Safety on the street when you travel is as necessary as it is when you at home on American soil. Use common sense at all times! You need to be careful when you are walking on the streets of a foreign country. You want to be cautious and in some cases, completely avoid areas where the chance of being victimized is greater. The places to be careful of the most include tourist sites, market places, crowded subways, train stations, festivals, elevators and neighborhoods that have high rates of crime.

Do not take foolish chances and do not think that other people may be more at risk than you are. You are in as good a position as anyone else is to be victimized! That is why you have to be careful where you go and what you do!

There are other things you can do to reduce your chances of being a victim of crime when you travel abroad. Traveling alone at night is not advised. Stay away from short cuts as they can be a short cut to trouble. Stay on the well-trodden beaten track. You should also not wander down narrow alleys or streets that are poorly lit.

Always keep a low profile when visiting a foreign land. You do not want to do anything to draw attention to yourself.  Avoid having loud conversations and avoid others having them around you when out in public. The same can be said for arguments. Stay away from public demonstrations or any other type of civil disturbance. This is a recipe for problems.

When you meet other people do not discuss your travel plans with them and do not discuss any other personal matters with them. Keep conversations with strangers on a casual basis only. In the same way if a stranger approaches you and offers to sell you something cheap or to be your guide then be wary. This is the way many scam artists operate.

You need to be aware of pickpockets as well. Many pickpockets are clever and will work with a partner who will ask you for the time or for directions, push or shove you, or distract you by creating some form of a disturbance while the pickpocket is robbing you. Be aware of the potential for this in order to avoid it. Vagrant children make some of the best pickpockets. Beware of these groups of children standing around in crowded areas as they could easily create a distraction and then rob you.

Do not wear the shoulder strap of your bag across your shoulder but across your chest. To avoid drive-by purse snatchers you should walk with your bag away from the curb. Try to look as confident and as purposeful as you can as you walk about. If you look vulnerable or unsure of yourself then you are more likely to fall victim to a predator on the street. Even if you do not know where you are going act and look as if you do. Only ask those in a position of authority to provide you with directions if you do get lost.

Make sure you take the time to learn a few phrases or sentences in the local language and write them down for yourself. In this way you will know how to ask for simple things and you will also know how to get in touch with the police, the fire department or medical personnel if need be. You should also have in written format important numbers. These include police, fire, the nearest consulate or embassy and the number for the hotel you are staying at.

If despite all of your measures to remain safe you do end up confronting trouble do not fight back, try to bargain or reason your way out of the situation. Just hand over your valuables.

If you look at a travel insurance brochure you quickly realize that there is a lot of information there and little of it makes sense.  It seems that if you don’t speak quote insurance rates lingo then you are out of luck, but that is not the case.  There are simple, straightforward answers.

1.    Why should I get travel insurance?  Insurance will give you the peace of mind of having coverage for any unforeseen problems.  You don’t book a trip thinking about whether the flight will get canceled or you end up being seriously ill and can’t travel.  But these things do happen and this insurance will protect you just in case.  If you need the cost of the ticket refunded, or medical costs if something happens during the trip.  With some types of coverage, even acts of terrorism or bankruptcy of the airline are covered.

2.    What happens if I have to cancel?  This is exactly what travel insurance is made for.  If you must cancel your trip, you will often lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in deposits and non-refundable payments.  You will get reimbursed for this if you are covered.

3.    How much does travel insurance cost?  Unfortunately there is no cut and dried answer for this one.  In most cases the cost of the insurance is based on the cost and value of the trip and the age of the covered travelers.  Normally the insurance will not be more than about five to right percent of the amount paid for the trip.

4.    What else do I get for that cost?  While this will vary by the company and type of insurance you choose, there will be a lot of options that stay the same.  Most companies have a plan that includes a 24-hour emergency service.  This means that if you need to change a flight of hotel room, they have people available to help, even if it’s at three in the morning.  Emergency cash transfers are a great bonus offered by a lot of companies.  Almost all companies you run across offer a consultation service before your trip.  Typically these consultations will give you information on inoculations you might be wise to get or passport requirements.  Almost all companies include coverage for emergency medical expenses, emergency transportation, and protection against lost or damaged baggage.

5.    Does the insurance covers all acts of terrorism?  The answer is both yes and no.  A large majority of companies offer coverage for terrorist acts on United States soil.  Some will offer coverage for incidents in foreign countries as well but often for a higher price.   A few companies include both with all insurance plans, so be sure to check around a little.