Travel Safety Tips Provided

by Jack O’Dwyer

With political unrest widespread throughout the globe, former Secret Service Agent Christopher Falkenberg is advising clients who are traveling to avoid hotels that are “identifiably American or part of an American chain.”

Falkenberg, who now heads Insite Security, said travelers should not take fancy luggage and should dress “plainly” since the wealthy are a popular target.

Travel from the foreign airport to a destination is something that should be arranged in advance, he says.

“You should know who your driver will be in advance and have a picture of him or her,” he advises.

Driving at night is to be avoided and use a local driver if that is possible, says Falkenberg. He recently gave a webinar on traveling abroad with Dr. Daniel Carlin of WorldClinic.

Among tips from the webinar is that travelers should pick rooms on the second through seventh floors that do not face the street.

Other advice is to take a room that is far from the lobby and not to linger in the lobby.

Check if the hotel has sprinklers and fire alarms before booking a room.

Information should be obtained on how to contact the local authorities in case of an emergency.

Should there be a “medical emergency,” Falkenberg and Carlin warned that the “first hour is critical.”

Scope out the best local hospitals in advance, they said.

“Seemingly innocuous things” such water, mosquito bites and mopeds can cause big problems, said the pair.

Contaminated water can be avoided by buying sealed bottles of water and travelers should be aware that mosquitoes carry serious disease.

Travelers should get the proper inoculations beforehand and pack copies of medical and legal records in case of an emergency.

Take a small LED lithium-powered flashlight, a smoke mask, cable ties for luggage, and a satellite phone if visiting a Third World country.

Use of a moped can be dangerous unless the traveler is accustomed to driving one, they said.

Political demonstrations are to be avoided because they have a tendency to “get out of control.”