I just returned from my annual trip to Germany and thought I’d pass along some overseas travel tips. Traveling is difficult enough with security, customs, changing planes and extended periods of boredom followed by frantic periods of activity.
This list is certainly not meant to be conclusive, rather just a broad brush outline of things to think about.
Don’t carry too many valuables with you. Keep things like passports, money, credit cards in separate areas so that if you lose one thing you don’t lose them all. Purses or fanny packs and outside pockets are easy targets for thieves.
Don’t bring any valuable or expensive looking jewelry with you or your replaceable family objects. Leave all credit cards that you won’t be using at home. Get rid of excess cards.
When walking on the street in a foreign country don’t travel alone at night and don’t take shortcuts in poorly lit streets. Avoid public demonstrations and other civil disturbances. Americans can be picked out of a crowd of thousands and make excellent targets for demonstrators.
Keep your hotel room door locked at all times. Don’t leave any money or valuables in your room. Don’t meet anybody in your room. Meet them in the lobby.
If you’re carrying a bag with you when you travel never leave it unattended or out of your possession. European pickpockets and scam artists make a living out of picking on American tourists who are trusting and naïve.
When you drive, keep your doors locked and wear your seat belt. Don’t drive at night if you can help it and never pick up hitchhikers.
Be careful when traveling by train or bus-gangs of thugs make a living off of Americans tourists.
And the temptation is great, but don’t fall asleep in a bus station, train station or on a bus or train. Tourists have been known to be drugged there.
Know the laws about drugs in the countries you are visiting. Most countries overseas have a zero tolerance for marijuana or cocaine. You don’t want to spend your life in jail overseas.
Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
Know how to get in touch with the US Embassy or Consulate.
Follow these travel tips on your next overseas trip and you’ll be much safer.
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