We have all heard the saying, "Better safe than sorry." It may be terribly overused, but it applies to many areas of life. Traveling to places that may not be the safest of destinations is one field that this saying certainly applies. There is a lot of preparation necessary, but many travelers are spared a great deal of anxiety by assuring they are "being safe" while out of the country.
Terrorism is, of course, a top concern since the attacks on 9-11, but any international traveler is wise to consider other possibilities as well. Is the area to which you are traveling prone to natural disasters? Have you considered the safety measures to be taken in the event of such disasters? What is the crime level in your destination city?
Keep up to date with the often-changing travel warnings that the government issues. The State Department offers consular information sheets for any country you may be visiting. Be sure to have looked at these. The sheet will describe the country and list what the entry requirements are. There will be security and health tips. The sheet will also tell you where to find the embassy.
By taking these few extra steps and precautions to possibly prevent some hard times while out of the country, you should feel more at ease no matter where your business or pleasure flight will be taking you.