ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR SAFE TRAVEL

Buongiorno!!  This was the greeting I used the summer I was 17 years old and spent three months working in Milan, Italy.  If you model professionally, travel is unavoidable.  In fact, it is necessary to further your career.  And at some point, you are going to have to travel internationally and the better prepared you are prior to leaving, the more comfortable you will be once you arrive at your destination.
 
If you are simply going overseas on a direct booking to work a specific job and return home, then some of what I'm about to cover might not apply.  In situations like this, the airfare, ground transportation and lodging may have already been handled by your client.  But if you are a fairly new face attempting to break into a new foreign market, please pay close attention to these safety measure so that your international experience will be a positive one, and one that you'll want to repeat!
 
Before you embark on your trip, take time to study the language.  With so many foreign language lessons on tape and CD, its easy to pop it into the player in your car and learn key phrases that will help you communicate in your new surroundings.  Three key phrases I found most useful in Milan were "How much is this", "Where is the bathroom" and "Leave me alone or I'll call the police".  That pretty much got me thru most of my days!!  Yes, many countries do speak English, but you can't bank on that.  If you will learn simple greetings and attempt to at least greet people in their native tongue, you will earn their respect and they seemed more willing to offer assistance.  It shows you are interested in their culture.  
 
Do research on the places you are traveling to.  Learn what the area is known for.  Leather goods?  Wine?  Champagne?  Jewelry?  You'll want to be certain to experience the area for what it is famous for.  You will also know what type of souvenirs will be the most special to bring back to your loved ones.  Fodor's puts out a very helpful guide for almost any region of the world.  They cover the basics on currency, hotels, transportation, even what airports are best to fly into.  I normally purchase one of these guides for whatever area I am traveling to and read it on the airplane.  They can be found at any chain bookstore.  Its a handy reference guide to use once you arrive.  Also, a pocket translator can also prove helpful in certain situations.  When you are traveling by cab, make notecards that clearly show the address of your destination so there is no miscommunication with the cabbie about where you are headed.  It will save you a world of problems to do this simple thing.  
 
Let's talk security.  No matter where you are, never check your map in public.  That's a sure sign of a tourist.  Go into a bathroom, restaurant or store if you need to check cross streets.  Don't advertise the fact that you are lost.  At all times, carry a telephone calling card with you and keep a list of emergency phone numbers on you.  Make sure you have family contacts, but also your apartment or hotel and a local contact from your agency.  Keep copies of your passport, return plane ticket, identification in your luggage and on your person at all times.  If your hotel has a safe, you can put originals in there, but NEVER surrender your originals to anyone for safe-keeping.  If you can't keep them locked up, then keep the originals on your body.  Most department or luggage stores have small streamlined pouches or moneybelts that you can put your important documents in that fit flush with your body and hide nicely under clothes.  If you lose your passport, ID or return place ticket, your trip will nearly be ruined.  Copies will at least provide a backup in case you have to go to the US Embassy for help.  And of course, never leave luggage unattended anywhere.
 
When packing, never put prescription drugs in check-on luggage.  Medications should only be packed in carry-on.  Same with your portfolio and other valuables.  Carry it on in case your luggage is lost.  Its also wise to pack clothes that mix and match well so you can reduce the amount to bring with you.  Remember that you might have to carry ALL your luggage at once so do a test run at home and make sure you can lift, carry or pull EVERYTHING you plan to bring.  I have found if I pack all black and white clothing, I can come up with a hundred different outfits packing only 20 items.  If I need a splash of color, I do it thru accessories.  The more you travel, the less you pack.  Its a simple rule in this industry.