Before you go…

When I decided that I was going to Brazil in May 2022, you would have thought I committed a cardinal sin.  One common response I got was: “Brazil is dangerous!” My short response to that was: “Have you looked at your local news lately?”

Now, we all know someone who has had a bad experience during at least one of their travels. Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting that you totally disregard someone’s unfortunate experience. However, usually as the story continues to unfold, you realize that somewhere along the way somebody threw precaution to the wind. Therefore, as with anything, before you go, “DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.”

Here are some suggestions that I found beneficial: Do very thorough research of the area.  If traveling outside of the US, create an account and register yourself and your trip (i.e., when you will arrive and depart, where you are staying, etc.) with the American Embassy at: https://step.state.gov/step/.  Pay particular attention to the “Helpful Information” section. There they mention anything that is of concern in that country. I suggest renting a car, and an Airbnb (condo style). These two options eliminate anyone other than yourself from handling, or having 24-hour access to, your belongings.  It is also beneficial to map out and downloaded for offline access the routes between the airport and where you will be staying, or any other places that you found during your research that you may like to visit.  Be sure to add a 30-day “International Package” and if available activate “location sharing” on your phone.

By taking these few precautions, it will definitely make for a stress-free vacation. 

Checkout my “Going for something different” blog to see how my trip turned out.

Submitted by: Yvette W. (Jan 2024)