Your passport is one of the most important documents you will ever own, so make sure you take the steps to protect it before you travel. Make several photocopies and keep copies with a trusted friend or family member at home, in addition to taking along a few copies for yourself. This will ensure that if anything happens to your passport, it can more easily be replaced. Also make sure that you look up the phone number and address of the nearest embassy, so if you are in trouble and/or you lose your passport, you can go there for help.
While you’re at your destination, try to avoid having your passport with you. If your accommodations have a safe, use it. And while you’re at it, secure any valuables that you don’t need with you on the day’s adventures, such as jewelry and any money that you don’t think you’ll need that day. Only bring what you think you’ll need once you leave your accommodation.
Credit cards are a good way to pay for things while abroad, but keep in mind that if they get stolen, you have to immediately phone your credit card companies to cancel your card – a more difficult task when you’re out of the country. Another option is traveler’s checks. If they get stolen, they can usually be replaced by the company who issued them. Visit an American Express office or your local bank for more information about traveler’s checks.
Trains, Busses, and Airplanes: Where is the Safest Place to Sit?
If you’re traveling by plane and there would happen to be a terrorist attack, the safest place to be on the plane is in a window seat. This makes it more difficult for the hijackers to get to you, and buys you a little more time until help comes. It would also be wise to sit near the emergency exits. The seating rule is the opposite on busses and trains. When traveling by those means, chose the aisle seats. This will protect you in case anything is thrown through the windows. Again, try to sit near the exits for quick evacuation.