Travel Safety: How to Be a Smart Traveler

Research your destination

Emily Bernard, co-founder of travel tech startup PlacePass.com, says the biggest mistake travelers make is "not doing their homework, particularly on neighborhoods to avoid, cultural sensitivities and health concerns."

Besides planning all the places you're going to see, do some research on the current political climate and local laws and customs (a friendly "thumbs up" gesture is obscene in some countries: see the Thrillist's "9 Innocent Hand Gestures That Will Get Your Punched in the Face Overseas" for more).

Also, check into visa and vaccination requirements, current travel warnings and alerts, health precautions and risky areas for tourists. Guidebooks, travel blogs, forums, online resources such as the U.S. Department of State are great places to start, as are city, state or country visitor information centers.

Get your documents ready (and scan them)

If you're going aboard, make sure you have all the required documents ready for entry and departure. In most cases, this means having a valid passport, but it's best to also have hard copies and scans of things like your plane tickets, hotel confirmations, travel insurance info and vouchers for transfers and pre-booked excursions (store the scans in the cloud if possible or leave a copy with a friend back home). If you lose your passport overseas, you're in for an ordeal: You'll need to visit the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (which may be completely out of your way) for a replacement so you can get back home.

Enroll in STEP

STEP, or the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, is a free service for U.S. citizens and nationals. When you enroll, the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in your destination will be notified and you'll receive safety information to help you plan your trip. Enrolling in STEP will also help your friends, family and local officials contact you in case of an emergency.

Notify your bank and credit card companies

To safeguard your finances, banks and credit card companies usually hold or deny unusual activity such as out-of-state and out-of-country purchases. This can be an annoyance when trying to pay the dinner bill, but it can also put you in danger if you need to access your money quickly, say, for medication or medical attention. Before you leave, let your bank and credit card companies know you'll be traveling to avoid a freeze on your accounts. Many banks and credit card companies allow you to do this easily online.

Get traveler's insurance

Traveler's insurance can offer peace of mind when you're taking a big-ticket trip, traveling by sea or going out of the country. If you get severely sick or injured or if your trip is interrupted or cancelled, you can recoup some or all of your financial losses. To learn more, see our Travel Insurance for the Savvy Traveler guide.

Send your itinerary to someone

Ever see 127 Hours? Mountaineer and adventurer Aron Ralston may have been able to avoid his gruesome fate if he had informed a friend or family member of his hiking plans. Before leaving home, make sure someone knows the details of your itinerary and check in from time to time. Torrente recommends also checking in with trusted friends in your hotel or hostel. "Let them know if you're heading out for a night alone and when you expect to be back," she says.

Get an international phone plan

Should something bad happen, an outside line can be the most important part of staying safe. You can use your cell phone when abroad, but international roaming charges can lead to an exorbitant bill. If you don't want to take that risk, consider getting an international phone plan through your current cell phone service provider. Most major carriers offer various options so you can choose one that best suits your travel needs. AT&T, for example, offers three different packages for $40, $60 or $120. An international phone plan is usually the quickest, dependable option, but alternatives include:

• Unlocking your phone and installing a local SIM card if you're on the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network
• Buying or renting a cell phone that works aboard
• Using a combination of Wi-Fi and voice and texting apps like Viber and WhatsApp
• Buying a pre-paid phone card

Separate your money

Unless you're moving all your belongings to a new location, don't carry around all your cash and credit cards. Instead, keep enough cash on you to get through the day, plus one credit card; stash everything else in your hotel or hostel room safe. Pickpocketing is common in many parts of the world and if it happens to you, you'll be relieved you didn't lose everything. If you have to take everything with you, separate your money - keep some in your wallet and some in a waterproof zippered pocket or bag in your luggage or another safe place.

Blend in with the locals

As much as possible, try not to stand out. "It's impossible to not look like a tourist when you are a tourist, but you can at least try to look like a savvy tourist so the prowling lions move on to easier prey," says Phil Sylvester, head of PR and media communications for World Nomads, a website that provides travel insurance and safety services. Take note of how locals dress and follow suit, don't stand in the open while looking at a map, and avoid wearing flashy items, especially in developing countries where panhandlers and pickpockets are common.

Trust the locals

Even if you've spent months researching before your arrival, most locals still know more than you. If the concierge at your hotel or the local bartender tells you to avoid a certain area, take their advice. If your host family says the always-empty restaurant down the block is a drug laundering operation, avoid it at all costs. However, if a taxi driver tells you the freeway to your hostel is closed and recommends a different hostel close by, don't believe him/her or call the hostel to confirm. Also, ask locals for recommendations. Often, the most memorable parts of a vacation are visiting places or doing things the locals do themselves.

Choose ground transportation wisely

Fake cabs. Kickbacks. Broken meters and jacked-up fares. Transportation scams can happen anytime, in the U.S. or abroad. Here are some quick tips:

• Have a taxi stand or hotel call you a cab. In Mexico, for example, it's no longer safe to hail a cab on the street due to the risk of being robbed by a fake taxista. If you're at a restaurant, ask someone on staff to call a cab for you. If you're at the airport, get help from a taxi official.
• Be informed. Make sure you know the general route to your destination - and have an idea of the typical cost - to make sure your driver is taking you to the correct place and not overcharging you.
• Don't make other stops. If the driver wants to make another stop on the way, tell him/her that's not acceptable or get a different taxi.
• Confirm the cost. If the meter is broken, confirm the fare before opening the car door.
• Don't trust just anyone. Only use cabs with a taxi medallion and/or visible license.
• Break your money. Keep small bills for payment so you don't lose money if the driver "doesn't have change."

Always be alert

"Just because you're on holiday, it's no excuse to take a vacation from common sense," says Kathleen Starmer, an avid globe-trotter who also runs a business in the San Francisco Bay Area teaching women how to be smart travelers. Starmer says the biggest mistake most travelers make is paying too little attention to their situation. It's natural to want to soak everything in, but don't lose sight of your surroundings so much so that you get lost, wander into traffic or an unsafe area, or lose sight of your belongings.

Learn and avoid cultural faux pas

Every country and every city, has distinct customs and norms, so be respectful of them. Something that's appropriate in your hometown may be frowned upon elsewhere. Immersing yourself in the culture can teach you what's appropriate and what isn't, but you should still do some research beforehand to avoid common missteps.

Don't pet stray animals

No matter how much you love animals, don't pet a stray dog or cat in another country. Many countries around the world have a severe stray animal problem. These animals may look cute and cuddly, but they can sometimes get aggressive when approached, and they may not be up-to-date on their shots. Don't risk being bitten, attacked or getting infected with rabies.

Know the local emergency numbers

Because not all countries use 9-1-1, the U.S. Department of State put together a reference list of emergency numbers in foreign countries. You should also know the location and phone numbers of the local police station, hospital or medical center. Always have the address and phone number of the place you're staying, too. If ridesharing apps like Lyft and Uber don't work where you are, save the local cab company's number in your phone. Lastly, know where the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy is and how to reach it.

Be smart about social media

If you like to virtually check in or post lots of photos complete with geo tags, make sure your social media accounts can only be seen by people you've approved. If your accounts are public, it's easy for anyone to stumble upon your photos and have full access to your detailed whereabouts. And consider investing in a selfie stick so you don't have to ask a stranger to take a photo and risk getting your phone stolen.

See something, say something

Terrorist and terrorist-inspired attacks have made many Americans nervous to travel. Such attacks are very rare, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. If you see something or someone suspicious, don't hesitate to call the local authorities.

Trust your gut

Sometimes you just have a feeling that something isn't right even if there aren't any clear signs of danger. If you feel uncomfortable or question your safety in any way, even in places you're familiar with, trust your gut and get out of there.

Google it

If you start to type in "Is it safe to travel to..." into Google, you'll already see that many other travelers share your concerns. If safety is an issue in your destination, you'll see forums, news articles, blog posts and government warnings in the search results. Read though these carefully, and if any of the information makes you uncomfortable consider a different destination.

Skim through the right guidebooks

If you don't have months and months to do intense data mining, Starmer says guidebooks published in the current year can do the trick. "You'll find that different guidebook series serve different demographics, so it's worthwhile to spend some time in a brick-and-mortar bookstore perusing the different offerings to find a good fit," she says. After taking a first pass through a guidebook, look at unbiased online reviews. "Guidebook writers—and even big-name travel bloggers—sometimes receive financial compensation for their reviews, so it's good to double-check that the 'amazing' hotel which the writer gushed over really is amazing!" says Starmer.

Learn from the (other) pros

Have your friends, family or co-workers been to the place you want to visit? What's their advice? Getting insight from someone who's already been there is often the best way to determine a location's safety and your comfort level for visiting it. Crockett says your best bet is to "talk to others similar to yourself, in age, gender, etc."

Try travel blogs, forums and news media

"Travel blogs can be an especially valuable source of information because there are so many niched blogs out there catering to a myriad of demographics," says Starmer. See what bloggers say and reach out to them directly if you have specific questions. There are also endless review sites where you can get firsthand accounts and photos of various locations. Try TripAdvisor for starters, which has user-generated reviews and also a forum where travelers can seek advice and recommendations. And don't forget to read reputable local news sites for current events or the travel section of larger media outlets. For example, The The New York Times publishes a list of top travel destinations every year.

Check out government websites

Government sites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of State have up-to-date information on health threats and travel warnings. Local tourism sites also offer useful planning information.

Go where you have friends or family

Sometimes the easiest way to plan a trip is to go somewhere where you already have family or good friends. You may be able to stay with them to cut costs, but even if you don't, it'll be much easier to explore and get around safely if you're with them, especially if you don't speak the local language. If you don't know anyone, try staying with locals in an Airbnb or a guesthouse. Hosts are usually happy to offer tips and recommendations or even take you around on their own. Just make sure you carefully vet hosts before committing to any accommodations.