10 TRAVEL TIPS TO STAY SAFE OUTSIDE OF THE US

I love to travel. If you’ve been around me long enough, you have probably realized traveling fuels me. Talk of travel seems to invade every conversation, and I love sharing all the bucket list spots one should add to the Pinterest travel board. For me, I had no idea that I could feel so alive while seeing various parts of the world and experiencing things in person that I had only read about online or in books.

Perhaps traveling is your outlet, too -- or perhaps, one day, you want it to be. Keep researching. Keep setting goals for yourself. Keep on adding those items to that bucket list!

One of the best ways to make the most of your non-traveling moments is to research more about the countries and destinations you want to discover and how to stay safe while exploring that specific place. Until it's time to pack that carry-on, use this time to learn. Educate yourself ahead of time. You want to be wise, and you most certainly want to make use of the precious time you have allotted for adventuring once you arrive.

SAFETY FIRST. It's a touchy topic, I get it. This message is not meant to scare you or convince you that strangers love distracted tourists. Safety is just meant to be mentioned -- and, if we're honest with ourselves, one of the most underlying questions related to travel from generation to generation has always been: is it safe? Know that fear is a choice. It's also a response to any given situation. Fear can be defeated or at least put back in check when you are prepared and know that you have options. Here are my TOP TEN ways to stay safe while traveling in a foreign country.

HOW TO STAY SAFE:

1. Look for direct flights. Are you able to book a direct flight into the town of your choice? Do it. Although these flights might be a bit more expensive, the hassle of switching planes or getting lost at the airport makes direct flights a great first choice. The extra cost upfront will also ease your mind and allow you to relax during the flight.

If a direct flight is not an option, look for connecting flights in airports that have lots of traffic in and out. You want to give yourself no less than 90 minutes in between arrival and departure of connecting flights. In all honesty, in my experience, I try to aim for at least 2-3 hours in between flights. This gives you plenty of time to look around the airport, grab something to eat and freshen up. It also allows for items outside of your control due to delayed starts or problems with aircraft -- which happens more than we'd like to admit.

2. Book private transfers from the airport to your hotel. Riding solo? Sure, most of the time, I feel safe grabbing an uber or taxi while riding solo in the US. Why? I always make sure I have a way out. I'm checking out my surroundings. I'm focused on the direction we are headed. I'm not making casual conversation, as I am fixed on processing what my next move will be. Are the doors locked? Is my driver making good decisions? You know this. We've all been there. Imagine this in a foreign country. Know that you might not have access to an app or a well-known taxi company like Uber or Lyft. Some taxi drivers look at tourists as their ticket to a payday. Not all, but some. It doesn't taken an extremely smart person to know that tourists have money. Once you've traveled to some pretty poor places, you can see why Americans are sometimes looked upon as those who have the means to travel -- and certainly have the cash.

Be smart. Schedule a transfer to your hotel before you arrive in that country. You can easily set this up with your travel company ahead of time or call your destination in advance. Why? Because this means someone is looking for you. They are looking for your arrival and will certainly question if, for some reason, you did not arrive. If that is completely out of the question, I'd recommend traveling with a group and sharing the taxi fare. Look around at the airport and listen to those around you. You might see signs of your destination shared by other travelers. See if you can join in on the ride for a small fee: there is safety in numbers.

Once at your destination, be wise about how you travel. I have been told by countless people that they wish they would not have taken a taxi to a hidden beach or the local grocery store in a country they did not know. Sure, it doesn't happen to all -- but no one wants to spend their vacation with zero money with a story to tell about robbery. Have a back-up plan and plan for the inconceivable. It might be wise to think worse-case, especially if you are traveling solo.

Check out this beautiful view! I took a train into Denali National Park. Check out my adventure to this national park! 3. Research tours to book through your hotel. Look for tours with specific destinations to book directly through your hotel. Lots of hotels have connections with TripAdvisor or other major tour companies and also pay agents to be stationed at hotels. Again, when you book with a well-known tour company, you reduce your risk of something going haywire. Also, your location will be known by your hotel -- and the more people who know you are leaving the hotel and with whom, the better.

Once you meet with your agent on site to determine what tours are available, walk away and communicate that you will let them known what you decide. Don't feel pressured to make a decision right away. Step away for a moment to research the destination and double check the reviews. Know that most tour companies require payment in advance and that most require cash.

4. Know where your passport is at all times.

When you travel, you want to make sure you have a designated place for your passport. It should be a place that is hidden or not easily accessible to people who are nearby. Don't have it sticking out of your back pocket or travel bag. Don't put it in the front pocket of your carry on. Submerge it somewhere safe. If you need to access your passport, pull it out then put it right back in the spot you have designated. You want to know where your passport is at all times.

Once you arrive at your destination, you want to put your passport, as well as any other valuables, into a safe. If your hotel does not provide a safe, see if you can rent one. If you cannot, you need to make sure you hide your valuables well -- or always take it with you. No joke, I’ve seen people put their valuables in a diaper to fool intruders.

Don't put your passport and all your cash in the same pocket or hiding place. You might want to put some cash in one pocket of your carry-on and your passport in another pocket. Perhaps you want to divide up your cash between your travel mates, so that not one person is carrying everything that is needed. Do you best to make it difficult for someone to steal from you. The last thing you want to do is to have your trip ruined because you weren't being proactive. Be smart: don’t live in fear, but you may want to think worse case scenario in order to help you prepare for the unexpected.

5. Alert your credit card company that you will be traveling internationally You want to make sure you bring cash -- just don't bring too much. If you plan to use a credit card, I always alert my credit card company when I travel internationally to be on the lookout for international charges. Know that some counties charge additional fees to use a US credit card on site—and if you don’t end up alerting them in advance, there is a chance they will put a hold on your card due to possible fraudulent charges. In that case, it’s always good to have some cash.

Most places, especially in larger cities, take credit card without even a question. Just know if you are going to an off the beaten path resort or seaside hut away from civilization, you're going to need cash. As mentioned before, most tours that you book, as well as all transportation, will need to be paid for in cash.

Make sure to call your credit card company to let them know that you are traveling, so that your credit cart is not denied. Sometimes, when your credit card is used outside of the US (or even very far from your home), it may be perceived as fraudulent activity on your account.

6. Let someone know where you are at all times.

Make conversations with those around you. Are you going snorkeling at the beach? Tell someone. Perhaps it's the person sitting next to your beach blanket. If something happens to you, you want someone to know that you exist --that you were there that day in that moment. Are you going on a private tour with a company off of the resort? Make sure to make contact with the front desk to share your plans.

Several hotels outside of the United States keep track of when guests enter and exit the hotel and leave the property -- it's a service meant to protect you. If your hotel doesn't initiate it, talk to them. If you're traveling solo, touch base with a friend or family member back home to let them know you are venturing off of the hotel grounds, as well as the expected return time and list of expected locations. I always share my location to my family members through my iPhone It’s an easy setting to configure and can be used to check my location as long as my phone is turned on.

7. Know that your cell phone probably won't work. We depend solely on this handy device, so when it does not work, we are left in a state of shock and denial. Plan for your phone not to work, seriously. I can tell you how many times even within the United States, I had trouble with my cell phones. there have been several times Icould not use GPS to get directions or find locations nearby due to our remote surroundings. We had depended on our devices to help us find places to eat along the way, as well as specific exits and entrances to national parks. We had to go old-school and depend on signs to guide us, as well as stopping to ask for directions. I realize that may sound crazy in the 21st Century, but it happens. If you're in a foreign country, it's even more debatable. I can't tell you how many times I've been told my cell phone will work by my cell phone company, only to arrive, and it doesn't. Trust me. Have a back-up plan.

If you're traveling solo -- find wi-fi where you can. If you are unable to connect to send messages to family and friends via your carrier, you can at least sign-in to your email or a messenger app using wi-fi. I found that wi-fi service was still very spotty in various countries outside of the United States, so be smart and make good decisions. Avoid using public wi-fi if you can, and certainly do not do anything over wi-fi that could put you in a difficult situation.

Better yet, pick up the hard-copy map of the city you plan to be in before you leave the US.

8. Check out the water situation. If you've ever experienced Montezuma's Revenge (and believe me, you don't want to!), you know how important it is to be very cautious of any water you put into your body on international soil. Crazy enough -- you even have to be cautions with fresh fruits and vegetables: how did they wash that lettuce? can you trust that cucumber was rinsed in purified water? I have had people advise me to only consume veggies that were not cut or sliced since you do not know how they were handled. Take it from someone who has gotten sick after eating delicious salads in foreign countries: I was very careful about drinking the water and using purified water for my toothbrush but forgot all about vegetables. Just be smart and ask yourself if it's worth the risk.

Don't forget about ice in those frozen drinks or sodas. If I know I am staying in a location that has a water purifying system located in the resort, I usually trust the ice; however, anytime I go off of the resort, I stick to bottled drinks and no ice. I definitely would not recommend drinking any water that is not bottled when you go out to explore.

9. Pack those essentials! Be prepared. Even if you don't think you will need those essentials -- slip them into your bag. You want to make sure you have PeptoBismol and Imodium with you. I hope you don't have to use them, but your body often takes time to adjust while you are traveling, and nausea and a sick stomach can sneak up on anyone. I always throw in some pain relievers like Advil or Ibuprofen, as well as some allergy medicine. Don't forget that sunscreen! Rest-assured, you may be able to buy those items in town or at your resort, but it will probably be much more expensive than back home in the United Staes. Besides, that will take some of your precious cash. Channel your inner girl scout and be prepared!

A doctor recommended to my family to be proactive and take two Pepto-Bismol chewable each day we were in a foreign country. Interestingly enough, being proactive in this way has really limited our stomach troubles while playing tourists. Great wisdom!

10. PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE. Life happens. I would love to say that you will never be robbed or get extremely sick on a trip overseas, but chances are, if you travel enough, these things will happen to you. If you're worried about your gear while you travel, your health or even a family emergency that cuts your trip short -- get the insurance. You can relax a bit better when you don't have to worry about the 'what if'. Talk to your travel agent when you book your trip or research companies that will work with you to give you that peace of mind.

Remember, traveling is supposed to bring you so much joy and adventure! You want to be focused on the incredible time you will have while making memories that no one can erase. Do what you can to make this trip the best trip it can be by being prepared.

ENJOY YOUR INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE!