Traveling Safe!

Night was falling as my plane landed at the airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The flight from Zambia had been awful – a two-hour delay, then turbulence most of the way.

We finally disembarked and were told to go through customs. I discovered the entry fee – $20 for other African nations – was $30 here, which necessitated a quick trip to the washroom to get another $10 from my hidden money pouch. Then I was asked for proof of vaccination against yellow fever. I quietly blessed my family doctor who had had a hard time deciding if I really needed one and then finally inoculated me “just in case.” If he hadn't, I was later told, I would have been taken off to another room and given the shot then and there. Not a pleasant thought.

But the worst awaited me outside:
No one was there to meet me. I later learned my business associates had arrived earlier but were told my flight was delayed and were advised to return in four hours. Unfortunately (major mistake!), I didn't have their phone number or address, so I couldn't contact them. Panic doesn't begin to describe the feeling I had being stranded at night, alone in that small foreign airport.

Fortunately, they returned within an hour, and all ended well. And this solo traveler learned a number of lessons she will not soon forget. With my African adventure still fresh in mind, here are three of my top travel tips. Regardless of where you're traveling – whether it's Florida, Denver, or Dhaka – these practices and attitudes will help you have a safe and pleasant journey.

Tip #1: Expect the unexpected – especially at the airport.

Whether it's delays or flight cancellations, bad weather or lost luggage, count on something unexpected happening at the airport – and plan accordingly. This is especially important since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. If all goes smoothly, count your blessings and know that at least you were prepared for anything.

For starters, arrive early – at least two hours before your flight. Even then, be prepared to wait in long lines and have your carry-on luggage searched. Pack your bag carefully so security guards can easily sort through it – underwear and all.

Make sure you lock your check-in luggage. Keep small travel locks on hand in case you unexpectedly need to check a bag. It's always always good to keep two keys for each lock with you in different locations; if you lose one key, you've got a spare. Or use combination locks and forget about losing keys. Just don't forget the combination.

Bring a stash of munchies, maybe a small bottle of water and something to eat, like a banana or apple. Peanuts, trail mix, or carrot sticks travel well and can be packed in small plastic bags for easy transport. If your flight is delayed and you're sitting on the runway for a while, you'll be glad you have something to eat.

When you make your flight arrangements, ask if meal service is provided. Since 9-11, many airlines have dropped food service on short flights (under three hours). And, of course, if someone is picking you up upon arrival, check ahead of time to find out where you'll be met.

Tip #2: Pay attention to your surroundings wherever you are.

Susan and her friend Christina were experienced travelers who should have known better than to let themselves be distracted; it only took a minute for Christina's wallet to be stolen from her backpack. “We were in a hurry to get back to our hotel,” says Susan, “and didn't lock our backpacks after buying a bus ticket.”

While getting on the bus, they were crowded by three well-dressed young men – pickpockets – who obviously had seen where they put their wallets and, when they bumped up against the girls, one reached into Christina's backpack to snatch it. “We knew we should have taken our time and paid attention to the people around us,” Susan says. “We just got lazy.”

Planning on getting extra money at an ATM while traveling? Look around you before taking your money from the machine. Make sure you're aware of who might be watching you. Be careful as you leave the site. Always use an ATM in a well-lighted and well-traveled location.

One benefit of using ATMs overseas to get local currency is the exchange rates are better than those obtained by exchanging cash or traveler's checks at a bank or hotel. Just make sure you keep a record of how much money you withdrew from your account. And make sure you have a four-digit numeric (not alpha) pin number because the keypads have only numbers, not letters.

Tip #3: Know where you're going – and act like it.

Nothing makes travelers more vulnerable than looking like they're lost – especially if they are lost. Before setting out for the day, identify on a local city map where you're headed and mark your destinations with a highlighter. If you prefer, write out a list of subway, bus, or train stops in order of your day's adventure and then get a mental fix on your compass directions in relation to your hotel.

Be sure to take the map with you; check it whenever you need to, but try not to be too obvious. (Tip: Grab a cup of coffee and sit at a table while you check out your destination.) Standing on a street corner struggling with a map – especially at night – is not a smart idea.

One easy way to become familiar with a location before you leave home is to study it on the Internet. Most cities have Web sites that provide information on places of interest, museums, art galleries, maps, restaurants, hotels, and more. If you grab a cab and aren't familiar with the city, keep your map handy to check your route just in case you're being "taken for a ride".

The key to traveling smart and safe is the old “p” phrase I remember from high school years ago: “Prior preparation prevents poor presentation.” The same goes for good travels.

Travel smart: Keep cash, cards and information safe

Leave the checkbook at home, clean out the wallet and enjoy the vacation without worries.

By Sandra Block / USA Today

Remember the old American Express travelers checks commercials? A horrified couple discovers that someone has stolen all their cash. Where will they go? What will they do? Today, those commercials seem almost quaint. As financial fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated, losing cash is the least of travelers' concerns. These days, thieves use the information they get from stolen wallets and purses to drain bank accounts, borrow money and set up fraudulent credit card accounts.

Don't let identity thieves ruin your summer vacation. Here are some safety tips:

Clean out your wallet before you leave:
If you're taking a barge trip on the Amazon, you probably won't need your Bloomingdale's card. Carry only the credit cards and identification you need for your trip, says Kim Forde, spokeswoman for American Express. Remove cards that show your Social Security number, she advises.

Use stored value cards instead of cash or debit cards:
If you carry a "signature" debit card, which typically has a Visa or MasterCard logo, a thief can make purchases simply by forging your signature. MasterCard and Visa have "zero liability" policies for debit cards processed through their networks, but replacing the money can take up to 10 days, says Linda Foley, executive director of the Identity Theft Resource Center. If it's the end of the month, you won't be able to pay your bills on time. And checks you've already written could bounce.

Stored value cards are a good alternative.
MasterCard, Visa and American Express all offer versions of these cards, which are similar to gift cards. You can load them up with a specific amount of money and use them like debit cards. If the card is stolen, the issuer will replace the money. More important, the thief won't have access to your bank account.

Leave your checkbook at home:
Stolen checks and deposit slips are popular with thieves, Foley says. With a high-quality printer and blank checks from an office supply store, they can use your account information to create fraudulent checks. And check fraud is one of the most difficult financial crimes to clear up, she says.

Pack a backup credit card in case one of your cards is stolen or an account is closed:
Running up big charges on your credit card may trigger your card issuer's fraud-detection alert system, says Tom Lekan, chief security officer for KeyBank.

Out-of-state or overseas transactions may also trigger a fraud alert.
The bank may temporarily close your account until someone contacts you and verifies that you made the charges, Lekan says. You can avoid an unexpected shutdown by alerting your credit card issuer before you leave, says Jessica Antle, a spokeswoman for MasterCard.

Be aware of your surroundings:
Pickpockets gravitate to such high-traffic areas as airports, vacation resorts and county fairs, Foley says. Many are more interested in stealing information than cash. Carry cash and credit cards in a travel pouch or money belt worn inside your clothes.

Lock up your laptop:
Some people lug along laptops so they can squeeze in some work or stay in touch with the folks back at the office. But your diligence may make you a target. Laptops are coveted by criminals, particularly overseas, Lekan says. Many people store personal financial information in their computers. Hackers can bypass passwords, Lekan says.

Many travelers leave their laptops connected to the hotel network when they're not in their rooms, Lekan says. That lets a dishonest hotel employee to search your computer for information that can be sold to identity thieves.

Don't leave your rental agreement in the car:
Many rental car agreements have personal information that could be used by identity thieves.

When you check out, take your key card:
Many travelers leave these cards in their rooms when they head home. Bad idea, Lekan says. Some hotels embed credit card numbers or other personal information in the magnetic strip, he says. Criminals can extract the information. Written by Sue Schumann - Christian Single Magazine