In This Article
Travel today, to just about anywhere in the world, is accessible to most. But the risks involved in travel, especially for the international traveler, are many. However, taking a few precautions and developing a security minded lifestyle can make your journey safe and enjoyable. When considering international travel these days, applying the lessons learned and countermeasures I used as a special agent will help keep you return with enjoyable memories.
Prior to travel, always make sure you are fit to do so. Having a clean bill of health and more than enough prescriptions (if necessary) is a foundation level prep. Always anticipate being delayed while traveling and carry the provisions necessary to get you home without missing a beat. Never pack prescriptions in checked luggage, they need to be in a carry-on bag. Prescriptions should be in the original packaging with your name and prescriber visible.
Having a physical and dental checkup completed before you travel is a smart idea. Do this even if you are feeling well. Ensure you are immunized for the region you plan to visit, and have those immunizations documented on an international immunization card. You may or may not have internet and or have access to your cellular phone when asked for evidence of your immunizations. A shot card gives you something to hand an official along with your passport. Travel doctors specialize in these preparations.
Before traveling, you should inform your bank or credit card company you will be traveling abroad to avoid them delaying payment or canceling your card under the assumption it has been compromised, hacked, or stolen. Also consider raising your credit limit or look for a premium card with added benefits to have emergency funding if necessary.
Make sure you have included a good international mobile phone plan with unlimited data to avoid roaming charges. At a minimum, your mobile phone will save you time and headaches that arise over missing gate tional plans if your phone has an eSIM.
Contact your insurance company and make sure you are covered in the country you plan to visit. Keeping in mind countries with ongoing civil unrest or insurgencies may be a liability issue with your insurance company, and they may not cover you should you be injured.
If you’re traveling abroad, it’s always good to find a travel doctor who specialized in infectious diseases. They will know exactly what you will need medically for the activity you intend to participate in. They can even prescribe you medications, which might not be readily available in the country you are traveling to, and even antibiotics should you find yourself far from medical attention. Many cities have travel clinics specifically for these purposes.
Pre-Travel Steps
- Get medical/dental checkup; stock prescriptions (carry-on only)
- Confirm immunizations; carry shot card
- Alert bank/credit cards; raise limit if possible
- Verify health/travel insurance coverage
- Secure international phone/eSIM + PLB
- Put legal affairs in order (passport, POA, wills)
- Designate an emergency contact with valid passport
- Research risks, laws, and cultural norms
- Book reputable hotels/tours; use trusted transport
- Dress neutral, learn basic phrases, stay situationally aware
The Get Home Bag
Build a survival kit appropriate for the region, and know how to use its contents. Include a Global Positioning System (GPS) or a PLB. These are great tools to help you “stay found” or signal for help. If you are bringing along a smartphone, consider downloading mapping apps — such as Gaia — which work even without cell service and can display traffic, satellite images as well as topographic maps. You can quickly take a picture in the app, and it will provide a pin on a map, and the coordinates, which could be used to pinpoint your location to anyone you wish to notify.
Make sure you have ways to power your devices (e.g., solar panels and or power banks, etc.). Note: Don’t leave your power banks in your luggage. Place them in your carry on or customs will seize them (a lesson learned the hard way while en-route to Colombia).
Ideally, you should also include old-school maps and compass, along with a list of important numbers back home and in country. Having a printed copy of health insurance claim forms will help if you need treatment overseas so they can pay my medical provider. A PLB is good to have in areas where kidnappings are prevalent. This should be on your body, not in a pack, so it can be activated at a moment’s notice.
Preparing a region and season specific first aid kit is a good idea as well. It bears repeating: you want to include in that kit enough prescriptions/vitamins to go beyond your intended travel period, in case you are extended for any reason. Include a method of water purification if you are planning travel to remote areas. There are numerous filters on the market but keep in mind they can clog, so having water purification tablets is a smart redundancy.
Photocopy all essential credit cards and documents you intend to travel with and leave a copy at home. Make an extra copy of your passport to bring with you. Emergency cash, prescriptions and extra glasses should also be part of your get home bag. Try reading a map, threading a needle or a fishhook without one. On your smartphone, download the U.S. State Department Smart Traveler app and request alerts for the region you will be in. Check in with the U.S. Embassy as well.
If you are traveling and don’t speak the language of the region, it’s not a bad idea to purchase a phrase book and a Pointee Talkee or Kwikpoint International Translator communication aid. They are filled with illustrations useful in communicating and can be purchased from Amazon. In addition to the use of smartphone apps that translate languages. I always like to have a backup that doesn’t need the internet or power.
Pack water, airline tickets, meal replacement bars, and emergency contacts such as U.S. Embassy numbers and addresses. It’s also great to have a card translated in the local language with your name, address, next of kin, phone number, and any medical condition or allergies. This way you can get help from medical personnel without missing a beat.
Travel Insurance
A great way to protect yourself and your things is to purchase travel insurance that offers plans, not only for medical treatment, but also repatriation if you are bedridden. It will also give you peace of mind if, while traveling, you need to purchase additional tickets to complete your journey or you need to cancel your dream trip due to unforeseen events.
As a business traveler, kidnap/extortion insurance might be a consideration. However, for the average tourist this might not be an option due to high premiums. If you’re planning on traveling despite warnings to places where kidnaping is an issue it might be time to reconsider your trip. Kidnappers thrive in countries where the rule of law doesn’t exist or there are not adequate laws to deal with the problem. Mexico comes to mind, especially the border area.
Make certain all your legal affairs are in order, such as powers of attorney, wills, healthcare proxy. Double check the expiration dates on your passport. It’s always a good idea to designate someone at home who has a valid passport and would be willing and fit to travel to help you in an emergency. This is important in the event you get detained, sick or are seriously injured or in trouble while overseas.
Know the risks you could potentially face, and have a plan in mind should there be an incident. See if the country you are traveling to has an English language online news site or radio stations. See what’s happening before you arrive. You should be looking for any civil unrest, protests, worker strikes, or economic upheavals such as their currency crashing. These things are good to know because they can pose significant risks to you while abroad.
Staying Alert
As with anywhere you go, maintaining situational awareness is critical. Lots of people have heard about situational awareness but few know that true situational awareness includes the following mindset:
Past: Where was I and what happened?
Present: Where am I now and what’s going on?
Future: Where am I going? What might happen?
This should be a lifestyle habit of thinking not just for travel. Some of the tradecraft you might employ to keep yourself and your possessions safe are:
- Carrying a decoy wallet with a small amount of foreign currency in case you are robbed. It’s important to have foreign currency in the wallet rather than U.S. currency so as not to make yourself a target of violence or kidnap if they are unaware of your nationality. Preload your money and escape tools in various locations on your body so as not to lose them all if you are robbed and searched.
- It’s not uncommon for criminals to kidnap and sell Americans to insurgents or terror groups operating in certain areas of the world. Stay vigilant, don’t think you are not important enough to be kidnapped. Bad guys are aware of businesses, church groups, and even GoFundMe sites that they figure people can raise money for your ransom. I once worked a kidnapping case in Haiti. The victim: a 5-year-old girl kidnapped for a $3,000 ransom. Anyone can be a victim.
- Be sure to carry a laminated copy of your passport while on the street. Your original passport should be locked in a safe place until you are ready to return home or travel to your next destination. Keep in mind that in most countries, converting your U.S. currency into foreign currency will require a passport or copy. When exchanging currency, even in an airport always be conscious of your surroundings. On a trip to Israel once, I was pickpocketed inside Ben Gurion Airport, going from the baggage claim area to the money exchange counter. And losing a nice pair of expensive sunglasses in the process.
Bars, Nightclubs, and the Sex Trade
Regardless of whether you intend to participate in activity involving the sex trade, it’s important to remember that the areas where these activities take place — Red Light Districts — are high-risk areas for kidnap, rape (including men), robbery, and drugging. Most of the sex trade is run by organized crime, even in countries where the sex trade is sanctioned by the government. Sexually transmitted diseases are common, even when sex workers are regularly screened.
Surveillance by criminal elements to include corrupt police is higher in these areas and can result in being pickpocketed. Or, worse yet, being drugged, taken to an ATM, and forced to withdraw as much of your money as possible before being beaten or killed. Imagine explaining this to the wife.
The types of drugs used are typical date rape drugs to include Xanax, ketamine, gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and scopolamine (aka hyoscine truth serum, which renders the victim compliant). This is commonly still used in Central and South America. A prospective date might spray this in your face or from a stranger while sharing a taxi ride, hailed on the street.
Recreational Drug Use Abroad
Buying drugs for personal use in a foreign country is your quickest way to being locked up abroad, either in a prison or a psychiatric hospital. Drugs, even in countries where its legal, can often be laced with other drugs or have been “stepped on” (mixed with other substances to increase bulk) with everything from animal feces to industrial or agricultural chemicals.
In some instances, unscrupulous authorities will use a drug-related incident to illicit a bribe, which may involve a lengthy detention with less-than-ideal accommodations.
Also, a purchase of a drug over the legal limit in a foreign country might be viewed as a drug trafficking violation, either in the host country or upon your return to a U.S. Port of Entry.
Know the Law
Beware of laws that do not exist in the U.S. that could pose a risk of institutional detention abroad. In some cases, institutional detention (being locked up abroad) can be as bad as being held against your will by a criminal or terrorist group. Think North Korea and Russia. Examples include: knife laws, laws regarding public intoxication, religious laws, or taking pictures of government buildings or troops in public.
Remember, you are not in the U.S., and your cultural dos and don’ts do not transfer. Laws, and the corresponding punishments, can be very different. Singapore is a great example of having strict laws. A traveler could face severe punishment for something as innocuous as walking naked in your own house, which is illegal — as well as chewing gum, smoking anywhere, making noise after 10 p.m., being gay, any type of drug-related activity, and more.
Additional Safety Tips
While abroad, book with reputable hotels and only take excursions with established tour companies. Take cabs from well-known businesses avoid hailing cabs on the street. Have your hotel concierge call the cab company for you. This is a great way to establish an official record of your travel with the cab company. Never let your cabbie take you places off the meter, which may lead to an argument about being under paid, or, worse, he might lead you to criminal groups intending to do you harm.
Avoid taking pictures of sensitive cultural sites or government buildings. It’s a good practice to ask for permission. Keep in mind you might get some cool pictures of things you’re not supposed to, only to later have your mobile phone taken by customs officers who discover the pictures as you are leaving the country. Not good.
Always dress appropriately for the country you are in and the climate you will encounter. Consider modesty (I always prefer neutral colors). Learn a few polite greetings and phrases. Avoid public intoxication and behavior that will attract the attention of the authorities. Avoid using military surplus gear and clothing especially in countries with insurgencies or unrest. You don’t need to become confused with being a supporter of a hostile group or being suspected a mercenary.
In the early 1990s, the Chiapas revolt in Mexico resulted in a few unexpected and less than comfortable detentions of foreigners by the authorities. The revolt was a green light for the police and military to stop, search and question foreigners suspected of going to support the Chiapas revolutionaries.
It’s currently in vogue to participate in lock sport in the U.S. (i.e., picking locks for fun).
There are also well-meaning companies selling lock pick sets and escape tools for people to use during unlawful detentions, such as a kidnapping. This isn’t to suggest you don’t travel with a plan to deal with a potential kidnapping. However, carrying tools that are clearly to defeat locks and restraints can, if found, result in your being suspected of being a criminal. Or worse, possessing tools used by spies and mercenaries. It’s best to pack everyday items, which can in a pinch be converted to picks and shims. And if you plan to bring items such as bobby pins have an alibi for why you have certain items in your possession.
Intel Gathering
When traveling abroad always assume you are under observation (this might include your hotel room). Today more than ever, even in the third world, there are cameras and police everywhere. Plan on, at some point, encountering someone seeking to know more about you and your reasons for being in their country. It could just be a taxi driver, curious and looking to accommodate you, but it can also be someone intending to develop intelligence on you to commit a crime.
Sadly, governments and criminal groups either pose as taxi drivers, or employ people in the tourist industry to identify targets or threats. It’s always good to be friendly, polite, and nonthreatening with strangers. It’s also good to have an alibi to use that can stand up to scrutiny. For example, when I was traveling back when I worked in law enforcement, when asked what I did back home, I claimed to work with a nonprofit organization whose goal was to help the people of the country I was traveling in. Of course, use an alibi you know well. For this example, I had worked previously for a nonprofit organization, so it was an easy sell. This was a much better option than explaining I was an FBI Agent on vacation.
In many countries, law enforcement and intelligence officers are synonymous, and the belief is intelligence officers are never on vacation. So, if you have a sensitive job such as military, law enforcement, or you work for a cleared contractor that makes weapons, it might be good to have an alibi that isn’t as startling or controversial. Also, avoid using anything with company or agency logos that might betray your story.
Getting Detained or Arrested
Getting rolled up (i.e. arrested) is not hard to do in some cases. If you do get detained or arrested for whatever reason, make sure you respectfully ask to speak with a representative from the U.S. Embassy. Never sign anything that might result in charges being formalized against you that the U.S. will not be able to assist you with. If the U.S. does help, you might still be in hot water because crimes abroad might still be prosecuted in the U.S., especially if the foreign laws violated are also a violation of U.S. law. But it’s been my experience that our prison accommodations are preferred worldwide. You decide.
Post Travel Steps
- Change passwords used abroad
- Tell doctor about recent travel
- Continue preventive meds (e.g., malaria pills)
- Watch for symptoms; report with travel context
- Share travel doctor contact info if needed
Homeward Bound
So, you have returned home without a hitch. You have great stories, pictures, and memories. Remember the situational awareness we talked about? There is still work to be done to ensure your travel, or your health, wasn’t compromised. Upon return to the U.S. consider changing passwords for accounts used during your travels as a safety precaution.
Advise your primary care physician of your recent travel. Continue taking prescribed medicines such as malaria pills in accordance with the medical guidance your doctor gave you.
Should you suddenly begin to show any symptoms of illness it is important for your symptoms to be viewed in context with recent travel to insure proper diagnosis. You might even share the name and number of your travel doctor you might have used during your pretravel preparations. They will be in a great position to help sort out your diagnosis with their knowledge of endemic diseases in the region you were in.
I enjoy travel. I enjoy it even more if there is some risk involved. But I like calculated risk rather than depending on sheer luck to get back. While serving in the U.S. Marines my sniper team’s motto was, “Always Make It Hard to Hurt You!” This is what I call a mindset rule. If you keep these things in mind, you eventually begin to integrate and adapt techniques, which then become your lifestyle — a lifestyle that will give you confidence and real skills to prevent you, your family, and friends from being victims of any kind. Safe travels!
About the Author
Phillip Irizarry is a Marine Corps veteran of 10 years, having served both in the reserves and active duty from 1981 to 1990 as a Motor Transport Operator, Infantry Rifleman, and a Marine Scout Sniper. He also served 28 years as a Special Agent with the FBI. While serving with the FBI he worked a variety of assignments including drugs, violent crimes, public corruption, healthcare, fraud, counter terrorism and kidnapping investigations. His duties included SWAT operations, undercover operations, crisis/hostage negotiation, and firearms instruction. Phillip has been a volunteer and is currently Board Chair for Operation First Response since 2007, providing peer support for wounded veterans, caregivers, police officers, and first responders. In his down time, he enjoys adventure travel, primitive skills, bushcraft, and family time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and dogs.
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