“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” Susan SontagI remember exactly where I was.“Why won’t those kids be quiet?! I’m not feeling well. Could they not for once just keep their voices down?” I berated them (in my head of course).No matter my internal begging the kids’ noise continued to echo through the halls and around the quad in the middle of the American Boarding School in Rome, Italy where I was working.I trudged downstairs, “What is going on?”“A plane went into the Twin Towers in New York!”We all became transfixed by the TV, wondering how anyone could hit an enormous tower in the middle of New York and then ... the second plane hit and the world changed on 9/11.Osama bin Laden became enemy number one and the hunt began. That hunt, which started in 2001 ended Sunday with his death.What has this got to do with travel? Well thanks to 9/11 the world of travel changed as liquids were banned and the level of security was far and above anything we had ever seen.And now with Osama’s death, the world is again changing, but unfortunately not any safer. With the announcement of the al Qaeda leader’s demise in Pakistan also came stark warnings and global travel advisories from both the United States and the United Kingdom Governments.In fact the death of Osama may bring tighter, rather than looser restrictions to travel (isn’t it a great world we live in?). Again, and I know I have said it before, don’t let these travel advisories stop you from voyaging. Just make sure you take them into account.Which bring me to tip number one: stay tuned to the media (both local and abroad), travel advisory sites and especially those updates issued from governments.For the State Department’s updates visit: http://travel.state.gov/travel/ and for the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office updates visit: http://www.fco.gov.uk/Of course if you are travelling (and something both sites suggest) tip two is: to stay away from demonstrations. Of course use your judgment (a protest in Buenos Aires is probably fine. A protest in Libya? OK you get it).And once you’re in a country tip three is: tell your respective consulate you are there. Americans can also enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and receive regular updates about concerns in their particular country of visiting choice.UK? There is a locate service (through the FCO), which you can register with and receive any updates and warnings for your destination.Don’t just tell the consulate, though.Tip Four is: consulates are great, but your family actually care about you so tell them when and where you are travelling and make sure they are also in possession of your important documents (ie photocopies of your passport, birth certificate and immunisation records) should you need backup.Immunisation! Tip five does not concern just the most exotic of travels.If you don’t have an up-to-date tetanus shot and a dog bites you in America or in India, you’re going to have problems (OK in India you might struggle to get to a hospital more, but you get my point). For the more “exotic” locations, make sure you have everything you need.The travel clinic located on Victoria Street in Hamilton is a great place to give you the help you need. Visit my website www.robynswanderings.com for the clinic’s suggestions.Of course before you go, tip six is make sure you’re healthy and you have travel insurance!A check-up and investment in some overseas health insurance will ensure that any activities, from skiing to rock climbing and food poisoning, will be covered.Oh and make sure you know your insurance details. No good signing up and then forgetting the information!What to wear, what to wear ...Well, tip seven is when you’re travelling the best bet is to travel in the least ostentatious manner possible. Of course in New York you might be OK, but travelling to Bolivia with your earrings showing, designer shoes and rings glowing from your fingers, will cause problems.Not only is it rude to those who may not be as well off, but it also invites them to take advantage of your visit (and I don’t mean just trying to get your tourist dollars from you).If you do have to carry valuables with you (ie passport/wallet) while you’re out and about then make sure you listen to tip eight and find a bag with pockets to conceal.The best bag I’ve found? A single shoulder strap bag that was big enough for a large water bottle, but small enough that I could move it from my back to my front without being overwhelmed.There was a latch over the main zipper so if it was on my back and someone tried something I would feel it.Furthermore it had a zipper in the back so I could still have access to the contents without having to completely open the bag in the middle of the street.Point being: no fanny packs and no backpacks, you’re just asking for trouble.No amount of you being ready for a trip, however, will mean your passport is!Tip nine: Before you go, make sure your passport has at least six months remaining on it to travel. And of course Bermudians with a British passport need to make sure it’s stamped indicating your Bermudian status.The stamp will get you back home, but it won’t get you into a new country!Tip Ten: now that you have your safety secured, make sure you also have all of the visas you will need to enter the countries of your choice.These can be researched by a travel agent or online (for a bit more time of course) and will ensure you are ready for your trip.A trip where? Well that’s a good question and one I hope to address next week: what’s good in June! Of course visit www.robynswanderings.com before next Wednesday and tell me what I should include in June’s destination guide.