Quick answer
Reviewed · 5 min read
Most travel safety comes down to preparation and routine: check the State Department advisory, enroll in STEP, carry copies of your passport, book trusted airport transfers, split up your cards and cash, use your phone’s hotspot or a VPN instead of public Wi-Fi, and save the local emergency number. Road crashes, not crime, are a leading cause of death for Americans abroad.
Researched and maintained by Empyrean Travel · How we research
- Before you go
- Advisory check + STEP enrollment
- EU emergency number
- 112
- Lost passport
- Police report, then the U.S. embassy
- Most overlooked risk
- Road traffic
What should you do before an international trip?
Ten minutes of preparation prevents most problems before they start.
- Read the State Department advisory for each country on your route, including the regional detail.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so embassy alerts reach you.
- Save scans of your passport, visas and insurance card to secure cloud storage, and carry a paper copy separate from the original.
- Share your itinerary with someone at home: flights, hotels and how to reach you.
- Confirm your insurance includes medical evacuation; see travel insurance explained.
- Save the local emergency number and the nearest U.S. embassy’s contact details in your phone.
How do you get around safely, starting at the airport?
Arrival is when you’re tired, distracted and carrying everything you own, and it’s when most taxi scams happen. Pre-arrange a transfer, use the official taxi rank, or book a ride-hail car in the app and match the plate and driver before you get in. Ignore anyone inside the terminal offering a ride, and keep your hotel’s address written in the local language.
Then think about the road itself. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for U.S. citizens abroad. Wear a seat belt even in the back, skip motorbike taxis, avoid driving unfamiliar rural roads at night, and choose a professional driver over a self-drive car where roads or rules are unfamiliar.
How do you stay safe in your hotel?
A few habits make any hotel safer.
- Avoid ground-floor rooms with accessible windows or patio doors.
- Don’t say your room number aloud at check-in; if staff announce it, ask for a different room.
- Use the deadbolt and door latch, and confirm unexpected visitors with the front desk before opening.
- Find the two nearest fire exits when you arrive and count the doors to them, in case you have to find them in smoke.
- Keep your passport and backup card in the room safe or the front-desk safe.
How do you protect your money, phone and data?
Split your resources: one card and some cash on you, a backup card and cash in the hotel safe. Turn on transaction alerts so you see fraud immediately, and use ATMs inside banks during business hours rather than standalone machines.
Public Wi-Fi in airports, hotels and cafés can be monitored or imitated by fake hotspots. Use your phone’s hotspot or a reputable VPN for anything sensitive, keep devices updated, and use your own charger and a wall outlet rather than public USB charging ports. Business travelers to some countries should follow company guidance on loaner laptops and phones.
What are the most common travel scams?
Most scams rely on distraction or a friendly story. Recognize the pattern and you’ve beaten it.
- Distraction theft: a spill on your jacket, a dropped item or a petition clipboard while a partner lifts your wallet.
- Fake officials: “police” asking to inspect your wallet or cards. Offer to go to the station instead.
- “It’s closed today”: a helpful stranger says your sight or hotel is closed and steers you to a shop or a different taxi.
- Card skimming: tampered ATMs and payment terminals. Cover the keypad and keep your card in sight.
- Rigged meters: insist on the meter, agree the fare first, or use a ride-hail app.
What should you do if your passport is lost or stolen?
Report it to local police and get a copy of the report, then contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. They can issue a replacement, often a limited-validity emergency passport if you need to travel soon. You’ll report the old passport on Form DS-64; once reported, it’s invalidated and can’t be used even if it turns up.
Your saved scan, a second photo ID and spare passport photos make the appointment faster. Business travelers should call their travel manager or advisor straight away so flights can be moved around the embassy appointment; see our duty of care page for how a program handles this.
Frequently asked questions
What is the emergency number in Europe?
Is it safe to use hotel or airport Wi-Fi?
Should I carry my passport with me every day?
What should I do if my passport is stolen abroad?
How can I avoid taxi scams abroad?
Official sources
Rules, fees and schedules change — confirm the latest details at the source before you travel.