1.  KNOW THE RULES. WHEN TRAVELING ALONE OR WITH FRIENDS, BE AWARE OF THE RULES FOR TRANSPORTING ITEMS TO AND FROM YOUR TRIP.

2.  BE INFORMED. ALWAYS CHECK TRAVEL WARNINGS AND NOTICES FOR THE CITY/STATE/COUNTRY YOU ARE VISITING.

3.  LOCK UP. MAKE SURE YOUR HOTEL ROOM DOOR IS SECURELY CLOSED AND LOCKED WHEN LEAVING YOUR ROOM. PUT ALL VALUABLES IN HOTEL SAFE.

4.  GET TRAVEL INSURANCE. ALTHOUGH YOU MAY THINK YOU DO NOT NEED THIS, ANY THING CAN HAPPEN, ILLNESS, ACCIDENT, NATURAL DISASTERS, DELAYED OR CANCELLED PLANS, FAMILY EMERGENCIES, LOST LUGGAGE. BE PREPARED. TRAVEL INSURANCE IS VERY AFFORDABLE.

5.  KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. AIRLINE PASSENGERS NOW HAVE MORE RIGHTS THAN EVER BEFORE. LEARN WHAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO.

6.  TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. TRUSTING YOUR OWN INSTINCTS IS PROBABLY THE BEST ADVICE YOU NEED. ONLY CHOOSE ACCOMODATIONS, RESTAURANTS, TOURS, ETC. THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH. NEVER LET ANYONE TALK YOU INTO DOING SOMETHING YOU DON’T WANT TO DO.

7.  BE PREPARED. WHEN ARRIVING IN A NEW PLACE, SEEK OUT LOCAL, STATE AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. IF TRAVELING ABROAD KNOW WHERE THE U.S. EMBASSY IS LOCATED. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS. IF YOU GET LOST AND VENTURE INTO UNKNOWN TERRITORY, ASK SOMEONE OF AUTHORITY RATHER THAN JUST ANYONE. ACT CONFIDENT, DON’T FLASH CASH AND CREDIT CARDS. ALWAYS LET FRIENDS/FAMILY KNOW WHERE YOU ARE WHEN TRAVELING.

8.  DON’T OVERPACK. PACK LIGHT. DON’T OVERBURDEN YOURSELF WITH SO MUCH EXTRA WEIGHT THAT IT ENDANGERS YOUR SAFETY.

9.  BUY A DOOR STOP. AS AN ADDED MEASURE OF SECURITY IT’S ALWAYS USEFUL TO HAVE A RUBBER DOOR STOP HANDY. PLACE IT UNDER YOUR DOOR WHEN YOU GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT FOR ADDED PIECE OF MIND.

10. KEEP YOUR VALUABLES ON YOUR PERSON. ALWAYS KEEP PASSPORT, DRIVERS LICENSE, CASH AND CREDIT CARDS ON YOU, RATHER THAN IN A BAG OR PIECE OF LUGGAGE THAT IS AT RISK TO THEFT.