How to: Be safe and prepared when you travel internationally

By Sandy Berger Author, Sandy Berger's Great Age Guide to Online Travel Whether you are planning your first trip abroad or you are a seasoned traveler of the world, it always pays to get tips from the experts, and the Internet makes this easy. Here are some tips from Berger's new book, 'Sandy Berger's Great Age Guide to Online Travel.' Sandy's International travel tips

Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required. Also, before you go, fill in your passport's emergency information page!

Make two copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a place separate from your passport.

Leave a detailed copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency. Also leave the numbers or copies of your passport or other citizenship documents.

Prior to your departure, register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate through the State Department's travel registration Web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs. Registration makes your presence and whereabouts known in case someone needs to contact you in an emergency. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts may not be released without your express authorization.

Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit.

Do not leave you luggage unattended in pubic areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.

To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing or expensive jewelry, and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.

Familiarize yourself with the local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, the U.S. Constitution does not follow you. While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.

To avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.

If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy. About the Author: Sandy Berger has more than three decades of experience as a computer and technology expert and is a featured technology expert writer for AARP. Sandy is president of Computer Living Corp, a computer consulting and training company, and writes a monthly column in Smart Computing magazine called "TechMates." She has authored three Great Age Guides, including the Internet, Better Living Through Technology, and Gadgets and Gizmos.