What to Take

• To avoid being a target, dress conservatively. A flashy, or too-casual wardrobe can mark you as a tourist.
• Avoid the appearance of affluence.
• Travel light, allowing you to move more quickly, be less tired, and less likely to set your luggage down, leaving it unattended.
• Leave at home all jewelry, irreplaceable family objects, and all unnecessary credit cards.
• If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair. Take them and any medicines in your carry-on luggage.
• Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers. Carry a copy of your prescriptions. List the generic names. If a medicine is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a doctor's letter stating your need for the drug. If you question the legality of a certain drug in a country, consult the embassy or consulate.
• Take travelers checks and one or two major credit cards instead of cash.
• Plan several places to conceal your documents and money rather than all in one wallet or pouch. Avoid handbags, fanny packs, and outside pockets. Inside pockets and a sturdy shoulder bag with the strap worn across your chest are safer. One of the safest places is a pouch or money belt worn under your clothing.
• Pack an extra set of passport photos, a copy of the passport information page as well as tickets to speed the replacement of a lost or stolen passport.
• Put name, address, and telephone numbers inside and outside each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity. If possible, lock your luggage.
• Consider getting a telephone calling card. If you have one, verify that you can use it from your overseas location. Find out your access number before you depart.