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The Ageless Traveler--Travel Tuesday: The Safe Travel Issue-What You Need to Know Now
Published about 1 month ago • 5 min read
Dear Ageless Traveler,
It's been a week of turmoil in the Middle East, and when that happens, travelers everywhere get nervous. So I am devoting this Travel Tuesday to practical tips for safe travel, whether we are talking about fraud, personal safety, health exposure, or political unrest. My objective is to make you savvy travelers, not keep you home, but to raise awareness so you move through the world with confidence.
Right now, travel to most of the Middle East is pretty much out of the question for leisure travelers. Here are updates from AFAR Magazine. But I am betting that you are not planning to travel there at this time. If you are, please read the AFAR article. BUT…anywhere you travel, expect delays at security and longer lines as security is tightened.
I won't let the world situation scare me away from travel...but I won't close my eyes to danger either. I have traveled to 140 countries. I visited Athens and Santiago, Chile, during political uprisings, went to Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jericho, met extraordinary people, and had eye-opening experiences. I cherish them. But I have also come home from Mexico scammed, gotten typhoid fever in Zambia, and my husband was pickpocketed in Copenhagen. Travel is glorious. It is also real life.
Please travel safely so you continue to receive the awe, curiosity, and life extension that travel brings. In this week’s newsletter, I cover:
Ask Adriane: How to protect your phone when traveling, your most vulnerable source of confidential information.
News You Can Use: Telehealth and Global Rescue when there is a health emergency or political turmoil, and some top devices you can carry for safety.
Culture Vulture: Just for this week, I am substituting Safety First, telling you how to best use CDC and State Department travel advisories and other official information.
Luxury Travel for Less: New airline routes that reduce stress and eliminate unwanted and potentially dangerous stopovers.
In our podcast this week, I interview Caryl Dolinko, author of “A Woman’s Guide to Travel,” where safety is a recurring theme. With more than a hundred countries under her belt, Caryl shares invaluable insights on navigating the globe, especially for women travelers.
Never stop traveling
Cheers,
Adriane
P.S.
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This Week's Highlights
On Our Podcast
Travel Safety Essentials
In this episode, we embark on an enlightening conversation with world traveler and author Caryl Dolinko. From practical tips on bargaining and safety to the importance of cultural respect, this episode is packed with wisdom for seasoned globetrotters.
Caryl discusses strategies for women traveling alone, including staying aware of your surroundings, trusting your instincts, and knowing when to assert boundaries. And yes, we have fun with street food and bargaining stories, because travel should be joyful, not fearful.
Q. I am traveling to London this week, and I heard there are ways to protect yourself if your phone is stolen. Any suggestions? Lilly from Montgomery, Alabama
A. Lilly, this is one of the smartest questions you could ask. The first thing many thieves do after grabbing a phone is switch it to airplane mode, preventing you from tracking it. On an iPhone, you can stop that. Go to Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode, enter your code, and scroll to “Allow Access When Locked.” Turn off Control Center. Now, if someone steals your phone, they cannot simply swipe down and disconnect it. You still can, using Face ID, but they cannot.
On Android phones, you cannot fully block Control Center access the same way, but you can edit it. Swipe down twice, tap the three dots or pencil icon, and remove airplane mode from the quick-access buttons. Also, turn on theft-protection features such as Offline Device Lock and Theft Detection Lock. These tools will not guarantee recovery, but they can protect your data and buy you precious time.
News You Can Use
One of the most frightening travel moments is getting sick away from home. If you are traveling in the United States or a U.S. territory, Medicare telehealth access has been extended through December 31, 2027, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. That means you can access covered telehealth services from your hotel or wherever you are staying. For now, we are protected, but we will watch for updates as 2027 approaches.
Internationally, I recommend looking at Global Rescue. We have affiliated with them to offer you benefits. If you want details on it works contact me. Their Total Care program combines telehealth with field rescue, medical evacuation, and 24/7 advisory support.
As for simple tools I actually carry, here they are on Amazon: a personal travel alarm that emits a piercing sound if pressed, pepper spray where legal, a rubber doorstop wedge for hotel rooms, and a slim money belt worn under clothing. Some travelers also carry a small decoy wallet with limited cash. None of this is dramatic. It is practical. Prepared travelers relax more.
Safety First
The U.S. government provides travel advisories of several kinds. The State Department ranks countries from Level 1 (normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel). Level 4 currently includes places such as Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Russia, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen, among others. A Level 2 or 3 rating does not mean you cannot go. It means reading carefully, understanding the risks, and assessing your personal tolerance.
Before you travel, enroll in STEP (the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program). It is free and connects you to U.S. embassy alerts while abroad. During global events like the 2026 Olympics or periods of terrorism or civil unrest, these alerts become especially important. If there is a crisis, the U.S. government can assist citizens, but you must be visible in the system.
Health matters, too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues Travel Health Notices and urgent alerts through its Health Alert Network. These warnings outline the threat, who is affected, the symptoms to watch for, and exactly what to do. They are timely, specific, and evidence-based. Read them calmly. Then decide whether you want to travel.
Luxury Travel for Less
Air travel is one area where safety and simplicity overlap. Most aviation accidents occur during takeoff and landing, so direct flights reduce risk and stress. Fewer connections mean fewer delays, fewer lost bags, and less exhaustion.
Here are noteworthy new nonstop routes to culturally rich destinations:
• Alaska Airlines: Seattle to London Heathrow, Rome, and Reykjavík. • American Airlines: Dallas-Fort Worth to Athens, Miami to Milan, Philadelphia to Prague, and Budapest. • Delta Air Lines: New York JFK to Olbia, Porto, and Malta. • JetBlue: Boston to Barcelona and Milan. • United Airlines: Newark to Split and Santiago de Compostela. • Aer Lingus: Dublin to Raleigh–Durham and Pittsburgh. • Air France: Las Vegas to Paris. • British Airways: London Heathrow to St. Louis. • ITA Airways: Houston to Rome. • LOT Polish Airlines: San Francisco to Warsaw. • Royal Air Maroc: Casablanca to Los Angeles. • STARLUX Airlines: Phoenix to Taipei. • EVA Air: Washington Dulles to Taipei.
Direct is not just convenient. Direct flights can be safer, with fewer trips around airports and fewer take-offs, landings, and security concerns. And calm travelers make better decisions.
Attention The AGELESS TRAVEL WOMEN:
Want no boundaries advice from a savvy lady who knows how to craft success?
Host Beverley Glazer, Reinvention Strategist and Empowerment Coach, is honest and grounded. Beverly tackles everything from grief and identity shifts to ageism, sovereignty, and libido with confidence and depth.
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