Everyone has concerns about their safety, particularly in places that are new or relatively
unfamiliar. After "9/11," the dangers are greater than ever, even in placess where travelers have
always felt safe..
The travel safety consultants from Vantage Systems Inc., an integral part of the POINTS team,
suggest creating a travel safety portfolio for every country you plan on visiting. (They have also
written what POINTS believes is the definitive book on the subject, linked below).
There is no place in the world that is completely safe, just as there is no place that is too
dangerous to travel -- provided you know the dangers and take the necessary precautions. It is
all a question of understanding risks and, where the rewards of travel warrant the risk, taking
needed precautions. But how can you get an idea of the real dangers? Not all travel agents
would tell you, if they knew.
To develop a travel safety portfolio follow the step-by-step plan outlined here, returning
to this page after each step. (It might be a good idea to bookmark this page in case something
happens and your browser is unable to automatically find its way back here.)
Start by checking the The State
Department's Travel Advisory Pages . Download, or print out, the travel advisories for each
country on the intinerary. Travel safety consultants suggest that you consider the State
Department pages as being at the very least "diplomatic," particularly when it comes to U.S.
allies. You should also check for particular travel warnings about a country issued by the State
Department. Other general information on the country and protential problems is available at the
world factbook at the public site of the CIA.
Another site to check is the Hotspot
Map maintained by Emergency.
Go to Anyday to see if they have any
holidays or commemorative periods during the travel time that might cause disruptions, delays
or diminished services. Remember, even holidays and popular celebrations can cause problems
if you are not expecting restaurants to be closed or people to be off work. There are similar services available elsewhere
as well.
Many people like to review recent events in a country through the eyes of human rights
organizations such as Amnesty International. That
will generally provide at least a hint of any problem.
You may find it useful to seek out maps of the area prior to
leaving. Knowing where you are going--and how to get around--is crucial to your safety. For
general information, covering many world cities, try the City Guide site by Lycos. Travel information and tips of
a general nature can be found at Travel
Secrets.
Finally, review current news sites in the weeks and days
before traveling to see if there is an indication of any social, political, or religious violence.That
page also contains weather links.
We also suggest that you download, and review, the list of travel
do's and don'ts. If you are flying, particularly into areas where shoulder-fired "Stinger"
have been used against civilian aircraft, or you believe they may be located and possibly used,
we suggest that you consider the comments and advice for
avoiding Stinger missile attacks. While most travelers do not realize the danger, hundred of
flyers aboard civilian aircraft have died in such attacks over the last two decades.
Nothing can prevent random violence, or an accident. There is no such thing as guaranteed
safety. However careful monitoring of conditions in a country, thoughtful precautions tailored
to the level of danger, and general care for personal safety, will all go far toward reducing the
risks even when they cannot totally eliminate every mischance and mishaps.
"What Your Travel Agent Won't Tell You!" a guide to secure travel overseas, is
available from Booklocker or Amazon Books.
