Ten Tips for Staying Safe on the Road by Carla King and Lisa Alpine

Travel is so incredibly rewarding that it's a shame that fear for personal safety is the #1 reason women don't travel as much as they want to. Most people are proud to show travelers the beautiful side of their country, but we all know there are exceptions. Here are our ten best tips for avoiding or diffusing potentially dangerous situations. Armed with this knowledge and some simple, inexpensive tools, you'll have a wonderful trip!

1. If a man is bugging you, look to a local mama for help. Whether you’re in Dallas or Dakar, Finland or Florence, grab the nearest old lady and point to the guy. She’ll understand, give him hell, and that’ll be that.

2. Use your intuition. Even if you can talk yourself out of it because it’s “only a dumb feeling,” pay attention. You may never know what you got out of, but if you didn’t, you’d be sorry you didn’t listen to yourself.

3. Don't try to change the attitudes of an entire civilization. Study the culture and respect local customs. In some countries they couldn’t care less if you walk around town topless, but if you show a little knee, you’re dust. In others, show all the leg you want, but no cleavage, no shoulders. In others, well...wear a burqua.

4. Buy a combo cable lock and motion sensor like the DEFCON 1 Ultra Notebook Computer Cable Lock and Motion Sensor. A retractable cable attaches to your computer or loops around your purse or camera. You can also hang it on your hotel room door, turn the motion sensor on and if the door opens, it shrieks—and LOUD! You can also use it as a personal alarm system if you feel like you’re in danger. When in doubt, use it. Embarrassment is a benign consequence.

5. Don't carry a purse over your shoulder where it can easily be grabbed. Carry your valuables in a fanny pack UNDER your shirt facing frontward, and when you pull out money to pay for items, plan ahead of time what you think you will be spending in that situation. Then have that amount of money more accessible and not with your passport, credit card and other valuables. Thumbing through wads of cash in a crowded street market or bus station is not a good idea and makes you an easy mark.

6. If you're traveling in developing countries, ask your doctor or clinic to provide you with a travel kit that includes hypodermic needles and other items other emergencies that might come up. (For example, cholera shots are required at some borders in Africa if there’s been a recent outbreak.) You may also want to obtain an antibiotic for respiratory problems and an antibiotic for infections, malaria tablets and instructions on what to do if you actually get malaria, and miscellaneous other medications and instructions tailored to your needs and the specific threats of a country. The Lonely Planet guidebooks all have a section on health that specifies dangers of that region, and the Internet is always a good resource.

7. When you walk down the street, carry your head high and hold your posture straight, keep your arms relaxed and don't avoid eye contact. In the body language of any culture, this physical attitude sends a clear message that you are not a victim.

8. Before you go, learn at least some basic words in the native language. This will endear you to the locals—even if your communications are garbled and childlike—and can help you work your way out of a jam.

9. Relax. Most cultures are xenophobic. The people on one side of the border will often try to convince you that the people on the other side of the border are evil barbarians. Use your common sense and good judgment.

10. Ask. People love helping others. They just don’t have enough opportunity to do it.