Whispers
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• Pack a destination-specific medicine cabinet. Much of what we purchase over the counter can be difficult if not impossible to find once on the road.

• Make sure you do not pack more than you can carry comfortably for long distances. You never want to be forced to compromise your safety because your belongings are too heavy or awkward to lug by yourself.

• Photocopy credit cards, and ATM cards as well as passports, visas and any requisite health certificates and store separate from the originals. This will make on the road replacement quicker and easier and make it faster to notify the companies if your cards are lost or stolen so that you will not be responsible for any fraudulent charges.

• Use luggage tags that close over your name and address-hiding them from the view of would-be thieves and con artists.

• Leave a key to your house with family members, trusted friends, or neighbors. You may need them to go in and check on something while you're gone. And, if you lose your own keys during the trip, you won't end up locked out of your own house.

En Route

• Tear your name and address off any magazines you bring from home to read en route.

• Remember the buddy system. Even if you are traveling alone, you'll find opportunities to meet temporary buddies.

• Choose your traveling garb carefully-not too revealing, unless you want to court random romantic attention. Make sure it's comfortable for long flights and easy to release in cramped airplane toilet facilities. Shun logo tee-shirts as they make it easy for hustlers to make an approach that can catch you off guard.

• At the airport and at borders, seek out other women (particularly Western tourists) coming out of the country you're headed for. Ask them for advice. Most women are happy to share information and knowledge, and these women are ideal primary sources.

• Even if you are lost, don't look lost. Carry yourself as if you know what you are doing and where you are going.

Money & Scams

• Stand close when punching in your PIN or calling card number. Thieves work public places with binoculars.

• Stash your U.S. money and your foreign money in two different places in your purse so that when you reach for the local money no one sees a stack of valuable and attractive U.S. bills. The separation also makes it easier for you to differentiate between the values of the two currencies.

• Avoid the black currency market. Exchanging money illegally can land you in a dangerous foreign prison for years, or you can be swindled by a cheating money changer and end up with out of circulation and worthless foreign currency.

• When you go out, always carry enough cash for at least one direction of bus or cab fare and enough to make a phone call. It is also wise to carry a pre-paid phone card.

Driving

• Lock the car doors when you get in the car as well as when you get out of the car. It's always more difficult to get someone out of your car once they're in than to keep them out to begin with.

• Lower your tourist profile at gas and food stops. Hide guidebooks and maps under a local newspaper, or make a book cover for your guidebook from that same paper newspaper.

• Carjackers often operate in pairs. They are often armed and approach from both sides of the car when you are parked or stopped. Your best chance of survival (assuming you can't escape with the car) is to hand over the car immediately, and run.

• There are thousands of highway crimes in the United States. Rest stops at night are particularly dangerous for single women. A cellular phone that is both visible and within easy reach is a good crime deterrent.

Dealing with Officials

• Take a moment to assess any order from an authority figure. Remember that some will be using their badge of office to try to take advantage of you and will consider you especially vulnerable because you are a foreigner and a woman. Try to be as matter of fact as possible and give yourself an air of importance that puts you on an equal footing.

• Your appearance can instigate unnecessary interactions with authorities. Dress and act conservatively.

• Expect, in some developing countries, that some rogue policemen may offer to drop serious charges against you for sexual favors. Take your chances with their criminal justice system-refuse politely but firmly-and face the charges.

• Try to manipulate where you pull over if a police car signals you to stop. Seek a locale with plenty of light and action such as a busy street corner or a gas station.

Lodging

• Register in hotels with your last name and first initial. Do not advertise your gender with a Miss, Mrs., or Ms. title.

• Carry a business card from your hotel. That way, if you get lost you can show it to a police officer or taxi driver who can help you get back.

• Make a personal connection with the desk clerk or concierge. They are instant access to the local culture, and for the asking, you'll find them eager to share suggestions, favorite sites and restaurants, as well as survival tips.

• Avoid spreading your clothes, toiletries, and belongings completely throughout the room. That way, if something goes wrong and you decide to leave quickly and ahead of schedule, you won't be slowed down trying to find a journal or stray shoe.

Health

• Check to make sure your prescriptions are properly filled.

• Know some of the warning signs that you may have picked up a parasite: diarrhea, constipation, joint and muscle aches, insomnia, teeth grinding, etc.

• Carry an extra pair of eyeglasses and a copy of your eyeglass prescription.

• Call the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (716-754-4883) for a list of English-speaking doctors worldwide. They can also be reached by email: iamat@sentex.net or visit their website.

• Your period may come unexpectedly and you ought to be equipped with enough tampons and pads to last through at least on entire period.

Attitude

• Walk and act with a sense of confidence and purpose.

• Keep track of yourself and your belongings, especially in tourist-filled public places where one crook working in concert with another can distract you while the other lifts your valuables.

• You are not welcome everywhere. In some cases there will be no specific rules, regulations, or signs instructing you to stay out. You must see and sense the exclusion.

• Dress down, but not sloppy. Fancy clothing draws hustlers who figure the expensive attire must mean there is more of value available with a little effort.

• Don't generalize; learn the specific subtleties of the region where you're traveling. Islamic culture, for example, differs greatly from one country to another. You can't go wrong in any Moslem country by dressing modestly in loose-fitting clothing that covers your arms and legs.

Finding Your Scene

• Try to stay at one hotel for a few days at a time. You'll begin to make connections with people so that you'll develop a comfort zone for the city where you're staying.

• Pick a café near your hotel and take your coffee or tea there every morning. Stop by again for an afternoon break each day. In a day or two you will be recognized by the staff. You can get to know them, learn about them and their locale, and create a sense of belonging for yourself, so that if at some point you should need assistance, you are both familiar and credible to these folks.

• Your regular café also gives you an opportunity to leisurely observe the local women. From watching them you can quickly learn what passes for appropriate behavior, from clothing to public interaction with men.

• Take along your own interests and hobbies, be it weaving, birdwatching, etc. and find individuals and clubs who are engaged in the same activities. These connections can provide an introduction to homes and experiences in a safe environment.

Encounters with Strangers

• Most importantly, feel secure with your intuition. If you think you can read people well, don't second guess yourself.

• If you are at a bar drinking with anyone you do not know well, keep an eye and a hand on your glass. Rophynol (also known as the "date rape drug") and other colorless, odorless, and tasteless tranquilizers can be slipped into your drink. It is also advised not to accept glasses of punch at parties where you don't know the host well.

• If you expect sex during your travels, remember that, depending on your destination, condoms may not be easily available. Some countries offer no condoms while others may be substandard for protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Check the expiration dates on packages and look for condoms that meet international standards and are so labeled with the code ISO 4074-1:1990.

• A good device to keep a new date from feeling that he can expect something from you is to insist on paying your own tab.

• Persistent unwanted advances usually will stop if you really ignore the person after once, and only once, saying no. The important part is not to respond. Do not be reluctant to reject anyone who seems threatening or pushy.

When a Threat is Real

• Guns, and even mace, are illegal in many destinations. There are other methods for self protection, such as learning a martial art. Remember that if you carry a weapon, it could be turned against you.

• Prepare yourself for the worst. Consider a rehearsal, in your mind or with friends and learn how you would react to a gun in your face or a knife in your throat. Many communities offer survival courses which include simulated danger, judging body language, and even weapons training.

• Noise is effective. Practice screaming before you leave home, and do not be afraid to make a scene. Loud whistles are another effective tool for scaring attackers and summoning aid. Make sure you can grab it easily and don't have to dig it out from the bottom of your purse or backpack. Time is of the essence.

• If you are attacked, run away.

• If you are attacked and decide to fight back, do everything you can to hurt your assailant. If possible, tear your attacker's clothing and other possessions to mark him for later police identification. Above all, make noise, lots of excruciatingly loud noise.

• Know your strengths and weaknesses. If you appear vulnerable to predators, you are more likely to be victimized.

• Elevators can be a vulnerable locale for a woman alone. If the door opens on a floor before yours and someone gets in who makes you feel uncomfortable, do not hesitate to get out. Similarly, do not get into an elevator if the passengers already inside seem at first glance like the wrong crowd. There's almost always an emergency button to ring.

• Be wary about riding alone in train compartments, especially at night. At the same time, balance that concern by choosing your compartment companions with care. This requires snap decisions based on appearances, another reminder that your instincts are often your best protection.

• The U.S. State Department lists countries it considers dangerous for U.S. citizens and it is well worth checking with them to hear their latest warnings. These advisories are quite specific and could either help you government may advance you enough money to return home.

• The best advice under most circumstances is to try to generate publicity about your predicament if you are facing some sort of criminal prosecution abroad. Most foreign governments do not want to generate worldwide negative publicity about their country and its policies, especially if tourism, as is increasingly the case, is important to their economics.

• Within the U.S., your AAA or other automobile club card may be used instead of bail in many jurisdictions. Check with your club for details of what they offer where.