A Safe Trip Abroad

Millions of foreigners travel abroad each year and use their foreign passports. When you travel abroad, the odds are in your favor that you will have a safe and incident-free trip. However, crime and violence, as well as unexpected difficulties, do befall travelers all over the world. No one is better able to tell you this than consular officers who work consulting travelers around the globe. Every day of the year they receive calls from travelers in distress.

Fortunately, most problems can be solved over the phone or by a visit of the foreigner to the Consular Section of his / her native country’s embassy or consulate. But there are less fortunate occasions when consular officers are called to meet his native citizens at foreign police stations, hospitals, prisons and even at morgues. In these cases, the assistance that consular officers can offer is specific but limited. To avoid the above mentioned information, study the following travel tips.

Category	Tips
What to bring	Ø Safety begins when you pack. Try to dress conservatively not to mark you are a tourist. Avoid the appearance of affluence. Ø Travel light to move quickly and to have a free hand. Ø Carry the minimum of valuables and cash, use travelers checks and credit cards. Ø Avoid hand bags, fanny packs and outside pockets that are target for thieves. Use inside pockets and shoulder bags with a strap across your chest. Ø Consider getting a telephone card to use from your overseas location.
Local Laws and Customs	Ø Learn as much as you can about the countries you are going to visit and keep track of what is being reported in the media about their recent developments.
Safety on the Street	Ø Avoid crowded places abroad. Don’t use short cuts, narrow alleys and poorly-lit streets. Don’t travel alone at night. Ø Avoid loud conversations and arguments; keep a low profile. Ø Beware of pickpockets. Ø Learn a few phrases in the local language to signal your need for help, the police or a doctor.
Safety in Your Hotel	Ø Keep your hotel door locked. Don’t leave money and valuables in your room. Ø Leave your room key at the receptionist’s.
Safety on Public Transport	Ø Take only clearly marked cabs and define the fare. Never pick up hitchhikers.
Money Safety	Ø Don’t flash large sums of money when paying the bill. Ø Exchange money only with authorized agents.
Hijacking / Hostages Situations	Ø Remain calm and alert and manage your own behavior. Avoid resistance and sudden threatening movements. Ø If questioned, keep your answers short. Ø Don’t try to be a hero, endangering yourself and others.
Unusual laws around the world to stay out of hot water on holiday
Singapore	To keep the streets clean, in 1992 the authorities decided to ban chewing gum completely. Stick to a mint to freshen up after dinner.
Amsterdam, Netherlands	Smoking tobacco in a public place such as a coffee shop is banned, while puffing away on pure cannabis is entirely legal.
Florida, USA	Unmarried women who parachute here on Sundays can be jailed.
Switzerland	Flushing the toilet in apartment here after 10 p.m. is actually illegal.
Capri, Italy	Wearing flip-flops as‘noisy footwear’ is not recommended.
Eboli, Italy	Kissing in a moving vehicle here can carry a fine of up to €500.
Dubai, UAE	Kissing in public here is illegal.

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Дата добавления: 2015-10-24