Always research your destination in advance. Know the basics of the city or town, such as where the local fire and police stations are in reference to where you are staying. Once you arrive, make sure you are familiar with your surroundings in case of an emergency—identify the locations of fire extinguishers, stairways, and emergency exits.
In hotels and motels, try to
avoid staying in rooms on the first floor. These rooms have a higher
rate of crime due to the fact that they are easier
to exit.
Make sure a family member or
friend knows your itinerary, and provide him or her with
contact telephone numbers and addresses for places where you
plan to stay whenever possible. In addition, always
call him or her once you arrive and provide or confirm the
hotel or motel name, telephone number, and your room number.
Try to keep a low profile, and
never draw attention to yourself or your traveling
companions. This is particularly important in busy
metropolitan areas.
For more detailed information
on domestic travel safety, go to the National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB) Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/.
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