INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS

• Before making international travel reservations, check to see if the country to which you are traveling is listed on the U.S. Department of State (the State Department) warning list at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html or alert list at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1766.
  html. These warnings and alerts are issued directly by the State Department, which strongly recommends that Americans avoid travel to these countries.
• Always register with the American embassy or consulate in the country you are visiting at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/. Provide telephone numbers and addresses of places where you plan to stay, names of friends or relatives, and any other pertinent information that will help the U.S. government contact you in case of an emergency. This is particularly important if you plan to stay in a particular country for more than a month.
• The State Department provides specific information for every country in the world—such as embassy and consulate locations, health conditions, unusual currency and entry regulations, and crime and security information—on its Web site. Go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_4965.html, and carefully review the particulars for the country to which you are traveling before you go.
• When traveling overseas, always keep all your important documentation with you. It is highly recommended that you make a few photocopies of your passport to bring with you as well. In the event your passport is stolen or lost, a copy will assist the local embassy in reissuing another one to you.
• Learn as much as possible about your destination before your trip, including information about local customs, health care quality, foreign language basics, etc. Being prepared in the event of a natural disaster or emergency could be the key to your survival.

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