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FEATURE
Travel Abroad Safely
By Judi Janofsky & Rich Steck
The US State Department frequently issues traveling warnings aimed at letting tourists know the hot spots in the world - places they don't advise we travel to or places we need to be even more diligent about safeguarding our possessions as well as ourselves. Sometimes the warnings are political, most often they're not. And they can give us valuable information.
The department also offers recommendations or tips to make travel outside our country easier and safer. Here are several they suggest:
1. Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service at travelregistration.state.gov. This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.
2. Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.
3. Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
4. Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.
5. Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. The State Department web site at travel.state.gov/travel/ cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit.
6. Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.
7. Contact the State Department in an emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at travel.state.gov. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if calling from overseas.
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