The next Travel Myth Buster Series excuse I would like to address for not incorporating international travel into one’s life is:

It is true that many countries around the world suffer from higher poverty rates than we are accustomed to at home, and with these higher poverty rates often comes an associated increase in crime. However, what many of us fail to remember is that life at home, is not always as safe as we would like either. There are a number of cities and communities in the US, UK, France, Germany, Australia, etc. that would rank right up there among the most dangerous countries in the world. However, do we let these dangerous domestic areas scare us into staying at home or limiting our mobility?

NO! We take stay informed, take the necessary precautions and continue on enjoying our lives!

In this sense, international travel is no different than domestic travel, and it makes the most sense to look at travel safety abroad just like you would domestic travel safety.

1. Get informed:

The first step is to be informed as to where you are going. Would you want to travel to New York immediately after the September 11th terrorist attacks (2001), or to Los Angeles during the Rodney King Riot (1992)? No, of course not, just as you would probably not want to travel to Iraq right now (July, 2007). Simply by staying informed on global situations, we can better determine whether or not a country is safe for travel. Research your potential travel destinations for political unrest, civil unrest, tourist targeted crime, etc. Know and understand what is going on there, so that you can make an informed decision as to whether that is an area you think you will feel comfortable in or not.

The following websites maintain up-to-date records and travel advisories for every country around the world:

• US State Department - Consular Information Sheets: The US State Department maintains a database of travel advisories, notices, and general information for every country in the world.
• All Safe Travels: Extensive database that collects news, notices, and advisories from a number of different sources and display them from one central source. Information on every country around the world.

2. Take the necessary, standard precautions:

Once you have determined that a country or destination IS safe enough for travel, it’s just a matter of taking the necessary precautions. Cities like New York, London, and Paris, are amazing places to visit, however, there are certainly a number of safety concerns associated with each. Do these concerns stop people from visiting? No! Despite safety issues these three cities consistently rank among the most popular tourist destinations in the entire world. Travelers simply take the necessary precautions and enjoy their time there. The same philosophy should be used with international travel. Countries like Brazil, Russia, and Mexico are known internationally for their high levels of crime. However, by practicing caution and staying mindful of safety, the vast majority of travelers feel as safe as they would in their own hometowns and never encounter any problems.

For tips and advice on how to stay safe on the road, check out these articles

• Safety Tips for Backpackers: Good list of tips for staying safe while backpacking
• 33 Travel Safety Tips: Travel safety tips for travelers. Some are a bit excessive, and others are not appropriate for the budget traveling/backpacking crowd. However, the suggested mindset is relevant and correct.

3. Enjoy your travels:

If you do the research, and take the necessary precautions while on the road, there is no reason to fear travel. Go out, explore the world, and enjoy!

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