Travel Safety Tips

Travelers can find out more about destination-specific risks by researching U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories or reading International SOS Destination Guides.

Petty Theft

Petty theft is much more common in foreign countries than you may expect, and often targets foreigners who may be carrying valuables and are less familiar with their surroundings. Pickpockets and scammers may be prevalent in many of the places you will visit while traveling internationally. It is important to remain vigilant while in public spaces.

Avoid keeping valuables (such as wallets or cell phones) in back pockets.
Keep your luggage and personal belongings in your sight at all times.
Use a bag with a strap that goes across your chest. Wear backpacks on the front of your body when using transportation. When sitting down, loop your bag strap around the leg of your chair to make it harder for someone to grab your valuables and run off with them.
Be mindful of your surroundings while using public transportation. Take note of who is around you and where your belongings are. It is often safer to sit near the front closest to the driver.
Subway stations, bus stops, and other areas frequented by tourists can be nests for pickpockets. Thieves often seize the opportunity as doors start closing, quickly grabbing your belongings and running off before you even have a chance to react. Your bus or train might already be pulling away before you can react.

Road Safety

Road and vehicular safety is one of the highest risks to your wellbeing when traveling. The U.S. State Department estimates that more than 200 U.S. citizens die each year due to road accidents abroad.

Avoid driving a vehicle (car, scooter, motorcycle, ATV, etc.) while abroad. Traffic laws in other countries can vary significantly from what you are used to, and ignorance of local traffic regulations in your host country could lead to accidents and/or fines.
Pay attention during your on-site orientation to what forms of public transportation are safe to use.
Avoid hailing taxis on the street and book in advance at your airport or hotel, if possible, to ensure you're getting a trusted driver. Consider negotiating fares in advance to avoid overcharging scams.
Use caution when you are a pedestrian.  Pay attention to traffic patterns and always remain alert when crossing the street. Traffic laws in some countries are often ignored and unenforced.

Water Safety

Even experienced swimmers and boaters can be caught off guard in the unfamiliar conditions of bodies of water abroad. Unfortunately, accidental drownings and related water accidents are one of the leading causes of death of Americans abroad. As such, we remind you to take extra precautions when enjoying recreational activities in and around water and when you’re using boats for transportation or exploration.

Follow all posted signs, stay within lifeguard-supervised areas whenever possible, and wear a life jacket when available.
Avoid unnecessary risks when it comes to water safety.
Do not operate a boat or watercraft while abroad.
Do not mix alcohol consumption and water activities.

Environmental Safety

Mother nature can present a new and unique set of challenges compared to what travelers are used to back home.

Try to stick to modern, well-maintained lodging options which are likely to be safer in the event of a natural disaster. Be sure to check for emergency exits, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors.
The U.S. Department of State recommends asking for a room between the third and sixth floors. These are high enough that people on the street will not be able to access your room, but are still easy to evacuate from and for emergency services to reach.
If you are traveling to a hot environment, remember to drink plenty of water. Familiarize yourself with the signs of dehydration.
Pack appropriate clothing for the climate you will be arriving in, including appropriate shoes.
If you will be spending time in a tropical area, especially if you will be around water, consider using a strong insect repellant with DEET, Picaridin, PMD, or IR3535 as the active ingredient. Insect bites are often the source of many diseases, such as malaria, dengue, and yellow fever.
Review information on what to do during natural disasters which might affect the area you are traveling to, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, landslides, or wildfires.
Pay attention to local weather reports while you are abroad, and follow all instructions and advice provided by the local authorities.

Be vigilant – establish boundaries, observe your environment, be aware of people around you, and trust your intuition. Safety really begins with awareness – awareness of your surroundings, but also awareness of yourself and your behavior in a public place.
Avoid high-risk situations such as protests, demonstrations, or rallies, where there could be large numbers of people and the atmosphere could become tense or violent. Police may disperse these protests forcefully and participants may be subject to arrest.
Do not go out alone at night, and don’t leave your friends alone. Travel in groups if possible.
Be extra cautious in tourist hotspots, as they can be a higher risk environment for petty theft, scams, and other crimes.
Consider minimizing time spent at prominently “American” locations (i.e., American-themed clubs or bars, or other locations where a lot of Americans are known to congregate).  Try to blend in with the locals as much as possible.
Dress to blend in. Wearing your Penn State gear will make you stick out as a foreigner and a college student.
Minimize speaking in loud American English in public spaces.
Don’t wear/carry flashy jewelry or expensive electronics.
Cultural awareness – know what’s appropriate in the culture you will be visiting. What is normal or acceptable behavior in this situation? What do you see the locals doing? What might you typically do at home that would cause unwanted attention in your host country (i.e. smoking or drinking in public, manner of dress, dating and public displays of affection, etc.)?
Use common sense when taking photos - the "perfect shot" is never worth risking your health or safety. Be mindful of creating posts online which can be used to identify your current location.

It is helpful to be aware of resources provided by the U.S. government to its citizens abroad, as well as the limits on the role the government can play in a foreign environment.

STEP Travel Registration

U.S. citizens should register all international travel using the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) through the U.S. Department of State. This provides the nearest U.S. embassy a record of your travel in case of emergency, and signs you up to receive any local alerts sent out by the embassy. Non-U.S. citizens should inquire about their country’s registration process.

Additional Resources

Traveler’s Checklist.
Students Abroad.
Legal Issues Abroad.
Lost Passports.
Smart Traveler App Store app.

Foreign Government Travel Advice

In addition to the resources provided by the U.S. Department of State, travelers can also find English-language destination information at:

Foreign Travel Advice, gov.uk.
Travel Advice and Advisories, Government of Canada.
Smarttraveller, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
SafeTravel, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

If you or someone you know experiences dating or domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, or rape while abroad, Penn State is here to support you.

For medical assistance, contact International SOS at +1-215-942-8478 to find a hospital or clinic for an exam and treatment. You can also reach out to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or your country's embassy, which usually have a 24/7 emergency phone number and can assist you in finding medical care, filing a police report, or connecting you to victim support resources. Keep in mind that local laws and police training may vary, and the embassy can guide you on reporting options should you want to pursue it.

University-affiliated international travel functions as an extension of Penn State. If you are a victim of dating or domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, or rape abroad, you are encouraged to Submit a Report to the Office of Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Response as soon as possible to receive the resources and support through the university that you are entitled to. Learn more about Title IX reporting, policies, and resources at Penn State.

Penn State Global Safety is available to assist you in finding local medical, counseling, or police assistance and to help connect you to other university resources. Global Safety is required to report any incidents of sexual harassment or assault to the university’s Office of Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Response.

Additional Resources:

Penn State’s Relationship Violence Outreach, Intervention, and Community Education (R-VOICE) Center supports students who have been impacted by sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, harassment, and other campus climate issues.
Penn State Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) cannot provide counseling over the phone while you are abroad, but can help you identify resources and offer support.
Pathways to Safety International (formerly called SASHAA) can assist victims of interpersonal and gender based violence abroad.
International Directory of Domestic Violence Agencies maintains a global list of abuse hotlines, shelters, refugees, crisis centers, women's organizations, and domestic violence information in over 110 languages.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) offers a toll-free 24/7 hotline that provides live, secure, anonymous crisis support for victims of sexual violence, their friends, and families.

Drinking alcohol or abusing drugs can cloud your judgement, reduce self-control, and increase the likelihood of unsafe behavior or accidents. For these reasons, alcohol and drug use is often linked to health, safety, and security risks when traveling.

Alcohol Consumption Abroad

Be sure to follow these best practices when drinking alcohol abroad:

Do not mix alcohol consumption with operating a vehicle, engaging in water activities, being around heights or balconies, or participating in any other higher-risk activities.
Do not lose sight of your drink or accept drinks from strangers, as it could then be spiked with dangerous substances. If you must leave for a moment, ask a trusted friend to watch it for you. Drink spiking can put you at risk of theft, robbery, sexual assault, rape, or kidnapping. Review a recent alert from the Department of State on scopolamine drink spiking in Colombia.
Do not drink homemade or bootleg alcohol, which can be tainted with dangerous contaminants (such as methanol) that could cause fatal poisoning. Read more about six tourists killed by methanol poisoning at a hostel in Laos in 2024.
Do buy alcohol from brands you are familiar with back home, as many local brands may be brewed with a much higher alcohol content than you're used to.
Do drink only at reputable bars and clubs. In many countries, "friendly stranger" scammers attempt to lure unsuspecting tourists into dishonest bars, where they are then given a check with exorbitant charges and threatened with violence or police involvement should they refuse to pay.
Do familiarize yourself with local laws, including the local drinking age, public intoxication and open container laws, or whether alcohol is even legal in your destination country.
Do know your limits, and have a plan in place for getting home safely.

Drug Use

Do not use any illicit drugs overseas. Many countries have little tolerance and strict penalties for drug use, dealing, or trafficking. In certain countries, convictions can lead to long jail sentences, heavy fines, or even the death penalty. Unfriendly foreign officials may seek to target Americans for political purposes. Find out more about basketball star Brittney Griner's arrest for bringing cannabis oil to Russia.

Do not accept any offers to carry unfamiliar packages in exchange for money or other bribes. Drug traffickers sometimes use unsuspecting foreigners to smuggle drugs, offering them a reward in return for transporting small packages in their luggage. Ignorance is not an excuse and will not lessen criminal charges.

Never travel internationally with any amount of medical marijuana, which is illegal in many countries. Travelers with a U.S. prescription for marijuana can be arrested, prosecuted, and deported if in possession of any illegal substance.

Ensure any prescription medications you are taking with you are legal in your destination by checking with your destination country's embassy here in the United States. If you need a medication containing habit-forming or narcotic drugs, keep them in the original, labeled containers and carry a doctor's certificate attesting to your need to avoid problems with customs agents and police abroad.

Drugs consumed overseas may be laced with toxins or be much more powerful than you expect. Medical care may not be as widely available as in the United States, and it may be more difficult for you to find help in an unfamiliar environment. Know the emergency '911' number for your country.

Drug use also lowers your ability to protect yourself and can make you more vulnerable to crimes such as theft, assault, or mugging. Searching out illegal substances can expose travelers to dangerous situations and increase the risk of finding yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Certain steps should be taken with regards to handling money abroad:

Notify your credit card company and bank of pending international travel to avoid your accounts being frozen for suspected fraud.
Keep contact information for credit card companies and banks in the event of a lost or stolen card.
Have multiple types of payment methods available.
Check with your bank or credit card company regarding foreign transaction fees.
Take only the credit cards and debit/ATM cards that you may use while you are traveling.
ATMs can be targets for thieves, kidnappers, or card skimmers. Stick to using bank-affiliated ATMs in well-lit, well-populated areas.
Keep a small amount of cash on hand. Having no money at all, or having too much money, can either put you at risk or make you a target.
Keep valuables, such as your passport and cash, in a money belt or pouch next to your body for the duration of your trip.

Certain steps should be taken with regards to your important documents:

Make multiple copies of travel documents and credit cards. Keep one set of copies separate from the originals while traveling (such as in your hotel safe) and leave additional copies at home or with someone you trust.
Leave an itinerary and emergency contact information with your department, and another copy with someone you trust.
In the event of a lost or stolen travel document, contact the U.S. Embassy in your area.

When mailing items to another country, those items must be reviewed and cleared by customs. This can take extra time. Some items may not be legal to ship to another country or may require a heavy tax to be paid before they are released to you. You should not mail any valuable electronics, medications, or anything that you would be upset to lose.