Some countries are simply not as safe as others for travelers. Given the unrest is many parts of the world right now, it’s smart to take a little time to prepare for international travel. But the reality is anything can happen anywhere you fly, whether in the United States or the other side of the world.
According to Edward L. Lee II, author of Staying Safe Abroad: Traveling, Working and Living in a Post-9/11 World, no country is safe — especially for high-net-worth individuals who fly privately and make inviting targets for terrorists and other criminals. Lee spent 30 years with the U.S. State Department, in which he served as a regional security officer in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East and helped develop post-9/11 anti-terrorism strategies.
Although flying by private jet eases your burden when flying internationally and domestically, Privatejetcharter.net offers these tips to make traveling internationally safer and smoother, in case a routine trip turns into one not so routine:
- Keep a travel folder with all of your documents in it for that trip alone. If you’re flying by charter, keep copies of private jet charter quotes and any paperwork you receive from your broker or charter operator. Ask the operator for confirmation that the aircraft is registered with the FAA and get copies of the aircraft’s FAA 135 Operating Certificate and relevant insurance policies to keep together in your travel folder.
- Research visa requirements for your destination country. Learn as much as you can, as far in advance as you are able, remembering that paperwork processing can often take longer than you might expect and expediting visa requests (when it can be done) can be costly.
- Register your trip with the U.S. State Department. In the event of a natural disaster or personal emergency in the foreign country to which you are traveling, the State Department can help coordinate assistance for you and your loved ones.
- Make several copies of your most important documents, such as passports, visas, travel insurance, travel itinerary, medical insurance, allergies and immunizations. Include one copy of each in every piece of luggage and leave one copy of each in a folder back home for your travel point-of-contact.
- Work with your travel agent, private jet charter broker or concierge to figure out in-country travel options in advance. Make sure you have cash in appropriate denominations for taxis, tours, ferries and other local transportation needs.
In case of distress while traveling abroad, U.S. consular officers are stationed in more than 250 embassies and consulates around the globe. To help prevent some unpleasant experiences, the State Department also offers plenty of valuable information — from what to take versus what’s better left at the office, to the laws and customs of the country you’re visiting.
- For travel safety tips and to find help while traveling abroad, go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1180.html.
- To register your international trip as part of the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, go to https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.
- To receive travel alerts by country, visit http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html
Bon voyage!