Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport!

Be sure your reservation is confirmed, otherwise you may not have a reservation at all.

Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit.

The Department of State’s Consular Information Sheets 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. In general, the Sheets do not give advice. Instead, they describe conditions so travelers can make informed decisions about their trips.

Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, the U.S. Constitution does not follow you! While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.

Make 2 copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.

Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

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.

Several days before leaving, make up a checklist of everything you need to take. Start with morning things (medications, shower necessities, etc.) and mentally go through and write down everything you will need for a day. Don’t forget things like a clock, camera, etc. You can keep this list on your computer and pull it up whenever you need it.

If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair. Bring them and any medicines you need in your carry-on luggage.

To avoid problems when passing through customs, keep medicines in their original, labeled containers. Bring copies of your prescriptions and the generic names for the drugs. If a medication is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your need to take the drug. If you have any doubt about the legality of carrying a certain drug into a country, consult the embassy or consulate of that country first.

Always try to travel light. You can move more quickly and will be more likely to have a free hand. You will also be less tired and less likely to set your luggage down, leaving it unattended.

Don’t bring anything you would hate to lose.

Before leaving on a trip, make sure that you give all travel information not only to the people or place you’ll be staying at, but also several close family and friends where you live. If anything should happen while traveling, multiple people know where you are and have a better chance of getting a hold of you and others who might need to reach you.

Write out a list of things that you think you’ll need and want to bring along on your trip. Giving yourself more than a few days before the trip to plan what you’ll bring will ensure that you won’t forget anything important and give you time to add or eliminate things on the list. Also, when you are ready to re-pack to come home, you can check off your belongings on the list to make sure that you haven’t left anything behind – and, oh yes, do make a list of new things that you have acquired as well. You don’t want to forget your new things!

When traveling abroad by plane always take a pen with you. During the journey you will need to fill in customs formulations before landing – and if you don’t have one you will have to wait until someone else or the air-hostess lends you a pen.

Plan carefully before traveling. Pack coldeeze, or zinc lozenges to fight off colds. (Builds up your immune system.) Carry those little bottles of germ killer lotions in your purse or pocket. (These are handy to wash your hands before eating out at a restaurant.)

If you are from the United States: If you aren’t changing all your dollars to the currency you need overseas before you leave, make sure you have the new American bills with you. Many overseas banks will no longer accept the old $100s or $20s due to counterfeiting.

Always write down the credit card numbers you’re taking with you and place them elsewhere in your luggage in case your purse or wallet is stolen. Also write down important phone numbers of people to contact in case of any emergency (doctor, dentist, pharmacist, credit card companies, etc.) and put them elsewhere in your luggage. They can be a lifesaver!

INSURANCE: 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. Medicare and Medicaid do not provide payment for medical care outside the United States. 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.

Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.

To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.

Carry the minimum amount of valuables necessary for your trip and plan a place or places to conceal them. Your passport, cash and credit cards are most secure when locked in a hotel safe. When you have to carry them on your person, you may wish to conceal them in several places rather than putting them all in one wallet or pouch. Avoid handbags, fanny packs and outside pockets that are easy targets for thieves. Inside pockets and a sturdy shoulder bag with the strap worn across your chest are somewhat safer. One of the safest places to carry valuables is in a pouch or money belt worn under your clothing.

In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.

If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home. Be especially cautious in or avoid areas where you are likely to be victimized. These include crowded subways, train stations, elevators, tourist sites, market places, festivals and marginal areas of cities.

Don’t use short cuts, narrow alleys or poorly lit streets. Try not to travel alone at night.

Avoid public demonstrations and other civil disturbances.

Keep a low profile and avoid loud conversations or arguments. Do not discuss travel plans or other personal matters with strangers.

Avoid scam artists. Beware of strangers who approach you, offering bargains or to be your guide.

Beware of pickpockets.

Keep your hotel door locked at all times. Meet visitors in the lobby.

Do not leave money and other valuables in your hotel room while you are out. Use the hotel safe.

Only take taxis clearly identified with official markings. Beware of unmarked cabs

Deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money, buy airline tickets or purchase souvenirs. Do not change money on the black market.

If your possessions are lost or stolen, report the loss immediately to the local police.  Keep a copy of the police report for insurance claims and as an explanation of your plight.

When you are in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws and are under its jurisdiction – NOT the protection of the U.S. Constitution.

You can be arrested overseas for actions that may be either legal or considered minor infractions in the United States. Be aware of what is considered criminal in the country you are visiting.

In many countries you can be harassed or detained for photographing such things as police and military installations, government buildings, border areas and transportation facilities. If you are in doubt, ask permission before taking photographs.

A traveler going abroad with any preexisting medical problems should carry a letter from the attending physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic name of prescribed drugs. Any medications being carried overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled. Travelers should check with the foreign embassy of the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics.

Additional information, including disease and immunization advice, risks in particular countries, and other health guidance, is available on the Travelers’ Health web page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/travel. The CDC also maintains the international travelers’ hotline at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747).

To avoid illness, travelers should be advised to select food with care. All raw food is subject to contamination. Particularly in areas where hygiene and sanitation are inadequate, the traveler should be advised to avoid salads, uncooked vegetables, and unpasteurized milk and milk products such as cheese, and to eat only food that has been cooked and is still hot or fruit that has been washed in clean water and then peeled by the traveler personally. Undercooked and raw meat, fish, and shellfish can carry various intestinal pathogens. Cooked food that has been allowed to stand for several hours at ambient temperature can provide a fertile medium for bacterial growth and should be thoroughly reheated before serving. Consumption of food and beverages obtained from street vendors has been associated with an increased risk of illness.

Recommended Vaccinations- Certain vaccines are recommended to protect travelers from illnesses present in other parts of the world and to prevent the importation of infectious diseases across international borders. Which vaccinations you need depends on a number of factors including your destination, whether you will be spending time in rural areas, the season of the year you are traveling, your age, health status, and previous immunizations. Check this website for more information http://www.cdc.gov/travel/vaccinat.htm

Always check with your doctor before departing on your international trip for your specific health requirements. For example, altitude sickness medication if you are going to high altitude destinations and are susceptible to this affliction.

Unless you are traveling to Canada from the US, it is usually not safe to drink the water. The water is safe to the locals who are used to it. This doesn’t matter if you’re a resident of Ukraine of the UK – to residents the water is safe, but not to travelers. All water contains different sets of microbes and mineral deposits, even in the US. If you aren’t used to a country’s drinking water, then you may get sick just because it is different. Be safe, buy bottled water cheap at the supermarket

In a restaurant, ask for a bottle of water UNOPENED. Have them open it at the table, and you can be sure you won’t get local water … bottled.

If you’re going to a popular tourist attraction, buy your film at home! It usually costs a lot less than say, Disneyland, or Washington, D.C. or any other big vacation spot.

Find out before you depart whether there is a departure tax, and how much it is. Some countries charge a small fee and will not let you board your flight without first paying. It is best to reserve that amount of cash, as credit cards and other forms of payment are not accepted.

Pick out a book for ‘fun reading’ set in the country you are about to visit. Your fictional journey through the country will put you in the mood to enjoy the sights and experiences to come.

Be sure all of your shots are up to date, and have extra medication in case you are delayed on your return home.

When going by plane, always find out the number of the terminal that you will be flying out of. Large airports such as LAX have many terminals, and the larger airlines are in more than one terminal. In some cases, like Dallas, those terminals are a half-mile apart. Got your running shoes on?

Learn a few essential terms in the native language of the country you are traveling to. For instance, if going to a Spanish-speaking country ‘Hola!’ means ‘hello’ and ‘gracias’ means ‘thank you.’ Other essential words such as food, water, restroom, etc. should also be learned. Not only will the natives appreciate your effort, your trip will be more enjoyable for learning a new language and culture! Also, it can really help you get around more easily!

Consider getting a telephone calling card. It is a convenient way of keeping in touch.  If you have one, verify that you can use it from your overseas location(s). Access numbers to U.S. operators are published in many international newspapers. Find out your access number before you go.