Visit the State Department website to sign up for their Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. In case of an emergency back at home or abroad, the U.S. government will be able to locate and assist you. Confirm that your passport is current and inquire as to whether you need a tourist or work visa to enter your destination country. Begin to organize your travel documents months before your trip, if possible. Make two photocopies of your passport, airline tickets, driver's license, tourist or work visa and credit cards. Leave one copy at home with family or friends, along with your trip itinerary, and pack the other copy in a safe place in your luggage.
When packing your bag for an international trip, limit yourself to a 20-lb., 22-inch carry-on suitcase or backpack. Do not bring anything valuable or irreplaceable. Pack light and bring only essentials. You can buy or rent pretty much anything you might need in your destination country, such as scuba fins or deodorant. Leave extra room in your bag for souvenirs. Roll all of your clothes, or separate them with tissue and place toiletries in a sealed bag. Put your name, address and local contact information on a piece of paper inside your bag.
Carry all necessary medicines in original containers and copies of your prescriptions with you when you travel abroad, as well as a letter from your doctor explaining any health conditions you may have. Consult the Center for Disease Control website to learn specific health concerns for your destination along with suggested vaccinations and other health precautions. Do not accept packages from strangers, keep your luggage with you at all times and stay near public, tourist areas. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash or wearing expensive jewelry.
In case of an emergency while traveling, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Embassy staff can help you evacuate the country during a natural disaster or give legal, medical and financial advice for various situations. They can also help replace a lost passport, or assist if you are the victim of a crime.
