Safety tips for overseas travelers

• Carry the minimum amount of valuables necessary for your trip, and plan a place or places to conceal them.
  
  
• If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair. Bring them and any medicines you need in your carry-on luggage.

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• Pack an extra set of passport photos along with a photocopy of your passport information page to make replacement of your passport easier in the event it is lost or stolen.
  
  
• Put your name, address and telephone numbers inside and outside of each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity or nationality. If possible, lock your luggage.
  
  
• Don't bring anything you would hate to lose. Leave at home: valuable or expensive-looking jewelry, irreplaceable family objects, all unnecessary credit cards, Social Security card, library cards and similar items you routinely carry in your wallet.
  
  
• Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home in case they need to contact you in an emergency.

• Make two photocopies of your passport identification page, airline tickets, driver's license and the credit cards that you plan to bring with you. Leave one photocopy of this data with family or friends at home; pack the other in a place separate from where you carry your valuables.
  
  
• Check out consular information sheets from the U.S Department of State. They are available for every country of the world. They describe entry requirements, currency regulations, unusual health conditions, the crime and security situation, political disturbances, areas of instability and special information about driving and road conditions. They also provide addresses and emergency telephone numbers for U.S. embassies and consulates.
  
  
• Find out if your personal property insurance covers you for loss or theft abroad. More importantly, check on whether your health insurance covers you abroad. Even if your health insurance will reimburse you for medical care that you pay for abroad, normal health insurance does not pay for medical evacuation from a remote area or from a country where medical facilities are inadequate. Consider purchasing one of the short-term health and emergency assistance policies designed for travelers. Also, make sure that the plan you purchase includes medical evacuation in the event of an accident or serious illness.
  
  
• Purchase an International Driving Permit if you'll be driving in a country where English is not the primary language spoken. Even if you won't be driving, an IDP is an excellent form of identification that translates your U.S. driver's license into 10 different languages.
  
  
• Carry a piece of hotel stationery with you. It comes in handy when communicating with local taxi drivers.
  
  
• If your passport is lost or stolen, notify the local police immediately. Bring the police report, identification and spare passport photos to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for replacement. If your credit cards or travelers checks are lost or stolen, contact the issuing company immediately.
  
  
• Take along an inexpensive nylon duffle bag for your purchases and keep them all in one bag for ease in going through customs. Keep all receipts together.

Source: AAA and the U.S. Department of State
Check out this detailed safety brochure for overseas travelers from the State Department.

Editors' note: Please also see our newest story on the topic of currency conversion.