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With terrorist attacks and hotel security issues having become a very real concern around the world, it's crucial you do what you can to ensure your safety while traveling in a foreign country.
We've put together a list of tips for doing just that, consulting Anthony Melchiorri, host of Travel Channel's "Hotel Impossible"; John Rose, an aviation and terrorism expert and COO of travel risk management companyiJET; Daniel Durazo, the director of communications for Allianz Global Assistance USA; and Daniel Smith, a security researcher at Radware.
From what to do if you get arrested abroad to mistakes you shouldn't be making at a hotel, here's how to make sure you stay safe on your next trip.
The information on a business card will come in handy if you're ever lost or need to contact someone.
If you're in a place where you don't speak the local language, you can at least ensure that you have your hotel's address and phone number.
According to Durazo, while cruise ships have an infirmary to take care of guests when they get seasick or have the flu, they don't have a full hospital that can treat more serious injuries like broken bones or heart attacks.
If one of those injuries does happen, the cruise ship will disembark at the closest port, but the type of hospital you end up in might not always be suited for your care.
Having a travel insurance provider helps alleviate costs and provides additional assistance for issues like language barriers or medical discrepancies. It'll especially come in handy if you end up requiring an evacuation back to the US.
To see how safe hotels keep your information, Melchiorri recommends that you use your cell phone to call the front desk and ask if you can speak to yourself.
If the staff gives you your room number, that's a red flag. The response you want is: "Let me connect you."
