Traveling Checklist: What Not to Forget

Safety step number 1: watch the movie Taken. Assuming you don’t have Liam Neeson’s “particular set of skills,” it’s best to remember the following:

• Memorize and/or write down emergency contact info: Is “911” the emergency number in your destination country? If not, memorize that number. If you were to lose your phone (and thus your contacts), how would you get into contact with your emergency contacts? Write down and/or memorize that info as well.
• Register with S.T.E.P.: The US Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (“S.T.E.P.”) allows you to enroll your trip with the nearest US embassy or consulate. Why do this? Because you’ll have help in case there’s an emergency. You’ll receive important updates on safety conditions in your destination country, help embassies contact you—either by email, phone or text—in an emergency (e.g., natural disaster, civil unrest, terrorist attack) and help family/friends get in touch with you as well. Access this website to register.
• Travel with groups, on crowded streets and in the daylight: Plan your routes and activities in advance to avoid walking alone, especially at night. If you do happen to be alone in a non-touristy area, try to find a couple or group to walk slowly behind (yes, it sounds creepy, but it’s a trick to help keep you safe).
• Don’t wear expensive jewelry: What have we been taught about wearing shiny jewelry in the ocean? Shark bait. The same concept applies when traveling—expensive or flashy jewelry calls attention to you and makes you a target. Leave the bling at home—it’s not worth the risk.
• Don’t take unsolicited rides: Try to plan your transportation in advance, and never take unsolicited rides from someone you don’t know (see reference to Taken, above). When you leave an airport, you’ll oftentimes be bombarded by people offering a taxi ride. Do not accept these rides. These “pirate” cabs are usually meter-less, unregistered, unlicensed and uninsured, putting you in a position to get ripped off or worse. If you must take one of these, be sure to agree on the fare ahead of time. Otherwise, always get a registered taxi from the official taxi rank.
• Don’t share personal information with strangers: This advice seems obvious, but it’s easy to forget when you meet friendly people overseas. Even if a gorgeous model is hitting on you, don’t volunteer information about your home address or your money. Also be extremely wary of those pushing for information on where you’re staying and your specific travel plans.
• Don’t leave your drink unattended: I doubt getting roofied is on your itinerary, so be cognizant of your drink and don’t leave it unattended to run to the restroom.
• Pay attention to traffic rules: If you’re in England and only look left before crossing the road, you may turn into roadkill.
• Avoid altercations: In the rare circumstance you get mugged or find yourself in a violent situation, don’t try to be Batman or Wonder Woman. Instead of fighting back, abide by the request and give up your belongings—your health and life are much more valuable than your cash, credit cards and ID. Once you’re out of danger, head straight to the nearest US embassy/consulate or appropriate authority to report the incident.
• Beware of whom you trust: Trust your gut, not strangers. Don’t share with strangers your life story, valuables or personal information.

• Protect your passport: Besides the safety and wellbeing of you and your travel companions, your passport is likely the most important item you’re taking on your trip. Lose it and you’ll be in a world of trouble getting back home. Take the following steps to protect it:
  • Passport belt: As lame as it sounds, this thing is great. Not only does it prevent anyone from having any chance to steal your passport, but you can’t even notice it if you tuck it under your beltline. Heck, put some of your cash and a credit card in there too just to diversify your risk in case your wallet or purse gets lost or stolen.
  • Make a copy: Photocopy your passport ID page and save copies in your luggage, at home and digitally via email. If you’re abroad and your passport gets lost or stolen, the copy will only speed up the process of proving your citizenship, replacing your passport and getting you on your merry way.
• Beware of pickpockets: There’s a special place in hell for these crooks. Some locations are more notorious than others (looking at you, Rome and Barcelona), but you should be cognizant of pickpockets wherever you travel. Typically the perpetrator will bump into you, crowd your space, pat you down after spilling something on you, cover your handbag/purse with a map while “asking for directions” (aka stealing an item under the map) or even work with a partner to create a distraction while the other person swoops in. How to prevent this? Be mindful of your valuables at all times, zip your bag/purse, carry items in your front pockets or passport belt and be very wary when someone bumps into you or invades your personal space.
• Keep money and valuables in multiple locations: You may find it appealing to keep all of your cash and credit cards in one bag while traveling abroad. But what if you leave said bag on a train as the doors shut behind you? Not good. To avoid this possible scenario, hedge your bets by divvying up your cash and credit cards amongst your travel companions and securing them in different locations (e.g., on person, in a bag, in a hotel safe).
• Keep backpacks and bags zipped: No need to offer an open invitation.
• Use your senses: Use those God-given senses of touch and sight with your luggage and valuables: when you’re in public, rather than setting your valuables behind you, keep them in front of you or at your feet where you can see and/or feel them.

Raise your hand if you think you’re too smart to get scammed? Yeah, yeah; put your hand down. The sad truth is that scams happen, even to frequent travelers. The world is filled with good-hearted, honest people, but it unfortunately also has its share of bad eggs. Beware of these all-to-common scams to put these two-faced assholes in their place:

• Broken taxi meter: When you get in a taxi, the driver notifies you that the meter is broken (or simply leaves it turned off). Once you arrive at your destination, the driver charges you some absurd amount and won’t let you leave until you pay. To avoid this, ask the driver to turn on the meter, negotiate rates ahead of time or simply find another cab (preferably registered) that uses a working meter.
• Gift trap: You’re walking around, minding your own business, when someone walks up and hands you a “free” flower, makes you a bracelet or forces upon you another gift as a seemingly kind gesture. The problem is that once you take the item, they will demand money and make a scene if you don’t pay. To avoid this, simply ignore the person (or say “no thank you”) and keep walking.
• Fake tickets: You arrive at a ticket booth and someone offers to sell you tickets at a discount or even a higher price to let you avoid the line. Seems like a deal, right? Wrongo. You purchase the tickets only to realize they’re fakes when you reach the ticket gate, and Mr. Scammer is long gone with your money. To avoid this, buy from the official ticket booth or website unless you’re absolutely willing to take the risk.
• Incorrect change: You pay for a good or service with a 100-currency bill. The scammer returns very little change, claiming you in fact paid with a 50-currency bill. This inevitably turns into a futile argument and you begrudgingly walking away with less money. To avoid this, clearly state the value of the bill when you hand it over. Cashiers also frequently target tourists by taking a pause when returning change, hoping you will be in a rush and bolt with less change than you are owed.
• Fake po-po: This one is typically a team effort. First, one person will approach you to implicate you in a supposed crime, such as offering you drugs. Right on cue, one or more fake police officers approach you and assert that you have broken a law and are required to present your passport, wallet or even a fee. In this scenario, be sure to ask the police officer(s) to see their identification and/or call the police to confirm they are genuine. Another option is to say that you left your passport and wallet in a safe at home and would like to be escorted there. If they resist for any reason, try walking away or calling the (real) police.
• “Helpful” local: You’re lost in a train station when a kind person offers to escort you to your gate, only to demand money for the “service” when you arrive. Or a local directs you to a specific ATM or locker, only to later find fraudulent charges on your card (from a skimmer on the ATM machine) or your locked valuables missing (because the local had an extra key to the locker). While there are genuine, kind-hearted locals, be cautious with overly kind or pushy locals.

Keep your family and friends updated on your location and wellbeing. The easiest way is to email your itinerary (including your planned location on each day) to at least a few of your contacts before your trip. Then, while you’re on your trip, send a quick text or email to them at least once every few days. Doing so allows your family or friends to contact local authorities or the embassy/consulate to help you quicker in case you go M.I.A. or face an emergency.

If you have a layover, you might need to pick up your luggage at your layover stop. This is a lesson you don’t want to learn the hard way. Here’s what to remember:

• Domestic layovers: No need to worry here. Your checked luggage will go straight to your final destination (i.e., your bags will be taken off your first flight and loaded onto your second).
• International layovers: When you have a layover on an international flight, always ask the agent at check-in if you need to collect your luggage at the layover airport. The general rule of thumb is that if you fly from somewhere outside of the US or Canada and have a layover in the US or Canada, you will need to pick up your baggage upon arrival at your layover stop. If you fly to other countries, you typically don’t need to pick up your baggage at your layover destination if your flights are on the same airline or partner airlines. When in doubt, just ask the check-in or gate agent.

When you travel from one country to another and thus pass through customs, remember to take the process seriously. Getting fined or arrested when attempting to enter countries is much easier than you might expect.

Countries vary in the stringency of their questions and protocol, which also depend on your own nationality and travel history. In many countries, including the US, you must declare all products (including listing their value and origin) you are bringing into the country that you did not have when you left. When declaring items, carefully consider any souvenirs purchased, food in your carry-on (e.g., apple given to you on flight) or any other item added to your luggage after you left the country.

The key to remember is that there’s no penalty for declaring a prohibited item, even though you’ll still need to abandon it or have it confiscated. The real trouble arises when you get caught providing false information or failing to declare a restricted or prohibited item. Common restricted or prohibited items to avoid bringing into the US include:

• Fruits & vegetables: Due to risk of plant pests & diseases
• Meat & meat products: Including cured meats & broth
• Plants, seeds, soil & biological specimens: Requires a permit
• Alcohol: Limits vary by state, but no absinth is allowed
• Animal fur & hunting trophies: No products from dog or cat fur (other animals vary); hunting trophies only at certain ports & may require permit
• Endangered species & products made from them: Including products made from ivory, tortoiseshell, whalebone, ivory, skins or fur
• Cultural artifacts: Certain art/artifacts & archeological material without a permit
• Large amounts of currency: $10,000 or more of currency or monetary instruments (or foreign currency equivalent)
• Commercial merchandise: Articles for sale, samples used for soliciting orders or goods that are not considered personal effects
• Drug paraphernalia: Unless prescribed or medically necessary
• Narcotics & certain other drugs: Limits vary, & must be legally prescribed in US
• Weapons & ammunition: Only allowed through licensed importer, dealer or manufacturer
• Trademark & copyright-infringing articles: Including knockoff products or pirated software
• Products from embargoed countries: Requires a specific license

Your potential penalty in the US depends on the restricted or prohibited item, as follows:

*These penalties are general guidelines. Specific penalties can be found on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s website.

Here are some other tips to smooth over the customs process:

• Fill out customs form on plane: Even though that movie or a snooze sounds more appealing, filling out your form using your seat’s tray table is easier than scrambling to do so in a customs line.
• Walk quickly & delay restroom: Customs lines can get LONG. Do yourself a favor and at least get ahead of some of those on your own flight.
• Anticipate the officer’s questions: Customs officers will typically ask you about your citizenship, the nature of your trip and anything you are bringing into the country from abroad. Officers may also ask to search you, your belongings or vehicle (which is in their legal authority). Be prepared to answer these simple questions and abide by their search request.
• Know your rights: While customs officers don’t need probable cause to perform searches at the border, you still have rights. In particular, in the US you have a right to an attorney present during any secondary screening (non-US citizen rights vary); you can request to speak with a supervisor or attorney if questions become intrusive or improper; and you can request asylum if you fear persecution, death or violence when you return to the origin country. With this being said, however, the majority of customs interviews are simple and generally take no longer than a few minutes.
• Avoid bringing home items to declare: After your interview with the customs officer, you can typically walk straight through the “Nothing to Declare” line vs having your luggage screened/searched.

Common sense can’t be emphasized enough. Even if you forget everything in this post, just remember that the most serious problems on trips usually result from a lack of common sense.

There will always be portions of your trip that you can’t control—crappy weather, transportation delays, lost checked luggage, birds pooping on you and so forth. Make sure you control all other areas by using that brain of yours: don’t broadcast your location on social media if your home can easily be burglarized; don’t get drunk in a sketchy area of town when you’re traveling alone; don’t jump down onto train tracks to grab a dropped phone; and don’t trust a random stranger to safeguard your life savings. Always trust your gut, and remember that your health and safety take priority.