How To Protect Yourself And Stay Secure While Traveling

(NAPSI)-According to a recent survey by American Express, 84 percent of women are generally more concerned than men about safety and security while traveling. However, there are certain precautions women can take to safeguard themselves and their personal information while away from home. Lindsay Moran, former CIA officer and author of "Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy," offers some insider tips on how women can stay safe while traveling:

• Undercover Address: Invest in luggage tags for checked bags and carry-ons that shield your name and address from potential prying eyes. Strangers don't need to know where you're going or your last location.

• Hotel Room Etiquette: Keep the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door at all times and put electronic gear and valuables out of sight. Most hotels offer in-room safes--use them.

• Safe Room: Place a cheap rubber door wedge behind the door for added protection and peace of mind.

• Use a Privacy Filter: When you're working on your computer in close quarters, it can be easy for people to glance over and see what you're doing. Consider using a 3M Privacy Filter, which "blacks out" the view on either side of the laptop screen, keeping personal or sensitive information private. This allows only the person sitting directly in front of the screen to see what is being displayed.

• Silence Is Golden: Be aware of your surroundings when conducting business in public. Crowded settings such as trains, airplanes and airport lounges can be hotbeds of eavesdroppers.

• Valet, Please: It's generally safer to use valet parking when available. Dark, deserted parking garages can be unsafe. Also, when you hand a valet your keys, remove everything but your car keys. He or she doesn't need access to your home, room or luggage.

• Call Someone: Always make sure that someone has a copy of your itinerary and hotel information so that, in case of an emergency, someone knows where you are.

• Trust Your Instincts: If something doesn't feel right to you, it's probably not. When you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, get smart and get out.

You can find more helpful tips at www.travellikeaspy.com.

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