Something from another sight I thought I'd share this advertisement which does include some prudent advice.
As tourists travels near and far, personal safety/security experts warn that they may be headed into dangerous territory if they do not remain alert and cautious.
Colonel U.D, a Security Service Specialist, with more than 20 years of experience, and CEO of MONACO BODYGUARDS™ has developed a list of PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS™ that will help them to keep their guards up and minimize risks.
1. CLICK AND POINT. Before traveling abroad, search for potential dangers for each country with the State Department. Their official Web sites state applicable warnings. All local embassies will provide you with information about the security of the country you will visit. Before you travel write down useful information before you go like the local embassy phone number and address, local hospital and emergency numbers.
2. LUGGAGE. Mark your suitcases so that it is easier to find them among the others and remember to put a note with your, name, phone and e-mail address inside. That makes it a lot easier to identify and there are a bigger chance to get it back.
3. HANDLUGGAGE. Important documents, jewellery, PC, and travel documents should always be packed in your hand luggage together with extra underwear and toiletries. That your luggage ends up in the wrong destinations do happen from time to time.
4. PASSPORT AND CREDITCARDS. Make a copy of your passports main sides, flight ticket, visa and your credit cards and bring it in your hand luggage. Do also send a copy to your e-mail adress, then you will always have a copy available if something should happen.
5. TICKETS Even if you travel "ticket-less", don't listen to them. Print out all and bring it with you in case a problem should occur. This will prove that you have bought and paid the ticket.
6. IN THE PLANE. For the best chance of getting out alive from a burning aircraft, people should choose an aisle seat near the front within five rows of an emergency exit.
7. LISTEN TO YOUR INSTINCTS. If it feels wrong or dangerous, it probably is. Be aware of what happens around you use COMMON SENCE.
8. TRY TO BLEND IN. Try dressing like the locals. Familiarize yourself with local customs and even body languages, example: in some countries they will find it very offensive if you talk to them while you wear sunglasses.
9. LEAVE THE “BLING BLING” AT HOME. Travel with little more than what you are going to wear. Don’t bring expensive watches and jewelry you may now need, don’t display large amounts of cash anywhere in public.
10. KNOW WHERE YOU’RE SLEEPING. Use recommended lodgings or familiar chains. Search the neighborhood to make sure it is safe. If traveling abroad, check with the American consulate for advice. And book through your local hotel chain.
11. KEEP THE ROOM SERVICE UNDER CONTROL. Put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door for the duration of your stay. For additional precaution, leave your TV on whenever you leave the room. If you require fresh towels or toiletries, order up to the room while you are there. Keep in mind that most housecleaning happens until approximately 3 PM. IF you want your room cleaned, remove ALL items of value. DO NOT tempt the house cleaning.
12. BUY A WIRELESS TRAVEL ALARM. Many people get robbed when they sleep in their hotel, and another good advice is to block the door with a chair on the inside.
13. WAKE UP ON TIME. The hotel watch is not always to be trusted. Bring your own travel watch, so you are sure to wake up on time. You don't want to be late for a important business meeting because the receptionist forgot to wake you up.
14. DAY & NIGHT. Familiarize yourself with the area you’re staying during daylight hours and never venture off alone at night if you don’t have to. If you do go out and will not be back until after dark, bring numbers for local cab companies with you, if possible find one good cab driver and get his number and try to only use him, tip well and you may find cab drivers very friendly and helpful with local information and try to travel in groups of 2 or more to and from hotel, restaurant ect.
15. VARY YOUR DAILY ROUTE so that potential attackers can’t predict when you’ll be in particular places and if possible traveling in a group.
16. MEMORIZING important local phrases.
17. NEVER LEAVE KIDS UNATTENDED. Always keep your kids in sight when traveling but also be aware that in many countries the local customs are a lot more lax when it comes to strangers socializing with your kids.
18. BRING AN OLD WALLET with you put some old credit cards in it and some cash money, if ever held up hand it over and keep your real wallet safe, use hotel safes with larger hotels or even rent a bank box for a longer stay. Always keep your passport, (keep a photocopy of it with you) tickets, VISA and traveler’s checks safe.
19. CASH IS "KING". Bring cash with you, both larger notes but also a lot of smaller notes in the local countrys currency. More and more people get cheated when using their cards. And remember that paying a 10-20 EURO taxi trip with a 100 EURO note could turn out to be problematic.
20. DON'T ACCEPT FOOD OR DRINKS FROM STRANGERS. Anywhere! If accepting drinks insist you order directly from the bartender or waiter. And avoiding alcohol intake, which, no surprise, tends to make people more vulnerable to attack.
21. LEARN BASIC FIRST AIDS. The red cross hold courses, and always bring a basic first aide kit both when traveling and in your car and at home.
22. HIRE A GUIDE, DRIVER OR PROTECTION FROM MONACO BODYGUARDS™. If you are traveling abroad, or even in an unfamiliar city, hire someone who knows their way around. If you look lost, you’re an easy target. If you insist on driving yourself and you get lost, ask directions at a store or another place of business – not a stranger on the street. Always carry cash with you because in some countries, it is expected that you “tip” authorities should you be stopped, or encounter problems with local authorities. Remember: You are less likely to be stopped if you have a native driver you can trust, BUT get referrals. But if you are travelling to a conflict zone, hire MONACO BODYGUARDS™.
As tourists travels near and far, personal safety/security experts warn that they may be headed into dangerous territory if they do not remain alert and cautious.
Colonel U.D, a Security Service Specialist, with more than 20 years of experience, and CEO of MONACO BODYGUARDS™ has developed a list of PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS™ that will help them to keep their guards up and minimize risks.
1. CLICK AND POINT. Before traveling abroad, search for potential dangers for each country with the State Department. Their official Web sites state applicable warnings. All local embassies will provide you with information about the security of the country you will visit. Before you travel write down useful information before you go like the local embassy phone number and address, local hospital and emergency numbers.
2. LUGGAGE. Mark your suitcases so that it is easier to find them among the others and remember to put a note with your, name, phone and e-mail address inside. That makes it a lot easier to identify and there are a bigger chance to get it back.
3. HANDLUGGAGE. Important documents, jewellery, PC, and travel documents should always be packed in your hand luggage together with extra underwear and toiletries. That your luggage ends up in the wrong destinations do happen from time to time.
4. PASSPORT AND CREDITCARDS. Make a copy of your passports main sides, flight ticket, visa and your credit cards and bring it in your hand luggage. Do also send a copy to your e-mail adress, then you will always have a copy available if something should happen.
5. TICKETS Even if you travel "ticket-less", don't listen to them. Print out all and bring it with you in case a problem should occur. This will prove that you have bought and paid the ticket.
6. IN THE PLANE. For the best chance of getting out alive from a burning aircraft, people should choose an aisle seat near the front within five rows of an emergency exit.
7. LISTEN TO YOUR INSTINCTS. If it feels wrong or dangerous, it probably is. Be aware of what happens around you use COMMON SENCE.
8. TRY TO BLEND IN. Try dressing like the locals. Familiarize yourself with local customs and even body languages, example: in some countries they will find it very offensive if you talk to them while you wear sunglasses.
9. LEAVE THE “BLING BLING” AT HOME. Travel with little more than what you are going to wear. Don’t bring expensive watches and jewelry you may now need, don’t display large amounts of cash anywhere in public.
10. KNOW WHERE YOU’RE SLEEPING. Use recommended lodgings or familiar chains. Search the neighborhood to make sure it is safe. If traveling abroad, check with the American consulate for advice. And book through your local hotel chain.
11. KEEP THE ROOM SERVICE UNDER CONTROL. Put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door for the duration of your stay. For additional precaution, leave your TV on whenever you leave the room. If you require fresh towels or toiletries, order up to the room while you are there. Keep in mind that most housecleaning happens until approximately 3 PM. IF you want your room cleaned, remove ALL items of value. DO NOT tempt the house cleaning.
12. BUY A WIRELESS TRAVEL ALARM. Many people get robbed when they sleep in their hotel, and another good advice is to block the door with a chair on the inside.
13. WAKE UP ON TIME. The hotel watch is not always to be trusted. Bring your own travel watch, so you are sure to wake up on time. You don't want to be late for a important business meeting because the receptionist forgot to wake you up.
14. DAY & NIGHT. Familiarize yourself with the area you’re staying during daylight hours and never venture off alone at night if you don’t have to. If you do go out and will not be back until after dark, bring numbers for local cab companies with you, if possible find one good cab driver and get his number and try to only use him, tip well and you may find cab drivers very friendly and helpful with local information and try to travel in groups of 2 or more to and from hotel, restaurant ect.
15. VARY YOUR DAILY ROUTE so that potential attackers can’t predict when you’ll be in particular places and if possible traveling in a group.
16. MEMORIZING important local phrases.
17. NEVER LEAVE KIDS UNATTENDED. Always keep your kids in sight when traveling but also be aware that in many countries the local customs are a lot more lax when it comes to strangers socializing with your kids.
18. BRING AN OLD WALLET with you put some old credit cards in it and some cash money, if ever held up hand it over and keep your real wallet safe, use hotel safes with larger hotels or even rent a bank box for a longer stay. Always keep your passport, (keep a photocopy of it with you) tickets, VISA and traveler’s checks safe.
19. CASH IS "KING". Bring cash with you, both larger notes but also a lot of smaller notes in the local countrys currency. More and more people get cheated when using their cards. And remember that paying a 10-20 EURO taxi trip with a 100 EURO note could turn out to be problematic.
20. DON'T ACCEPT FOOD OR DRINKS FROM STRANGERS. Anywhere! If accepting drinks insist you order directly from the bartender or waiter. And avoiding alcohol intake, which, no surprise, tends to make people more vulnerable to attack.
21. LEARN BASIC FIRST AIDS. The red cross hold courses, and always bring a basic first aide kit both when traveling and in your car and at home.
22. HIRE A GUIDE, DRIVER OR PROTECTION FROM MONACO BODYGUARDS™. If you are traveling abroad, or even in an unfamiliar city, hire someone who knows their way around. If you look lost, you’re an easy target. If you insist on driving yourself and you get lost, ask directions at a store or another place of business – not a stranger on the street. Always carry cash with you because in some countries, it is expected that you “tip” authorities should you be stopped, or encounter problems with local authorities. Remember: You are less likely to be stopped if you have a native driver you can trust, BUT get referrals. But if you are travelling to a conflict zone, hire MONACO BODYGUARDS™.
