Customer Reviews

The Personal Travel Safety Manual, Security for Business People Traveling Overseas

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One thing that can be said of all international travel these days is that there is much more risk involved than any time in the recent past. From common crimes like pickpockets, thieves, muggers, and robbers to terrorists, kidnappers, and even murderers, the travel climate has changed drastically.

What can you do about it? The best thing you can do is be as informed and prepared as possible. That way you can avoid as many difficult situations as possible. "The Personal Travel Safety Manual" comes to the rescue of the concerned traveler with a concise primer on everything you need to know. Some of the suggested information includes the obvious such as learning about the background, geography, politics and people of the country, checking with the State Department about travel advisories, and learning the relevant laws. Others are just as important, if not more so, but are easily missed. For example, medical preparations, making flights as non-stop as possible, and selecting a secure hotel. The author goes into detail on how to select a secure hotel, things you can do to make yourself appear to be less of a prime target, what to do at home before you leave, how to deal with communications, how to think defensively, dealing with banks, secure vehicles, trains, buses, laptop computers, special concerns for women, and traveling with children.

The final section of the book covers what you can do when things do go wrong. It includes what to do in the event of sickness or injury, if you are arrested, or if you have a traffic accident. The author also covers much more severe situations such as kidnapping or hijacking. Finally, the appendices include suggested items in a first aid kit, duplicate copies of documents that should be kept at home in case yours are lost or stolen, a thorough pre-travel checklist, and other miscellaneous items.

Given the current international political situation and the normal dangers of international travel this book should be in the hands of anyone planning a trip out of the country. A highly recommended read for international travelers, I can't imagine planning a trip out of the country without consulting it first and following the detailed advice inside.

Christopher Barnes's Personal Travel Safety Manual is filled with useful and potentially life and property-saving advice. Most experienced global business travelers have evolved their own packing and security procedures, but all of us are likely to benefit from this comprehensive tune-up. For any novice traveler Barnes's no-nonsense compendium will be an invaluable eye-opener and resource. And yes, you can follow his recommendations and still have fun.

Christopher Barnes hits the nail on the head with this handy guide to safe travel. Take it from a criminal defense private investigator: Travel today is almost always inconvenient, usually difficult, and often dangerous! Barnes covers the risks - and remedies - so well that it should be required reading for anyone hitting the road. Topics include trip preparation, intelligence gathering, what to take and how to take it with you, blending-in (critical!)and how to behave; also,important tips on what to do when trouble occurs. Simply "using your head" isn't good enough anymore, this book provides a skill set worth learning. Easy reading, useful info, what could be better? Well, it also makes travel more fun - and safer. Barnes hit a home run this time!

As travelers get more and more adventurous, we'll end up in places that might be less than safe. Even though this book is a few years old, it's a good book to have read. For example, I didn't realize how much information could be gained from simple things, like hotel room charge cards, or those hotel breakfast forms you hang outside your door. If I were nefarious, I could use this various bits of information for personal gain.

Overall, the book makes really brief and concise points: check your country's State Department/Foreign Office for travel advisories and local laws, learn more about the country than what's in a tourist book, practicing common sense (picking a secure hotel), "street smarts" like activing defensively and how to deal with trains and buses. Also, considering this book was written in 2003, it was on the forefront of dealing with information on your laptop as a potential liability (hint: use encryption.)

The final third of the book dealt with how to deal with things when they go really wrong: sickness, hijackings, kidnappings and other things we don't want to think about when we go abroad. In a way, it's a slap in the face but in a good way - things like this can and do happen.

I wish the author would publish a newer and more up to date version of this book. That's not to say that the information is dated, but a book like this is extremely valuable and should be read by any seasoned traveler.

Christopher Barnes has used his extensive international experience, both military and civilian, to provide travelers with a readable and informative book. Although I traveled and lived overseas for over 30 years, Barnes's work is exactly what I needed when I accepted responsibility for the security of a Fortune Ten Corporation.

Barnes's reasonable recommendations will ensure that the most dangerous part of your trip will be between your home and the airport. Preparation before and environmental awareness during travel, Barnes says, are the key. Security measures need not take priority over the purpose of the trip when common sense prevails.

The Personal Travel Safety Manual is a major contribution and should be in the hands of every traveler and used by the security department of companies with international responsibilities.

André LeGallo is the author of "The Caliphate" (March 2010) and of "Satan's Spy" (December 2011), spy thrillers ripped from today's headlines and inspired by his CIA career.