You may be a bit apprehensive before traveling internationally whether it’s your first trip ever or if you happen to be traveling to an unfamiliar country. You may have questions about foreign travel vaccinations or foreign travel insurance both of which we’ve covered for you.

Despite what you may hear on the news or find confusing about traveling the world, the reality is that most of it is safe and easy to navigate. The information you need is online and most of the documents required (if any) are available for you to print.

After that common sense and figuring out some of the local tricks will get you the rest of the way and International Travel Safety is a website that hopes to teach you how.

International Safety Tips and Advice

• Understanding International Travel Advisories
• Safety Tips For Travelers Abroad
• Airline Travel Safety

By learning more about the risks and how to stay safe when traveling internationally, you can not only get a leg up on what most travelers typically encounter but reduce your anxiety as well. Coming up with a good security and safety plan before each trip doesn’t take long but goes a long way to keeping your travels going smoothly.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Copyright @2012 International Travel Safety

As you travel around the world to various places you may not have or bother to bring a laptop. Still you’ll likely need to get online at some point to check your email, search cheap airline flights, and credit card accounts (which by the is a good way to avoid scams abroad). Internet cafes are pretty common around most of the world but the quality of the security on any given machine in any given cafe can vary quite a bit. Being on unfamiliar digital turf though you can protect your online accounts from cyber-criminals and hackers by using a few good security best practices and by adding layers of insulation online. Let us explain how to do this and help you protect your accounts at Internet cafes.

Separate Your Passwords - None of your accounts online should share the same password. You can use the free program KeePassX (which works on Windows, Mac, and Linux) to manage each username and password. KeePassX is also a great tool to use to create passwords which are randomly generated and complex up to as many characters as you like. Complex passwords contain a combination of letters, symbols, and numbers. Weak passwords are the most common ways accounts are compromised so don’t bother trying to come up with ones based on your spouse’s initial. Use KeePassX to make up the passwords and keep the records on a USB drive with you when traveling. KeePassX also copies and pastes passwords into fields for you without requiring you to type anything.

That’s a great defense against keystroke loggers which are programs hackers put on computers to record anything that is typed in via the keyboard. They are difficult to detect so copy and paste with the mouse is good protection against it. You can also get tricky with your passwords by typing in a bunch of random characters into a text editor and then copying each individual character you need for a particular password. It’s not the ideal method but effective. Below is an example of how you could do this:

• For example -3wivfjL9O5VdjEwMYdsDqqo54aq!$G (iLOVEMYDoG)

You can also use the free program Safekeys which creates a little keyboard on the screen you can use to click in each character of your password.

Use A Linux Portable Drive - It’s not as complicated or difficult as it sounds. A Linux portable drive is a great way to protect yourself from a computer that might have malicious software on it. Here’s a very straightforward and easy to follow guide on how to install your own portable Linux USB drive.

Be Weary And Access What You Need - Unless you absolutely need to don’t check your most sensitive accounts, like credit cards or banks, from Internet cafes. Also, if you’ve got a blog you can keep your travel blog safe when you’re traveling. That’s not to be paranoid but a good practice to vary what you access where and further insulate yourself by keeping a different password for each of your accounts online. Use your best judgment and enjoy your vacation offline as much as you can!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Copyright @2012 International Travel Safety

Before going on a vacation away from your home you’ll need to spend a few moments thinking about how to protect it from damage or theft while you’re away. Protecting your home when you’re away traveling and putting up deterrents to theft is inexpensive and won’t take much of your time. Save yourself the headache of worrying about what’s happening to your house or apartment but getting it ready to spend a few days or weeks by itself. Here’s how you can great crafty and devise your own personal home security plan.

Install Cameras - You can buy a good set of imitation security cameras for less than $20. You don’t need to set anything up and by installing some above the main entrances to your house you’ll ward off most criminals who would rather avoid a house with cameras. There is no set up required and the cameras don’t actually record or capture any footage. If you’d like some working surveillance cameras for your home, check out this Lorex wireless digital system. It’s on the expensive side, around $350 for several cameras, software, and monitoring devices. The useful thing about these cameras is that you can monitor them from the Internet and check on your house while you’re making your way to these recommended RTW destinations.

In addition to your fake security camera system you can also go to the local hardware store or purchase a home security monitoring sign. The kind that companies put in front of houses to advertise and let people know the home is under surveillance. Again, you don’t have to spend money on the actual system, most criminals aren’t going to take the chance and will just move on to the next house, leave yours safe while you travel.

Let The Neighbors Know - Your next door neighbor or the one around the block you’re friends with makes one of the best security systems. They can keep an eye on your house and park their car in your driveway, as well as pick up the newspaper from time to time. They’re in the area anyway so it shouldn’t take much effort for them to take a look at your house every now and again and give it the impression that someone is home when you’re really halfway around the world.

Put Timers On Your Lights - Again, you want to give the illusion that your home is occupied when it’s not. A good way to add to the overall effect is to install a few light timers around your house that turn on and off at different times. You could also have a house sitter come by or stay at your place while you’re away. Provide them with a few snacks in the cupboard and you’ll be getting free security while providing the person a place to crash for a bit.

Finally, it’s important to lock away your valuables and important papers. The best method is to install a solid safe into the foundation of your home that can’t easily be removed or picked up. If you’ve got a PC you can remove the hard drive and lock that up or just encrypt the contents using Truecrypt.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Copyright @2012 International Travel Safety

You’re really quite safe when traveling by airline. It’s the safest way to travel and each plane is carefully inspected prior to each flight and there are a number of instruments that make sure the craft is operating properly in the air as well. From time to time there is an airline incident or accident that makes headlines worldwide and can have you apprehensive about flying all together. You can however learn a bit more about airline travel safety and calm your nerves the next time you get on an airplane.

First off, over 75% of people involved in serious plane crashes or accidents survive. Those are pretty good statistics when you consider that it’s rare for any given plane to go down. Even the most frequent traveler has a 1 in 20,000 chance which are slim odds when you realize that in the United States thousands of people die on the roads each year. You can find out the statistics on the aircraft or individual airline you are flying by checking out Plane Crash Info which has a lot of information on the topic.

One way you can help yourself before any airplane ride though is to book a seat close to one of the exits. Studies have shown those sitting within a few rows of any exit stand a much better chance of escaping and ultimately surviving a plane crash. After the initial impact of a crash the most important point of survival is to get away from the aircraft quickly and avoid any flames inside. Most crashes happen during the first and last 30 minutes of flight – when people tend to be tucked away in a book or blasting their headphones. Don’t use this time to get caught up on a nap but to stay alert and pay attention to the flight safety speech and make note of the safety card in front of you. Make note of where the exits are and stay buckled up for the entire duration of the flight whenever you are in your seat. That can not only help in case of a disaster but in the much more common scenario of being in heavy turbulence and getting bumped around.

Wear The Right Shoes - You don’t want to wear those cute little heels or your favorite sandals when you get on a plane. It’s true that increasing your chance for a sprained ankle, cut, or dirt won’t help your travel health any but you want to wear shoes you can be mobile in. You’ll also want to avoid any materials like nylon that are highly flammable. Not to be paranoid but these small things can help you avoid injury even if you’re just stuck in one of the best airports to sleep in due to excessive delays.

Leave Your Things Behind - If you do need to exit an aircraft due to an emergency, leave your bags behind. Trying to get stuff out of backpacks and purses is one of the most common way people get killed after a crash (really) so if there’s something you highly value, keep it in your pockets. If it doesn’t fit there just forget about it, your life isn’t worth it. Keep in mind too that when you do get off the airplane, try and get about 150 meters or 500 feet away from the craft. That’s a good distance to avoid any explosions and still be found by rescue crews without getting lost yourself.

Some other basic advice on airline travel safety is to stay sober at take-off and close to landing and don’t worry so much about flying. As you’ve probably heard over and over, the car ride to the airport is much more dangerous…statistically.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Copyright @2012 International Travel Safety

Despite your best efforts on trying to avoid scams or cons while you travel, if you travel enough it’s sooner or later bound to happen to you. If you do happen to be unfortunate enough to fall to a minor scam you can reduce the overall negative impact on your trip by following some sound advice and start by not overreacting. Things happen and most travelers who learn to be flexible tend to have a much easier and less stressful time traveling in a variety of conditions. The first thing you need to do when you’ve been scammed is to confirm that you actually have been scammed. It’s common in many touristic areas for foreigners to pay most when purchase items at small shops and markets so ending up paying a bit more isn’t usually worthy of being called a ‘scam.’

Check Serial Numbers - You can also look to see if you’ve purchase fake or imitation designer goods by looking up the serial numbers of Google. Generally speaking though, if you paid far less for it that you know the item to be worth chances are it isn’t real. Designer stuff and most legitimate electronics come with a manufacturer’s warranty. Items that don’t have one may be gray market and sold for less but then again you should know what you are buying and whether or not it’s covered for any defects.

Call The Credit Card Company - This is what to do for any purchases you make with your credit card that turn out to be defective items. Most credit card companies give you certain protections on purchases and may be able to reimburse you for money lost on defective or misrepresented goods. Be sure to let the credit card company know in detail what has happened and exactly what you purchased and how much you paid. Also, as soon as you suspect fraud, let the credit card company know to monitor your account and change your card numbers as soon as you return home.

Don’t Bother Going Back - You might be able to get your money back but it could be a lengthy stressful process that doesn’t yield any results. You’re better off swallowing small loses and reporting bigger ones. Another option is also to tell the local authorities too and let them know your story to see if they can help you reclaim your money or lost items.

Learn From Your Mistake - The worst thing you can possibly do after a scam is not to take anything from it and miss out on learning your lesson. After being conned you’ve now gained some valuable experience about a place and know what to look out for and avoid in similar situations as you continue to travel.

Remember that not all scams are located in the third-world or in dark little corners of each city. You can be conned just about anywhere and targeted for a number or reasons. Being an outsider it’s easy to become a target so before your trip take some advice on how to avoid scams abroad. Hopefully it won’t happen to you but if it does, relax, and work your way to better the situation, learn from the mistake, and enjoy the rest of your trip.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Copyright @2012 International Travel Safety

When traveling away from home it can be easier to be scammed in a number of ways since you may not be familiar with the local culture and are often not as alert as you would be if you weren’t traveling. There are a variety of scams around the world and some are specific to certain parts of the world or areas but you can use this general advice to learn how to avoid these scams and what to do after the fact in case you are caught. This advice focuses on mostly the financial scams where you get ripped off but nothing physically endangering. You can however avoid many more types of problems when you’re away from home by following these safety tips for travelers abroad.

First off you should be aware of the local tricks and common scams used by thieves in particular place. You can usually get this information online, with your hotel or hostel owner, or by consulting the tourism department or local travel agent. They’ll usually be able to tell you specifically what to look out for and once you know that, can be extra vigilant so you aren’t taken advantage of. When making smaller purchases or taking a taxi, be sure to have cash and correct change on you as most of the time you’ll spend more since the other person “doesn’t have change.” You can use some of the best iPhone apps for travelers to calculate how much you should tip and find out about scams using the Travel Channel Go app to get an idea of what to watch out for.

For bigger purchases you should use your credit card since most offer protections against fraudulent charges. It’s an added bit of protection since you can’t always know who is behind the counter. In many countries outside of the US, full credit card numbers are printed on receipts and kept in the memory of most scanners. So even after you leave a shop your credit card number may remain and be used for all kinds of charges. Check your accounts when you can online and make sure there aren’t any charges, even small ones for a cent or two. That’s usually how criminals will test a card to see the bank’s reaction. After a week or two they will then actively use the card if no suspicion is aroused.

Another option is to file a report with the better business bureau or local equivalent. – Do a Google search and find the right consumer advocacy group who can alert others or work on your behalf. It’s important not to confront the con artist in most cases, really it is your judgment call but don’t get yourself into real trouble all over a few cents or dollars. Go to the authorities if they are reliable and report what you can and move on.

Do your best to blend in and learn from your mistakes if you do happen to get taken for a ride. If you end up buying less than quality merchandise try to put it to good use or donate it when you return home. You can also keep your laptop and other electronic possessions safe by using a few cheap but very effective un-sexy travel gadgets.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Copyright @2012 International Travel Safety

Many people become worried about the vaccinations they’ll need before their next trip so much so that they don’t even book! It’s easy enough to find out what vaccinations are required, recommended, and optional for most parts of the world you’ll be headed to. Some of the common vaccinations are against yellow fever and malaria and most people don’t have serious reactions to any of the medications. You’ll want to begin researching and getting your medication 4-6 weeks prior to departure as some medicines require that amount of time to build up to effective levels in the blood.

What Vaccinations Do You Need? - You can get a complete list of the vaccinations that are required to enter a country on the US Centers of Disease Control (CDC) website. You’ll want to also check what your home country requires for your return and also any countries you plan on visiting along the way (i.e. CDC travel Kenya). You may also want to consider foreign travel insurance if you happen to be visiting an area where communicable diseases are prevalent or if you are sensitive to certain medications and worried you may have a reaction while on the road.

Once you have an idea of what vaccinations you need, you can make an appointment with your doctor to get the required shots. Check with your insurance company to see what they will cover and if you’re not insured shop around to find out the prices. Some clinics may cater to those without insurance and you might be able to find lower prices on your medication by getting the required shots there. Typically however, immunizations and foreign travel vaccinations are common and therefore not very expensive. Finally, you’ll want to remember certain things like pregnancy can affect immunizations and whether or not you can be given certain vaccinations so make sure to mention you recent medical history accurately to your doctor.

Routine Vaccinations - Your doctor will want to see evidence that you are up to date on all of your basic vaccinations and if there is any question will likely re-administer them to be sure you are covered. International Health Regulations require yellow fever vaccinations for all travelers to sub-Saharan Africa as well as meninococcal vaccinations for those traveling to Saudi Arabia during the month long Hajj.

Yellow fever vaccinations last approximately 10 years and can be administered easily with a single shot. Meninococcal vaccinations have a slightly more complicated schedule for children (every 3 years) and adults (2-6 years, although varies based on risk and exposure). Many travelers also ask about malaria which can be prevented with the use of anti-bug and mosquito spray since that is how it is primarily spread. Travelers can also take anti-malarial pills a few weeks beforehand or a shot. The pills tend to cause nausea and either method isn’t full proof. Also if you do happen to get malaria, it can be cured if you are treated relatively early so look out for the warning signs and see a doctor if you experience severe chills, aches, or fever.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Copyright @2012 International Travel Safety

One of the most important things to remember when traveling is to use common sense. Don’t mistake a different location or place as somewhere you can forget about what you already know. Staying safe while traveling is easy for most people and you can further reduce any anxiety you may have as well by keeping in mind some basic advice and common sense. The world isn’t as scary of a place as it seems to some people and as it is portrayed on some media outlets. It can also be a bit more intimidating if you have a hard time understanding foreign travel advisories which tend to be vague and rather over the top outside of specific areas.

There are some of the basic safety tips for travelers abroad you’ve probably heard before but we’ve included some of the rationale behind that and more details to what they actually mean.

Be Aware Of Your Surroundings - This one always makes sense in hindsight as most things do. You can simply notice things like exits and entrances in places you commonly frequent like hotels and perhaps certain restaurants. Keep an eye on people and if someone approaches you and things don’t feel right, leave to be on the safe side. You don’t have to watch very molecule around you but don’t drift off into space when walking around some of the top beaches in Europe or while backpacking in Thailand.

Keep Some Things To Yourself - For any travelers, but especially women, don’t divulge every aspect of yourself or how you are traveling to strangers. For those of you traveling alone or completely unfamiliar with a city, don’t let other people you’ve hardly met know these facts. You don’t need to be an expert about every place or culture you visit but it’s also not a good idea to let anyone else know your ignorance or vulnerabilities too.

Learn Some Of The Language - You don’t need to know every single word in the dictionary, which is how most people tend to take this piece of advice and then end up learning nothing. There are plenty of free online language resources you can use to have fun, be lazier, and learn a few key words as well. Some of these sites are also language social networks where you can converse with others and meet locals as well.

Lock Up Your Stuff - Many hostels and hotels have lockers for travelers to use but them you’ll need to bring your own lock. They might rent them but that’s usually expensive, much more expensive than it should be. Get yourself a good padlock with a combination lock which will come in very handy during your travels. Another great item to have is a PacSafe which is a steel mesh designed to wrap around your backpack.

Know The Cultural Norms And Blend In - The way that people can tell you’re foreign isn’t so much by your race or your physical characteristics, but it’s how you dress, act, and even walk. You can learn much about a culture and some of their norms with a simple Internet search and try to dress and behave a bit more like the locals and less like you would at home. The differences are often very subtle but can go a long way to helping you avoid unwanted attention.

Same as you would at home but simply keep in mind a few of the ground rules may be different. People may act and respond to your actions and gestures in ways they would back in your home so learn a bit and take notice of the area around you when you go places. Trust your gut and keep personal information to yourself, especially if you are traveling alone. Staying sober and keeping your cash hidden in a few places (i.e. backpack, pocket, locker) are also good ideas as well.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Copyright @2012 International Travel Safety

The question, do you need foreign travel insurance, is an involved one that depends on a number of basic factors. It’s a question that every traveler may ask themselves at some point due to the length of a given trip, the planes you’ll be traveling, or other health issues which may be involved. As a traveler you should take a look at your personal situation and see if travel insurance is right for you. We’ll show you what to consider and how exactly travel insurance works, and your options when purchasing to help make the decision and process easier for you before your next vacation.

First of all let us begin wit what travel insurance is. Most coverage usually includes some amount of medical and material protection outside of your home nation. If you’ll be traveling within your home country then you don’t need to get travel insurance as you probably wouldn’t be covered anyway. Look locally for other forms of personal insurance outside of the travel insurance companies. The two most important things to get coverage on are your medical expenses should you need them and your most expensive electronic items like digital nomad laptops or other portable devices that you’ll travel with. Since you’re most likely booking with a credit card check to see what your card company covers in terms of fraud and protection and also with the airline. Often there may be unusual delays or other incidents the airlines (or your company if you’re traveling for business) may compensate you for. The same goes if you make travel reservations through a traditional travel agent.

Coverage – Start your research by making sure the travel insurance covers the countries and areas you’ll be traveling to. Insurance companies may change their policies based on government issued travel warnings so it’s important you learn to understand international travel advisories and what they mean. Many Western European nations, New Zealand, and other developed nations (not the US) also provide medical coverage for all residents and foreign visitors. When traveling to these places if you become injured or very ill, your medical coverage will most likely be taken care of by the state. Check the government website of the nation you’ll be visiting in these cases as you may be able to forgo foreign travel insurance this way.

Dealing With Travel Insurance Companies - Some of the biggest providers as good as they can be, may be difficult to get a hold of when you have a claim to make. World Nomads provides foreign travel insurance to many travelers and you can speak with them to get more information about what exactly they cover and what your travel insurance options are. Be specific when asking your questions and finding out what exactly your protections will be. Ask how you can make a claim and what you would have to do should the need arise.

Check Out World Nomads - They provide good coverage and are easily accessible via telephone, email, and Twitter (@WorldNomads). Get information about any special medical conditions that may apply in your case and see if they cover any medications you may need. Also, while you can purchase coverage after you’ve left for your trip, it’s best to purchase it before you leave in case you need to make a claim – things can get stolen at the airport or you can sprain your ankle getting off the plane!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Copyright @2012 International Travel Safety

Frequently asked questions about World Nomads travel insurance

1. Do I need Travel Insurance? Believe us, when you travel, things can – and do – go wrong when you least expect it. Adequate travel insurance helps to protect you (and your bank balance). If you’re still not sure, read this.
2. Who can buy it? World Nomads Travel Insurance is available to residents of over 150 countries.
3. What if I change my mind? Had a change of travel plans? Unlike other policies, World Nomads is flexible and allows you to extend your policy while you are still traveling.
4. What activities are covered? World Nomads cover most adventure sports from bungee jumping in New Zealand to white-water rafting in Colorado.
5. How do I buy it? You can only buy World Nomads policies online using a credit card. To start, please choose your country of residence.
6. How do I make a claim? With World Nomads Travel Insurance you can claim online even if you are still traveling. And if you don’t entirely trust insurance companies, have a look at how World Nomads have helped some of their travelers.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Copyright @2012 International Travel Safety