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Ex-intelligence execs reveal sensible, low-cost methods vacationers can keep secure overseas by boosting situational consciousness and planning forward.
Is it secure to journey to Mexico? See what consultants stated.
USA TODAY’s Eve Chen spoke with former CIA brokers and safety consultants concerning the present state of affairs in Mexico after “El Mencho’s” dying.
- Former CIA officers advise vacationers to analysis locations utilizing assets just like the U.S. State Department web site.
- Travelers ought to keep away from posting journey particulars on social media till after they return dwelling.
- To keep away from being a goal, costume to mix in, pay attention to your environment, and safe valuables in a number of places.
Jason Hanson was nearly kidnapped as soon as.
“I spotted the kidnappers. I looked up. They didn’t blend in,” the previous U.S. intelligence officer advised USA TODAY. “I was maybe 25 yards away when I figured out what was going on because my head was up.”
Being conscious of your environment is a elementary precept for spies, but additionally strong recommendation for vacationers.
Hanson managed to outrun his would-be captors. Most vacationers don’t face such excessive eventualities, however they’ll nonetheless be taught rather a lot from former intelligence operatives on the way to keep secure overseas.
“They’re just some very simple precautions, not like anybody has to do anything crazy expensive or crazy James Bond-ish,” Hanson stated.
Since the beginning of the continuing US-Israel assaults on Iran, the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide warning for Americans, not simply within the Middle East.
“Following the launch of U.S. combat operations in Iran, Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate,” the State Department introduced Feb. 28. “The Department of State advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution.”
Here is a few common security recommendation for vacationers.
Deciding the place, when to journey
Safety begins earlier than you go away dwelling.
Hanson suggests researching “anything and everything” about a destination before deciding to visit.
Doug Patteson, a former CIA officer who now advises film and TV projects and teaches university courses on intelligence, spelled out how.
“I’ll start pulling the Department of State’s crime and safety reports for a country that I’m going to,” he advised USA TODAY, noting that the data is publicly out there on the State Department’s website. He additionally checks experiences from other countries, including the destination country, and trusted news outlets.
Patteson looks for things like, “Have there been recent protests? What’s the government like? What’s the government’s relationship with the people like? Is crime rampant?” In addition to general safety risks, he looks for terrorism risks, threats directed at foreigners versus locals, and risk of natural disaster.
What he finds helps him determine if a trip is worth it.
“Everyone has to go through their own decision calculus to figure out how much risk they’re willing to take on,” Patteson said, adding that the decision also depends on factors like who else is coming along. “If I had small children, that would change my calculus. If it was just me and some buddies, that would change my decision, so there’s no one answer. The answer is almost always going to be, ‘it depends.’ What you want it to do is be an active thought process that’s not rooted in fear, but in logic and decision-making.”
Preparing to travel
Once a destination is picked, Hanson largely keeps it to himself.
“I put none of my plans out there when it comes to travel,” he said, adding, “I’m more paranoid than the average Joe because of my background.” While no longer with the CIA, he founded a safety and security business called Spy Briefing and has authored a number of books on the topic.
Instead of posting about trips on social media in advance or in real time, Hanson waits until they’re over. He only shares plans with his immediate family and a close friend who can check on his home. Hanson also gives two trusted people copies of every document he’s bringing on the trip, including his passport and health insurance information.
“There’s the old saying, ‘Two is one, and one is none.’ You want redundancy when it comes to travel,” he said.
Patteson also recommends registering for the State Department’s free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which can provide critical updates when traveling abroad.
“The other thing it does is it tells the State how many Americans are in a given area so that if there’s the need for an evacuation like there was in Libya during the Arab Spring, it makes it that much easier to connect Americans in trouble,” he said.
Both he and Hanson advise looking up contact information for the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as well as how to reach local authorities for help, and keeping that information handy.
“Everybody is aware of to name 911, however it is not 911 in all places,” Patteson said. “Learn what is the code for the emergency providers the place you are going to be, so that you’ve got that in your hand.”
He also suggests carrying a physical list of your allergies, in case you’re incapacitated for any reason and first responders need to know.
Protecting your stuff, yourself
When traveling, Hanson hides documents in a money belt, out of easy reach. He also hides multiple credit cards and at least $300 cash in local currency and U.S. dollars in different places so it can’t get snatched all at once.
As for different valuables, Patteson suggested: “Don’t wear a backpack on your back in a crowded subway where a very skilled pickpocket can zip it open without your knowledge. Don’t leave your phone on the table of an outside cafe while you’re having dinner and drinks with your friends. Don’t set a drink down in a bar and expect to pick it back up again and safely drink from it.”
How you costume additionally issues.
“I want to blend in and look like every other tourist, but I want to look like the poorest tourist. I don’t want to look like the tourist who’s got the big diamond ring, the fancy sunglasses, the North Face jacket that’s several hundred dollars,” Hanson stated. “I want to be the most boring, least exciting, least rich-looking tourist and also the hardest target because I’m going to be scanning around and looking around for anybody trying to size me up.”
Intelligence officers are educated to discover particulars many vacationers overlook, like license plate numbers, however Patteson stated, “The root of it is still situational awareness, which means being aware of the things going on around you so that you can specifically take a decision step sooner than somebody else.”
Hanson credit that consciousness with serving to him evade his potential kidnappers.
“Act like it was 25 years ago, the year 2000, when you weren’t staring at your cell phone and have your head up,” he said. “If I would’ve had my head buried in a device, I walk right into those guys and I’m in a very bad fight that I don’t want to be in. By having your head up and scanning around, you’re going to stop that problem.”
Both he and Patteson look up maps and study routes before heading out. Patteson also pointed out another problem with being glued to your phone: “Frankly it causes you to miss out more on the enjoyment of being around and seeing the world around you.”
‘Don’t be obnoxious’
Patteson has a saying he’s taught his kids and others through the years.
“Don’t do stupid things with stupid people in stupid places at stupid times of the day or night,” he said. “It really is a decision rubric because one area may be totally safe at 2 in the afternoon, but totally unsafe at 2 in the evening, and understanding that difference can be the difference between safety and danger.”
Hanson added a few other no-nos.
“Don’t be obnoxious. As Americans, we are so obnoxious overseas. We think the world revolves around us,” he said. “Don’t draw that much attention to yourself.”
He also cautioned accidentally sharing too much information.
“One of the things we do in the spy business is (what) we call it ‘give to get,’” Hanson said. “I may come to you say … ‘Oh, you’re American? I’m American. You’re staying at the Marriott with me too, right?’ And then you’ll be like, ‘No, Jason, I’m actually at the Best Western down there.’ They’re using those sentences, that verbiage to try and get you to correct them.”
“It’s happened to me many times – and of course I don’t fall for it – but people overseas, you think they’re being super friendly … and then you’re giving your hotel information,” he said. “Don’t give any of that information.”
Similarly, he said, “If somebody’s like, ‘Hey, come down here with me. Come into my shop, and I’ll give you a better price,’ clearly don’t go into the shop to get a better price … If it sounds too good to be true, it is.”
“A good friend of mine and mentor who’s also former CIA, he says, ‘You know what spying is? Spying is common sense on steroids,’” he added. “When you’re traveling, have common sense on steroids.”
Handling emergencies
Patteson noted that in many places, the biggest risks most travelers face are petty crime, vehicle accidents and natural disasters.
However, in the event of an emergency, he said gathering information is key.
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“Pay attention to what’s happening locally. Go to the Department of State’s website. If you’re in a location that has a consulate, go to the consulate’s website because that’s where the most current information about the the threats (to U.S. citizens) is going to come from,” he said.
He also recommended checking local media and trusted social media.
“You have to filter it appropriately, right?” he stated, acknowledging the rising presence of AI and different unreliable content material on-line. “But very quickly growing data is usually launched on (X) nearly earlier than wherever else, and so I’d in a short time work out what search phrases I wanted to make use of to look social media for present updates.”
If you’re ordered to shelter in place, like Americans in numerous components of Mexico had been after the killing of a cartel chief referred to as “El Mencho,” Hanson stated do it.
“It’s all about not panicking and sheltering in place until you know it’s safe to get out,” he stated. “The most dangerous time is when you’re moving, is when you’re in transportation … It’s not worth it putting yourself in danger to go to the airport when you’re already in a safe location, where you have shelter, where you have food.”
Spy or not, all of it goes again to being conscious of your environment and assessing threat.
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you’ll be able to go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2026/03/02/ex-cia-travel-safety-security-tips/88881564007/
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