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U.S.
Travel Warnings & Consular
Information Sheets
General
Security
- If
possible, speak with female
flight attendants about
the destination, asking
them for personal observations
on safety and local attitudes.
- Victims
of crimes should keep any
police reports, as insurance
companies may request the
documentation.
- In
public places, choose seats
by aisles when possible
to make a quick exit easier.
Preparing
for a Trip
- Bring
a flashlight
- Pack
as lightly as possible,
to avoid being hampered
by large bags while traveling
to a hotel, or in case a
quick exit from a hotel
room necessary
- Consider
renting or buying a mobile
phone. Seek out emergency
numbers for destinations,
and put the numbers on speed
dial.
- In
addition to checking the
weather before going lo
a destination, check the
sunrise and sunset times.
Health
- Kidnap
and ransom insurance is
available.
- Check
that any medical prescriptions
(including birth control
pills) are properly filled
and clearly labeled.
- Check
1o see that the destination
country permits the medicines
in question (e.g., Japanese
customs officials do not
allow some prescription
drugs into Japan, even when
accompanied by customs declarations).
- Women
travelers should bring feminine
hygiene supplies, as these
can be hard to find or ill-packaged.
Toilet paper and sanitary
wipes may be useful as well.
- Travelers
should not accept any drinks
from people who are not
well known to them. If a
bartender is preparing a
drink, watch closely. Do
not leave drinks out of
view.
Personal
Information
- When
registering for events,
travelers should use only
their last names and first
initials.
- Remove
I.D. badges after meetings.
- Store
passport and identity documents
in a safe place, and carry
photocopies. Consider doing
the same with credit cards
and airline tickets.
- If
possible carry only one
credit card.
- Consider
using prepaid phone cards,
instead of using a phone
card or a phone card number.
- Tear
any name and address information
off magazines before throwing
them away or leaving them
on the plane.
- Guard
any PIN numbers with particular
vigilance, and use ATMs
within hotels if possible.
Luggage
- Use
covered luggage tags, addressed
with an office or relative's
address.
- If
placing a bag on the floor,
place a foot on the strap.
- Women
should consider using inconspicuous
luggage that does not denote
affluence or femininity.
- Women
should use a handbag with
an inner zippered pocket
and a strap too thick 1o
be easily cut. Wear the
strap across the body, against
the stomach.
- Consider
wearing a money belt. Half-slips
with pockets sewn into the
seam are also available
for women travelers.
Airports
- Shield
from view documents or logos
that denote citizenship
(for example, hold a U.S.
passport with the eagle
logo facing inward, or under
other papers while standing
in line).
- Mace
and pepper spray are illegal
in many counties. If transporting
them, put them in checked
baggage
- If
carrying, a computer, do
not place it on the X-ray
belt until just before going
through the metal detector.
Some thieves work in teams,
with one thief deliberate
y holding up the line while
the other picks up a laptop
that has passed through
the X-ray check.
Renting a Car
- If
apprehensive about getting
lost, hire a taxi and follow
it to the destination.
- Carjackers
often try to distract drivers'
attention to get them to
stop, or bump them from
behind. If a minor accident
occurs, do not stop: drive
to a lit, busy area (preferably
a police-station) and exercise
caution. If driving to such
an area is not feasible,
stay in the car and blow
the horn to attract attention.
- Keep
all items out of view within
the car, including maps
and guidebooks.
- Do
not rent hatchback cars,
as they do not conceal possessions
well.
Transportation
- Do
not use unmarked taxis.
- Pay
a taxi driver while still
in the car to ensure the
proper change.
- When
possible, avoid putting
luggage in the trunk of
a taxi, to facilitate a
quick exit, if necessary
- Be
wary when boarding or exiting
a bus or train, or riding
escalators, as pickpockets
tend to strike at these
times.
- Once
registered at a hotel, keep
a hotel business card to
show taxi drivers where
to go.
Hotels
- Choose
a hotel in a busy area.
A tea-room indicates that
there are many women guests.
Smaller hotels with small
lobbies, and reception desks
near the entrance or elevators,
are deterrents for loitering
criminals.
- If
reserving by phone, ask
about 24-hour security,
guards and the lighting
in the parking area. If
considering a hotel while
driving by, avoid areas
by pawnshops, liquor stores
and clubs. On checking in,
verify working hours for
parking and gym attendants,
and avoid being in those
facilities alone. -
- Women
should ask a female employee,
not employed in the reservations
function' about the area.
Check with bellhops also.
- Inquire
about staff services to
escort guests to their rooms
late at night
- Have
gratuities ready for porters
and doormen, to avoid exposing
a wallet
- Study
a map before leaving the
hotel. Ask a concierge to
mark any dangerous areas
on the map.
Hotel Rooms
- Request
a room near the elevators,
away from catwalks and terraces.
Rooms above the first two
floors are less likely to
be robbed, but rooms above
the seventh floor may be
out of reach of fire rescue.
The room should have a safety
chain or bar lock, and a
peephole. It should not
open to the outdoors.
- On
arrival at the room, if
the door is open or unlocked,
do not enter. Return to
the desk and ask someone
to act as an escort
- Check
the room's closet and bathroom
on first entry to be sure
it is empty.
- Lodge
a rubber doorstop under
the room door for extra
security against intruders.
You might want to carry
one with you.
- Hang
expensive clothing under
other clothing.
- Ask
the concierge to book any
reservations, and ask the
restaurant to book a taxi
for the return trip.
- Do
not leave "Please Make
Up Room" sign outside
the door. Call housekeeping
instead.
- When
leaving the room, place
the "Do Not Disturb"
sign on the door, and leave
the television or radio
on.
- Avoid
permitting hotel staff in
the room. If a person claiming
~ be a hotel employee insists;
on entering, call the front
desk and verify the person's
identity and reason for
coming into the room.
- Travelers
should unpack only to the
extent that if a quick exit
is necessary, they can take
crucial items.
- Compact,
portable noise alarms are
available to deter break-ins.
These can be quickly and
easily installed, and re
moved.
- Battery-powered,
compact portable smoke-alarms
- -available, as are supplemental
lock and stops for sliding
glass doors.
- When
showering, keep valuables
in the bathroom.
On
the Street
- Walk
with head and shoulders
erect, arms swinging to
convey confidence.
- Always
keep a safe distance when
walking past strangers on
the street or in dark areas.
- If
calling for help, shout
~FIRE~ rather than ~HELP!
- Carry
bags away from the street
side.
- If
asking directions is necessary,
ask families or women with
children. Phrase the question
on along the lines of ~Where
is [destination]? I am meeting
my husband there.'
- Be
wary of gypsies in some
cities, especially those
carrying babies as they
might surround you, counting
on your concern about the
baby while they try to pick
your pocket, take your purse
or luggage.
- Travelers
should have subway fare
ready when entering the
station, so that thieves
cannot see where travelers'
wallets are kept
Common
Scams
Listed below are some ploys
used by pickpockets to distract
travelers:
- One
person covertly smears toothpaste
on a traveler's shoulder,
pointing it out as bird
droppings and offers to
wipe it off (usually with
a large handkerchief. As
one thief wipes off the
toothpaste and distracts
the traveler, a partner
picks the traveler's pocket.
- Children
carrying newspapers or cardboard
sheets swarm around the
traveler, holding the sheets
in front of the traveler's
face and stealing luggage
or picking pockets.
- A
woman holding a life-sized
doll, which looks like an
infant, suddenly shouts
and throws the ""baby"
at a traveler. The traveler
scrambles to catch the doll,
and thieves pick the traveler's
pockets or steal luggage.
- Women
wearing long dresses and
posing as street vendors
surround a traveler closely,
talking loudly and waving
pamphlets or merchandise.
Children hidden under the
women's skirts pick the
traveler's pockets.
- One
thief will grope a traveling
woman on a crowded bus or
subway. As she is indignantly
looking around for the culprit,
another thief reaches into
the traveler's purse.
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Addresses
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