Search for great rates at top hotels from over 30 different travel sites all at one place in one easy to view page

See high resolution photos of hotels before you book.

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

The Independent Traveler: Travel Resources RSS Feeds

A number of travel belts and pouches are available which offer a practical way of carrying money. Many thieves will be aware of these solutions, but they will not be able to get at your money quickly and easily enough to rob you if you are using your belt or pouch properly. You should wear them under your clothes, as otherwise they are no better tan any other bag or pocket. Many travel belts have hidden compartments that are difficult to find even if someone does get hold of your belt. This is a good place to put some emergency money. Documents, such as your passport are harder to conceal as they cannot be rolled or folded up like money. A pouch worn under your clothes is a good solution. If you are wearing clothes made of a light material then people will be able to see that the pouch is there, but they will not be able to get at it without your knowledge. Some belts have larger compartments which can hold documents as well as money. These are more obvious than hidden compartment belts, but when strapped around your waist under your clothes they are a safe place for all your important papers.

A simple way of making your own hidden pocket is to cut one from an old piece of clothing and sew it or pin it to the inside of a new one, for example in the leg of a pair of pants. You can also come up with a number of clever places just by considering the items you might be carrying with you. The handle of an old disposable razor, for instance, is a perfect fit for a rolled up bill. There are plenty of places where you can spread your valuable around, so that even if one is found it is unlikely that a thief will locate everything.

Your shoes can also be a good hiding place. The inner sole should lift up, so you can put a couple of notes in your shoes, just in case. Of course, if you have very expensive shoes a thief might take them even without knowing that the money is there.

You should never keep all your money in one place, particularly if you are carrying quite a lot. In most places you will be able to use a card to withdraw cash from an ATM so you shouldn’t need to have too much money on you. Split up what you are carrying and hide it in a number of places so that even if you are unlucky and some goes missing, you will not be left with nothing. You only need to keep a small amount of money to hand; the rest can be hidden carefully in inaccessible places, which you should never reveal in public.

Thieves can also get into hotel rooms, so you should apply the same tactics to anything that you have to leave behind there. Hide your valuables in a number of spots, and don’t leave anything expensive lying around as an opportunistic employee could be tempted to take it. Choose a safe hotel, and ideally one with a secure safe if you have a lot of valuables.

One sneaky way of making sure that a pickpocket doesn’t look hard enough to find your money is to put a cheap decoy wallet, stuffed with some slips of paper in an obvious place, such as your pocket or bag. Once they find it they’ll run off, leaving you with your valuables secure.

Help For Your Legal Problems

If you come across legal problems when you are traveling overseas there is not a lot that the U.S. consulate will be able to do. You are subject to the rules and regulations of that country. While a consulate agent cannot be your attorney or give you any type of legal aid they can help you find adequate representation from that country. You should be aware though, that although the list of possible attorneys is compiled very carefully, the embassy will not take the blame if they are incompetent. You never know what you will end up with. As soon as you are arrested tell the police to notify your consulate or embassy. It is your legal right to talk to a representative from one of those two places.

The US Embassy and Consulate representative will do the best they can to make sure you are protected from harm while in foreign custody. They can contact a close friend or family member and have clothes, money and supplies sent to you. While they will not be able to intervene they can make sure you are treated fairly and in accordance with local law.

• Bring only what can fit into a carry-on item. Most often people are allowed to carry-on items: one for the overhead compartments and one to go under the seat. Things like baby strollers and lap tops can also count as carry-on luggage. If you bring your luggage aboard with you then there is no chance of them being lost or anything else going wrong with them.

• Do not use the overhead compartments for heavy luggage. If they were too fall out even a small bag could cause serious injuries to not only you but those around you. A carry-on can only way 40 pounds at maximum and must be able to fit in the gray security bins in the airport. You should be sure that your contact information is on every piece of luggage and there should be a duplicate tag inside your luggage with a copy of your itinerary. This will ensure that if your carry-on items have to be checked last minute and are somehow lost the airport will know how to find you.

• If you check your bags give them a special look. This will make it easier for you to spot them on the baggage pickups and will make it harder for other passengers to confuse yours with their own luggage. You should ensure that all your money and other important items are in your carry-on items.

• Double check the airports tag. There should be a three letter code on both your airport destination on your ticket and on your baggage these should always match. Also, be sure to keep your stub from when your luggage is checked. This will help identify your luggage just in case someone else picks it up by mistake or it is lost.

• If you do not find your baggage at your baggage pickup terminal find an agent and report it immediately.

• You should always be prepared for your luggage to be lost. Do not pack all your undergarments or things you will need in one piece of baggage. Take the time to pack them between your luggages. Also, you should be sure to pack things that could pose potential threats carefully and properly.

Before you go on a trip you should check with your airlines to be sure of their exact rules on luggage. You should always take the time to prepare thoroughly for a trip and try to follow the tips listed. This will make it more possible for you to have an amazing adventure without the headache of missing or mishandled baggage.

Debit Cards and Credit Cards

Almost any debit or credit card can be used abroad. You should always remember to keep track of how much money you are spending; because, if you exceed the limit of your card in some countries you can be arrested. You should only take the cards you need and you should be sure that you write down each cards information. Keep this separately from the cards so that if they are stolen or lost you can report it quickly. If you do find that a card is missing you should report it as soon as possible to not only the card company but the police. Also, if you plan on being in one place for an extended period of time you should think about opening a checking account with an U.S. bank that has a branch overseas. This way you will be able to cash checks. Another good thing to do is to check with your own bank and find out if your card is accepted where you are traveling and whether or not they happen to have an ATM there. Always try to use a debit rather than credit card as the numbers for credit cards are more easily stolen. Also, if you leave your hotel and are not taking your cards put them in a hotel safe and inform your bank that you are going to be using the card overseas.

Traveler’s Checks

If you are going to travel you should not do so with a lot of cash, instead use traveler’s checks. Just be sure to keep a record of the numbers of the checks, the amounts, the dates, and of course who issued them. As with the credit or debit cards you should keep this information in a different spot then the checks themselves. Try to avoid exchanging them at your hotel as it will cost more. Instead go to a bank or currency exchange. Do not use traveler’s checks if the bank charges any fee, traveler’s checks should only be used as an alternative if nothing else will work for you.

Plan B

Always be sure that you have an emergency funds plan just in case something goes wrong while you are abroad. Make sure that you have your banks information with you so that, if need be, you can transfer money. In most places the travel agencies and major banks will help arrange a transfer for you. Also, you may consider entrusting a close friend or family member with the emergency funds plan. This way you can always go to the consulate or U.S. Embassy to arrange a transfer from your friend or relative.

Foreign Currency

Before you leave on your trip you should make sure that you have a little of the money that they use where you are going, just enough to get your through your first couple of hours there. This way when you arrive you will already have money for transportation. This will take care of you in case the exchange center in the airport is not open when you get there.

Before you leave check with your bank and find out what the currency exchange rates and regulations are where you plan to visit. Some countries will not let you leave or come into the country with too much money; while, others require a minimum amount when you exchange money.

Also, keep in mind that U.S. Customs requires you to file a form, 4790, if you enter or leave the country with $10,000 or more. If you do not do this you could be facing legal issues.