Traveling Light

Commemoration of the 9/11 terror attacks is bound to lead some travelers to wonder about safety, especially for overseas travel.

Fortunately, traveling around the world is still statistically no more dangerous than traveling across your hometown. Indeed, as at home, most dangers and annoyances on the road revolve around sickness, theft, and accidents — not political violence or terrorism.  Thus, the same common-sense precautions that serve you well at home should help keep you safe on the road.

Should political violence or terrorism capture headlines, the secret to avoiding trouble is not to cancel your travel plans, but to keep yourself informed.  Just because the evening news shows unrest in

Iraq, for instance, doesn't necessarily mean it's dangerous to visit Jordan or Egypt.  By the same token, the evening news might habitually ignore the political situation in Africa, but that doesn't mean it's safe to visit many parts of Sudan or Somalia.

Even if you accidentally find yourself in a dangerous area as you travel, the key to keeping safe is to know and talk to the locals (who can tell you where specific dangers lurk), patronize mom-and-pop businesses (which are never targeted in political attacks), avoid a loud or flashy appearance (this includes dogmatic debates of religion and politics), and travel outside of predictable tourist areas (which are easier for troublemakers to target).  Should the security situation seem especially tense in a region, go a step further and avoid hangouts that cater exclusively to foreigners, stay away from public demonstrations and crowds (this includes small bands of drunks and rabble-rousers), and don't share your travel plans or lodging arrangements with strangers.

Keep in mind that most people in the world will see you not as a political entity or an appendage of the "Great Satan," but as a guest in their country.  Even if they vehemently disagree with your country's policies and practices, they will invariably honor your individuality and regard you with hospitality and respect.

----------

Tip Sheet

"Keeping safe on the road"

1) Research your destination online

Thanks to the Internet, it's easy to stay current on the political and safety situation of a given country. Whether you're going to

Israel or Colombia or the Philippines, online versions of these countries' newspapers are going to give you more specific information than whatever you'll find reported in the mainstream American media.

There are several online sources that collect information relating to global travel safety, including World Travel Watch and U.S. State Department Travel Warnings. Through the State Department site, Consular Information Sheets are available for every country of the world, describing national entry requirements, currency regulations, unusual health conditions, crime and security situations, political disturbances, and areas of instability.  In the event of a specific and current danger in a country, a special "Travel Warning" is posted alongside the consular information. But keep in mind that State Department warnings tend to err on the conservative side, and are best cross-referenced against other sources of information. 

The State Department also maintains an online tip sheet called A Safe Trip Abroad, which has good, basic information for keeping out of danger overseas.  Included are tips for staying safe from pickpockets and general crime, as well as political violence and terrorism. Online links lead to specific tip sheets on travel to the Caribbean, Central and South America, China, Mexico, the Middle East, Russia and South Asia.

2) Guidebooks have useful safely information, too

Guidebooks geared for independent travelers, such as Lonely Planet, Moon and Rough Guide, all have sections on safe travel. Much of the safety information is not likely to be as current as what you'll find online, but these books are good at outlining the perennial dangers and scams of a given region, from political violence to pickpockets.

Another useful guidebook resource is Robert Young Pelton's "The World's Most Dangerous Places," which evaluates the danger factor in destinations around the globe (including the U.S.), as well as providing relevant historical, cultural and geographical information.  "The message is that travel can be dangerous if you want it to be and it can be very safe if you want it to be," writes Pelton. "Even in a war zone."

3) Use common sense

Often, the best way to stay safe on the road is to use the same common-sense tactics that keep you safe at home.  Don't wander around drunk at night, don't befriend pushy or shady characters, and don't stray into dicey neighborhoods.  In maintaining this awareness, don't overcompensate and fall into knee-jerk paranoia — a sure way to ruin your experience anywhere. Instead, cultivate a simple and instinctive habit of diligence as you travel. 

It's also good to know your geography, and avoid easy generalizations. Instability in Haiti doesn't necessarily make it dangerous across the border in the Dominican Republic; unrest in

Kashmir doesn't mean you can't enjoy a holiday in Kerala; and violence in Baghdad is no reason to avoid Dubai.

4) Make your indie travel truly independent

The informed, flexible habits you maintain as an independent traveler — straying off the beaten path, immersing yourself in the local culture, patronizing small businesses instead of international chains — already lessen your chances of being a terror target.  But, as terror attacks in Dahab, Egypt, and Kuta, Indonesia, have shown, even indie travel hangouts can be targeted by extremists.  Thus, regardless of whether you're a businessman or a backpacker, it's wise to avoid destinations that have heavy concentrations of travelers — especially if these places have a reputation for drugs, nightclubs, prostitution, or other factors that might scandalize religious extremists. 

Moreover, violence aside, straying from the party scene of any destination has subtler rewards, as anyone who's left the noisy streets of Kuta for inland Bali (or camel-trekked out of Dahab into the Sinai) can attest.

5) Be aware of the true dangers

Are you sure you're ready to pilot that moped in an unfamiliar country? Road accidents account for far more tourist injuries and deaths than political violence — so use extreme caution when you take your transportation into your own hands overseas. 

Sickness and disease is another common danger for travelers, so keep informed by going online and checking the CDC Travelers' Health page, which posts travel notices, including information on disease outbreaks. Be sure to pay attention to the details — a "Travel Health Precaution" is just a heads-up about specific health risks, whereas a "Travel Health Warning" implies a serious outbreak and recommends against nonessential travel to an area.