Safe Travel Tips

As a valuable Internationalflights.com client, we want you to have an enjoyable and safe trip. Please read through this carefully and print it before your trip, it will be helpful to take these precautions to make your trip worry free and successful. Happy journeys!!

1. Do not dress to impress with expensive jewelry or clothing, this attracts attention.
2. Travel light, you can move quickly and you will not be tired.
3. Passport, credit cards and cash should go into the hotel safe.
4. If possible make copies of your passport to carry with you and leave your passport in your hotel safe.
5. Avoid handbags, fanny packs and outside pockets that may be targets for thieves.
6. If you wear glasses, be sure to bring an extra pair with you.
7. Medications, instead of bringing a pill dispenser, keep your medications in their original containers with the label and take your prescriptions with you.
8. Try and carry travelers' checks and more than one credit card with you.
9. Take an extra passport size photograph of each traveler.
10. Place your name and address on each tag for each bag.
11. It may be convenient to carry a calling card. If you're traveling internationally make sure you can place outbound calls within the country you are traveling to.
12. Please check with your cell phone company prior to your travel to another country regarding voice and data charges and then take a wise decision whether you need to allow International voice and data plan
13. Check the Visa status for the country you are traveling to. For Canadian passport holders, click here.
14. Some countries may require vaccinations; check the requirements for US passport holders. For Canadian passport holders, please click here.
15. Travel warnings, US State department travel warnings to certain regions and countries is listed here. For Canadian passport holders travel warnings can be found here.
16. Be sure to bring your Frequent Flyer Miles and Points for Airlines and Hotels, including any travel memberships, such as AAA or AARP card.
17. Check the expiration date of your passport; it should be valid for at least six months exceeding your return date.
18. Please check with your cell phone company prior to your travel to another country regarding voice and data charges and then take a wise decision whether you need to allow International voice and data plan

What Not to Pack

1. Valuable or expensive jewelry.
2. Family heirlooms and items considered irreplaceable.
3. Credit cards that are not used frequently.
4. Social security card, library card and other membership cards.
5. Leave a copy of your itinerary, passport, passport photos, and the serial # of travelers' checks with friends or family.

Quick Travel Tips & Resources

1. Consular Affairs for all foreign consular services and information visit this website. 
2. Overseas Citizen Services, if you're traveling abroad and you are a US citizen, you may call: 1-888-407-4747. Or, if you're calling from abroad: 1-202-501-4444.
3. While traveling abroad you should register with the state department here.  
4. Traveling with a child as a single parent, please carry a legal document from the other parent authorizing you to do so. Some countries may require evidence of legal guardianship. A simple notarized letter should suffice, please consult an attorney.
5. Credit limit on your credit cards, keep note of how much credit you have on each card. Some countries have very strict laws on exceeding credit limits.
6. Insurance, Medicare and Medicaid do not cover medical expenses abroad. Some private insurance policies may also not cover health insurance abroad. You may purchase health insurance here.
7. Currency Converter
8. Language Translator
9. Weather reports
10.  Country Customs and etiquette, click here.  
11. Unaccompanied minors traveling alone
12. Traveling with Diabetes, click here.
13. Disabled Air Travel, click here and here.
14. Disabled travel resources
15. Traveling with pets
16. Travel for adoption

Public Transportation Safety While Traveling

When traveling via taxi, bus, train, subway or other means of public transportation, you want to be safe and smart. Here are a few tips to consider.

1. Be extremely careful in crowded subways, train stations, elevators, tourist sites, marketplaces, festivals and crime-ridden neighborhoods.
2. Avoid using small alleyways and dimly lit streets.
3. Avoid public demonstrations or political disturbances.
4. Keep a low profile. Do not raise your voice and do not get into arguments.
5. Do not discuss travel plans with strangers.
6. Do not look as if you are lost. Appear confident, even when you're actually lost.
7. Make a note of emergency phone numbers in your local area while traveling.
8. If you are attacked or confronted, do not fight back, give up your valuables.
9. Do not take unofficial taxis, which are not marked or metered.
10. Do not accept food or beverages from strangers in trains or buses.
11. If you are taking an overnight train, take turns sleeping and always lock your compartment.
12. If you sleep on a train, tie your luggage with a chain lock.
13. Don't be afraid to let the authorities know if you suspect anything.
14. While traveling on buses use the same precautions.

Hotel Safety Tips

After booking a discounted hotel on Internationalflights.com, you want to be safe and smart during your stay to make the most of your vacation.

1. Meet your visitors in the lobby of the hotel and keep your room locked at all times.
2. Do not leave money or other valuables in your room; put it in the hotel safe.
3. Let someone in the hotel, like the concierge or front desk know what time you should be expected back.
4. Read the Fire safety instructions.

Car Rental Safety Tips

After making your discounted car rental reservation on Internationalflights.com, here are a few safety tips.

1. While renting a car, choose a commonly available type in the local market you are visiting, so you do not draw attention to yourself.
2. If possible, ask that markings identifying your rental car as a "rental" be removed.  
3. Make certain that the car you're renting is in tip-top shape. 
4. If available, choose a car with universal door locks and power windows, features that give the driver better control of access. 
5. An air conditioner in the car can also be a safety feature, allowing you to drive with closed windows. Thieves can snatch purses through open windows of cars even while driving.
6. Wear seatbelts and keep the doors locked at all times.  
7. Do not pick up hitchhikers, men or women, even if they look innocent, or are attractive.
8. If you see suspicious looking people around, do not get out of the car.
9. Do not park your car in a remote area overnight.
10. Try and avoid driving at night.
11. In some southern European countries, there are many scams, which lead to carjacking. Carjackers and thieves operate at gas stations, parking lots, in city traffic and along the highway. Be suspicious of anyone who hails you or tries to get your attention when you are in, or near your car.

Safety Tips for Handling Money When Traveling

When traveling, handling money safely is of the utmost importance. Whether, you're using cash or travelers checks, you want to be smart. Here are a few tips to help you handle money during your travels.

1. Try and carry traveler's checks instead of cash.
2. Counter sign Travelers checks in front of Shop owners when making your purchase.
3. Do not flash large amounts of cash.
4. Get your credit card back after each transaction.
5. Only deal with big or well known money exchange vendors.
6. If you lose any valuables or money, immediately file a police report and keep a copy of that report.
7. After reporting the theft to the nearest police station, report the following:
   • Travelers checks to the closest bank or agent issuing company.
   • Credit cards to the issuing bank.
   • Airline tickets to the travel agent or airline.
   • Passport to the nearest consulate or embassy.

Safety Resources for Travelers

1. Avoid high risk areas. Try not to travel to areas where the government has issued a travel warning.
2. Do not leave any documents in the hotel room while checking out.
3. It is good to make a mental note of the closest hospital and police station.
4. Do not accept packages or gifts from strangers at any cost.
5. Always drive with all doors locked and windows closed.
   
   

Contact Information for Victim Compensation and Assistance Programs

Information about each state's crime victim compensation program and how to apply for compensation is available on the Internet at the web site of the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards. 

The toll-free, 24/7 hotline for sexual assault crisis counseling and referrals in the United States is 1-800-656-HOPE. It is operated by a non-profit organization called RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), which also has information on the Internet here.

Information about local sexual assault victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state's sexual assault coalition. 

Contact information for these state coalitions are listed on the web site of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office.

The toll-free 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline, which provides crisis counseling and referrals in the U.S. is 1-800-799-SAFE. Information about local domestic violence victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state's domestic violence coalition.

Contact information for these state coalitions is listed at the web site of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office.

The toll-free 24/7 crisis counseling and referral line for families and friends of those who have died by violence is 1-888-818-POMC. It is operated by a non-profit organization called POMC, Inc. (The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children), which also has information on the Internet here.  

Information about national and local resources for victims and family members of victims of drunken driving crashes is available at MAAD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Contact information for non-emergency victim assistance services in communities throughout the U.S. is available at the website of the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime.

Information for crime victims on the impact of crime, safety planning, legal rights and civil legal remedies, as well as options for assistance and referrals to local programs is also available from the National Crime Victim Center (NCVC). Call toll free (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST) 1-800-FYI-CALL or call TTY for the hearing impaired (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST) 1-800-211-7996. For additional information please click here.

Information and referral to victim assistance programs is available from the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), call toll-free 24/7, 1-800-TRY-NOVA. Clik here to check additional information.

Information about victim assistance programs in approximately 20 countries is available at the web site of Victim Assistance Online.