts and compare them against your monthly statement to check for
erroneous charges and merchants' adding numerals to the actual charge amount.
Telephones
In most foreign countries phones are difficult to find, and the service can be poor.
Expect long waits for the operator, language barriers, difficulty in getting connections (which often prove to be poor connections),
and frequent disconnects.
* Locate public phones at airports, train stations, hotels, and government buildings.
* Make long distance calls at the central postoffice; there are no surcharges.
* Find out if the country you are visiting honors U.S. calling cards; you may qualify for reduced
surcharges.
*When talking on a public phone, turn your back to the dial so that you can observe any activity
around you.
* Don't leave your luggage unattended when you make a call.
* Have emergency numbers accessible. They are usually located in the front of telephone
books worldwide.
* Find out what type of coins or tokens public phones take; they are available at newsstands,
bars, or wherever there are public phones.
Emergencies
Police and / or other law enforcement entities detain persons for a myriad or reasons
or for no reason other than suspicion or curiosity. The best advice is to exercise good judgement, be professional in
your demeanor, and remember these suggestions:
* If you are detained by authorities for any reason, insist on contacting the U.S. Consulate
immediately. Refuse to make any statement or sign any document until this contact has been made.
* Resist responding to intimidation. Assuming you haven't done anything wrong, your consistent
refusals to acknowledge vague or implied threats will likely make the detainer back down.
* Try to stay calm but assertive.
* Accept nothing at face value. When a U.S. official arrives to meet with you, ask for
some identification before discussing the situation.
Street Smarts on the Town
Foreign Cultures and Traditions
When in a foreign country, you can enhance your personal safety by not violating local
traditions. Dress behavioral expectations, and standards of right and wrong vary greatly from country to country.
* Familiarize yourself with the customs of the country you'll visit.
* The language barrier can be frustrating, but remember that people in other countries may
not speak your language for the same reasons that you do not speak theirs!@
* Simple courtesies and good manners are recognized everywhere, what constitutes good manners
varies greatly.
It is usually not a good idea
to:
* Use first names unless
asked to.
* Conduct business
at time other than customary.
* Photgraph anyone
with out permission.
It is usally a good die to:
* Use proper names
and titles.
* Be genuine and
smile!
* Keep proper distance.
* Avoid long periods
of eye contact.
* Observe local holidays.
* Be alert to local
biases and prejudices.
* Avoing being loud,
condescening, or a conspicuous spended,
* Refrain from discussing
politics, religion, and sex.
As a Pedestrian
When walking in public areas, learn to recognize potentially dangerous situations and
take the necessary steps to avoid them.
* Don't broadcast your sight-seeing plans in public; you could be followed or return to your
room and find it has been burglarized.
* Plan your route ahead of time.
* Assess your physical ability; determine how far you can walk, and know your destination.
* Maintain a low profile by not looking like a "tourista." The more you stand out, the
more you increase your risks.
* Be alert and observant.
* Know your route and avoid shortcuts, especially through parks and alleys at night.
Mentally map out your route and look for landmarks.
* Keep your hands free.
* During the daytime, walk down the middle of the sidewalk to negate the possibility of falling
victim to a grab-and-run motorist, bicyclist, or motorcyclist.
* Pay attention to your intuition and act on it. Take evasive action and seek a safe
place as appropriate.
* Sightsee defensively; assess what's happening around you from a safety standpoint.
* Act as if you know where you are going, even if you are lost.
* Be wary of strangers who stop you to engage you in conversation.
* Travel light.
* If a driver stopst to ask you directions, stay a safe distance from the car.
* If you ask directions of a stranger on the street and that person offers to take you to your
destination, politely refuse the offer.
* If you can, always walk with a companion or a group.
* Avoid crowds and civil disturbances of any kind, and don't get involved in disputes with
locals.
* If you are being followed in a lonely area, run to the nearest house in which lights are
on and ring the bell, pound on the door, or shout "fire!" not "help."
* Don't hesitate to attract attention. If the situation is urgent, break the nearest
window or pull a fire alarm if handy.
Restaurants and Bars
Eating and drinking are some of the attractions of foreign travel.
* Select your restaurants and nightclubs as carefully as you would select your hotels and transportation.
* Note the locations of exits and fire escapes in all restaurants, lounges, and bars.
* Observe local customers to get clues as to appropriate behavior and local traditions.
* Be courteous, quiet, and don't stay too late.
* It is a good idea to drink only bottled beverages in any country or area where the water
is likely to be contaminated. Request that the bottle be opened in your presence. Refrain from using ice unles
you know it is uncontaminated.
* Be cautious with any new acquaintance as he/she may be an opportunist.
* Examine your bill carefully.
Authorities and the Law
You are subject to the laws of the country in which you are traveling and to its system
of justice, which may be entirely different from ours. Avoid getting into trouble, but know how to deal with it if necessary.
Observe the following:
* Know the "rules" and general customs of the culture.
* Familiarize yourself with the laws.
* In some countries, it is required by law for you to leave your passport at the hotel desk
overnight so it can be checked by local police. In other countries, you may be required to fill out a police card listing
your name, passport number, destination, local address, and reason for traveling.
* You cannot remove currency from some countries; in others, currency limits are regulated.
Know what the local policies are.
* Don't drink and drive.
* If stopped for speeding or other moving violations, you can often pay your fine on the spot.
* Don't sell any personal items such as jewelry or clothing. This is against the law
in most countries, and the penalties are severe.
* Do not enter restricted areas. Do not take pictures of restricted areas.
* Don't argue with law officers even if you think they are wrong.
* Never deliver packages for anyone.
Help from U.S. Consulate
Americans traveling in any foriegn country are subject to the laws of that country: ignorance
is no excuse. Due to legal and budgetary constraints and excessive workloads, the American Consulate cannot be all things
to all people. Its function is only to assist you if you are in trouble, not solve your problem. The Consulate
must work within the local laws, statutes, and regulations. It is a good idea to register with the consulate so they
can reach you in an emergency.
The Citizens Services Section of the Consulate can help you by performing
the following services:
* Provide a listing of English-speaking attorneys and doctors.
* Help you contact family and friends if you are arrested or hospitalized.
* Replace your passport if it is lost or stolen.
* Provide travel advisories.
* Notarize documents.
* Provide helpful information if you have a legal problem.
* Facilitate the transmission of funds to you from family or friends.
* Check the identification or badge of any visitors.
Immigration and Customs
When returning home, you must go through an Immigration and Customs check. The Immigration
check simply involves a brief interview with an official whose duty it is to determine if your passport is valid and if you
are the person identified in the passport.
After Immigration you go through Customs. You must declare all imported goods that may
be subject to duty beyond the general personal exemption of $450 or joint exemptions for families.
* For detailed information about Customs including regulations, procedures, and duty rates,
write for the brochure, Know Before You Go, Customs Hints for Returning Residents, U.S. Customs Service, P.O.
Box 7407, Washington, DC 20044. Write to the same address for GSP and the Traveler, a list of duty-free products from
foreign countries.
* Have your passport, International Certificate of Vaccination, and all receipts handy.
* Complete a Customs Declaration form before passing through Customs. The airline usually
provides this to you to fill out before you land.
* Pay duty on all items purchased abroad and mailed home.
* If you exceed your exemption, you must pay the duty in full upon your arrival in the U.S.
* For ease of inspection, pack items to be declared separately.
A Final Word
You are now aware of the basic precautions you should take during your trip. If
you follow these precautions, you will reduce the risk of encountering problems; but remember, caution need not become an
obsession. This is your vacation, your trip. Enjoy it!
