European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 22, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                4 travelling safely i T in a world that in t always Safe by James  the Washington Post the terrorist explosion that damaged the uffizi gallery in Florence Italy in May and the periodic bombings that plague London Are Sharp reminders that much of the world including popular tourist destinations can be dangerous this should not be seen As a reason to stay Home. But whenever and wherever you travel you ought to keep your eyes open. One of the Best resources for travellers looking for advice on personal Security abroad is a slender Guidebook the Safe travel Booby Peter Savage Lexington $12.95which has just been published in a revised and updated edition. A former foreign service officer in latin America Savage is the director of a consulting firm that advises corporations on How to keep their employees Safe on International business trips. Savage s tips on travelling safely whether it s on a business or vacation trip Range from How to avoid life threatening possibilities to protecting yourself against More mundane. Hazards. By his account the most common traveler s injury is stubbed and broken toes from walking Barefoot in an unlit unfamiliar hotel or guest  As Savage readily acknowledges Reading his Book could tend to scare people away from travel because he details so Many potential disasters. Indeed his Book has been criticized. By some travel agents he says As bad  but he considers this shortsighted. In his View to be aware of the possibility of danger is the Best Way to avoid  a frequent traveler himself Savage constantly keeps Alert to what is happening around him whether he is in an Airport a hotel lobby a restaurant or walking on the Street. In truth his customary precautions do make him sound a bit like a paranoid fuss budget but he says pay attention and i be never had a  the Good news he offers is that air traffic Security has improved in the aftermath of the bombing of pan am flight 103 Over Lockerbie Scotland in 1 988, making airports and airlines an unattractive target for terrorist  on the other hand the breakup of the former soviet Union has brought economic turmoil to parts of Eastern Europe and Street crime against tourists is increasing in the new republics. But just when you think maybe you would be safer vacationing this summer at a nearby Beach Savage puts the threat of danger abroad in perspective. Although american travellers should be increasingly Alert to the hazards of overseas travel in certain parts of the world he says crime statistics indicate that it is safer to travel abroad than it is to walk Down a City Street at night in the United  in fact after a stubbed toe Savage s research indicates that the most frequent problems afflicting travellers abroad Are lost Luggage on a flight being bumped from a oversold flight dehydration or diarrhoea from drinking impure water being ripped off by currency Exchange traders or taxi Drivers and a Rescue Feam he Fps people leave their House which was damaged by the terrorist explosion in May that hit the uffizi gallery in Florence Italy. Pickpocket theft at popular tourist Sites. Still the potential for More serious problems always exists. Business travellers often Are dispatched to troubled parts of the world and a normally stable destination can erupt suddenly and intrude on a vacation trip. Savage s Book has advice for practically any conceivable Hazard affecting personal Security. Among his do s and Don to when walking in Public places Don t Wear jewelry even a wedding ring. If you carry a watch put it out of sight in a pocket. Even fake jewelry if it looks expensive will attract unwanted attention. If jewelry is required for a formal event hide it under a coat until you have arrived. Don t walk aimlessly or alone in crowded Public places. Brisk Pace he says implies a set destination and companions usually will intimidate a Chance assailant. Savage keeps his head up Alert to anyone passing near. I m convinced i thwarted a potential pickpocket in a european railway station a couple of years ago using this very valid tactic. Avoid Street vendors and crowds. As a common technique an unscrupulous Street Vendor can distract you while an accomplice picks your pocket or slits a purse or bag. Street children asking for a handout May also be a ruse for pickpockets. Don t Load yourself Down with bags of purchases. This makes you easy prey because you will be walking slowly and will have your hands  if you have shopped till you a dropped take a cab Back to your hotel. Know where you Are going when you leave your hotel. Carry a Street map but consult it in a shop or other inconspicuous place. Ask directions from the hotel desk. Keep Money passport and other valuables concealed. If you must carry these items out of the hotel hide them in a Pouch beneath your clothing. Points to consider before travelling to potential hot spots if you Are bound for a country where an unstable situation could result in upheaval travel consultant Peter Savage suggests you get answers to several important questions before you go is there an overriding development at your destination that Means you should not go violence can t always be predicted but you should put some Effort into analysing the situation. Savage offers offbeat sources of information for an up to Date report including such International organizations As the world Bank in Washington which has people travelling abroad constantly. How Safe is the Airport where you will be Landing you can Check with the department of transportation s toll free travel advisory number 1-800-221-0673. Note callers Are frequently charged for using 800 numbers from abroad a recorded message reports any known credible and current threat to airlines or other Public transportation systems in the United states or abroad. In june the message warned travellers thrill .5. Officials considered the International Airport in Lagos Nigeria As unsafe because effective Security measures were not being maintained. I was t aware of the number until i read his Book Are there particular problems to be avoided these could Range from a rash of Street holdups to a nationwide shutdown because of a visit from the Pope. One Quick source of information is the . State department s citizens emergency Center 202 647-5225. It provides recorded reports on situations that might affect the Security of american travellers in every country. Is your hotel next to a Likely terrorist target in some places a government office building might be subject to attack and you could become an innocent victim. As Savage notes there is no Clear Cut method of choosing the safest hotel but it is a matter to be Given some thought if you want to stay at a Large first class hotel where american and other foreign senior executives Are known to congregate he writes consider that such a hotel might be a terrorist  on the other hand protective Security probably will be much tighter than in other hotels. James t. Yenckel gambling on the holy land by Elizabeth a Wissner Cross new Day officials say Israel is considering its first Casino. Tourism officials say the venture is being quietly discussed because the Issue is expected to be sensitive and a Casino opening could take years. But the coastal roundabout City of i at is viewed As the optimum location. Situated on the red sea the tropical City is a popular resort attracting vacationers year round. More immediate infrastructure changes officials say include the creation of More bed an breakfasts and Roadside cafeterias. For anyone who dreams of falling onto holy ground Israel has opened its first Parachute Center sky club is situated at Haronim Beach Between Netanya an Haifa on the Mediterranean. Munich Germany has announced a new music festival of Continental proportions the premiere Europe Musicale is scheduled for oct. 1 -31. Each country will be assigned a special Day to present its own classical  is there room in Scandinavia for three More countries apparently Lithuania Latvia and Estonia All once part of the soviet Union Are trying to squeeze under the nordic umbrella to attract tourism instead of marketing themselves with Russia. A lithuanian tourism spokesman confirmed that the Baltic nations Are seeking to be identified with Scandinavia and that the nordic neighbors have been receptive Denmark has adopted Lithuania economically Norway has adopted Latvia and Finland has adopted Estonia. Name a place you might like to visit in what was Czechoslovakia. Most people say Prague. But if asked to name a second place most americans can t. When the country split the czech Republic got Prague. So How s the slovak Side supposed to attract tourists experts say the slovak Republic is planning to publicize its attractions starting with its capital Bratislava. Local on the Danube the City has major museums palaces and the National theater. Other highlights pie Stany and Teplicek spathe High Patras for hiking skiing Kosice s Gypsy culture medieval towns and 180 castles Spissky head built in 1209, is the largest. Finally a Gadget to Rescue folks with minimal foreign language ability a poor ear for pronunciation or a clumsiness with phrasebooks. Dict somatic inc. Has created a pocket sized translator that does the talking. It Speaks English French Spanish German italian and japanese 170 phrases per language plus you can add your own. Each unit comes with English and either two european languages or japanese and retails for $199 Only through a travel agent 1-800-827-7859, juty22,1993 stripes Magazine 23