Travel is exciting, especially when you will be exploring somewhere out of your regular realm. It is important, however, to be aware and safeguard yourself from possible situations that could potentially ruin your vacation.

Important Travel Documents

You cannot travel anywhere without a passport or visa these days, so safeguarding your travel documents are a priority. Have a photocopy or two of your passport/visa located somewhere safe in your luggage, not in a carry-on. It is also a good idea to scan your passport and leave it with someone at home like a friend or family member so you will have an electronic copy on file in the event your documents are lost or stolen.

Look Out for Pricey Exchange Rates

Using your credit cards when you travel is usually the best and safest idea. Just in case, before you leave for your trip, call your credit card companies and ask them if they charge any special fees for international charges. Keep in mind that exchange rates at border crossings and embassies will offer you better rates also.

Let Credit Card Companies Know You Will Be Traveling

If you are suddenly using your card like crazy in another country, your credit card supplier may suspect theft and freeze your account. Let them know you will be out of the country so they don't "flag" your account so you cannot use it.

Be Careful How You Pack Your Carry-On Luggage

Have your essentials with you, such as your identification, boarding passes and passports. Also keep any jewelry you want to bring, a change of clothes, and any important medication you may need just in case your luggage is lost.

Blend In Wherever You Go!

Whatever you do, try not to act like a tourist! Be aware of how you dress and carry yourself so you don't stand out. Tourists are often unfortunate targets of thieves, so it is important that you always remain aware of your surroundings. It is a good idea to carry a "decoy" wallet with you with a few useless credit cards and a small amount of money in the event you are robbed, the thief will take off quickly, and you will have lost virtually nothing because of the crime.

Respect Local People

Remember - you are on THEIR turf, so behave yourself like you are a guest in their home. Before you leave for your trip, learn as much as you can about local customs and traditions, perhaps even learning a little of their language. It's always interesting and fun to ask local residents to recommend their favorite places to eat and visit and they will love you for this. They typically take a lot of pride in where they live and love to share information with you. This is a perfect opportunity for you to soak up a unique travel experience!

Miscellaneous Tips

Before you leave, check out websites such as the U.S. Department of State International Travel Information. Make sure you are aware of any and all warnings or travel alerts.

Protect yourself by purchasing a good travel insurance policy, especially when traveling internationally. Register your credit cards with one company that specializes in protecting you if your cards are lost or stolen, such as Holiday Secure (the information for this service, among others, can be found on my website). This way, one simple process will protect you and your family from fraud, identity theft, or criminal use.

When traveling internationally to a new location, thinking ahead and careful planning is a must. I hope these tips help you have a wonderful and safe vacation!

I have been to 80 cities in 30 countries. I'm not a travel expert by any means, but I do have some travel advice for the next guy. The biggest tip I can give is to do your research. Most of the tips I'm going to provide fall in this category and will be explained in greater detail.

Check travel Warnings and Alerts.
Make sure it is safe to travel where you're heading. Travel Warnings and Alerts are available at any of the regional passport agencies and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. The information is also available online at the Department of State homepage. All information about travel warnings and alerts are updated constantly.

Register your trip. It is a free service provided by the State Department.
I don't want to deter you from traveling, but there is a good number of tourists that disappear each year. By registering your trip, they will at least have a starting place to look if you go missing.

When traveling abroad, make sure you have the address and phone number of your local U.S. Embassy.
In an emergency you want to have this information readily available.

Before traveling, find out if your health insurance company will cover you in an emergency abroad.
In the event of an emergency, cost is not your first concern, I know. It is however, a third or fourth concern. I had a friend who traveled to Thailand and had to have an emergency appendectomy. He spent four days in a hospital in Bangkok and when he got home he had a bill for $20,000 that wasn't covered by his U.S. provider. A travel insurance policy would have cut that cost to almost nothing.

Notify your credit card companies when traveling to unusual places or for long periods of time. The last thing you want to happen is to have your cards canceled by your credit card company because they believed the card had been stolen.

When checking your backpack at an airport, use a pack cover to prevent pockets opening and straps catching on conveyor belts. Now I can tell you from experience you don't want to be the person at the airport collecting their pack that is open and ripped to shreds. To add insult to injury, my journal was missing and everyone in baggage claim saw what type of boxers I wear.

Keep 20 bucks in your shoe. In an emergency, $20 can get you a ride, meal, and a phone call. It hasn't happened to me but I have met people with horror stories about being robbed abroad. With no money and no ID, they had to beg for a few bucks for a cab ride to the U.S. Embassy.

If your unsure about drinking the water where you're going, use a water bottle with a filter. You can get one at any camping store. When I was in Egypt and I was kicking myself for not having one of these. Remember different countries have different organisms in the water that the locals' bodies are used to. Forgieners might not have that same luck in drinking the water. When in doubt, drink bottled water with a name that you trust.

Go with the flow. Traveling, especially aboard is one of the best experiences you could possibly have. You'll meet tons of travelers who just want to see the world and have a good time doing it. Be respectful of others and their beliefs when abroad because they might be different from your own. Be open minded and friendly and I guarantee you'll have a great time.