Hawaii Personal Safety

To avoid unwanted attention, try to blend in as much as possible. Respecting local customs (in many cases, dressing more conservatively than usual) may ward off would-be hecklers. Familiarize yourself with your surroundings before setting out and carry yourself with confidence. Check maps in shops and restaurants rather than on the street. If you are traveling alone, be sure someone at home knows your itinerary and never tell anyone you meet that you’re by yourself. When walking at night, stick to busy, well-lit streets.

There is no surefire way to avoid all the threatening situations that you might encounter while traveling, but a good self-defense course will give you concrete ways to react to unwanted advances. Impact, Prepare, and Model Mugging can refer you to self-defense courses in Australia, Canada, Switzerland, and the US. Visit their website at www.modelmugging.org for a list of nearby chapters.

If you are using a car, learn local driving signals and wear a seat belt. Children under 40 lb. should ride only in specially designed car seats, available for a small fee from most car-rental agencies. Study route maps before you hit the road and, if you plan on spending a lot of time driving, consider bringing spare parts. For long drives in desolate areas, invest in a cellular phone and a roadside assistance program . Park your vehicle in a garage or well-traveled area and use a steering-wheel locking device in larger cities. Sleeping in your car is the most dangerous way to get your rest, and it’s also illegal in many areas. For info on the perils of hitchhiking,

Possessions And Valuables

Never leave your belongings unattended; crime can occur in even the most safe-looking hostel or hotel. Bring your own padlock for hostel lockers and don’t ever store valuables in a locker. Be particularly careful on buses and trains; horror stories abound about determined thieves who wait for travelers to fall asleep. Carry your bag or purse in front of you where you can see it. Try to sleep on top bunks with your luggage stored above you (if not in bed with you) and keep important documents and other valuables on you at all times.

There are a few steps you can take to minimize the financial risk associated with traveling. First, bring as little with you as possible. Second, buy a few combination padlocks to secure your belongings. Third, carry as little cash as possible. Keep your traveler’s checks and ATM/credit cards in a money belt —not a “fanny pack”—along with your passport and ID cards. Fourth, keep a small cash reserve separate from your primary stash. This should be about $50 sewn into or stored in the depths of your pack, along with your traveler’s check numbers, photocopies of your passport, your birth certificate, and other important documents. Never let your passport and your bags out of your sight.

If you will be traveling with electronic devices, such as a laptop computer, check whether your homeowner’s insurance covers loss, theft, or damage when you travel. If not, you might consider purchasing a separate insurance policy. Safeware (☎800-800-1492; www.safeware.com) specializes in covering computers and charges $90 for 90-day international travel coverage up to $4000.