Nilou Motamed, senior editor of Travel + Leisure magazine, offers these tips for anyone planning to travel or going on vacation overseas this summer.
	· Research your destination. · Check for any travel warnings issued by government authorities such as the U.S. State Department (http://www.travel.state.gov/) and British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel). · Check out Web sites of local publications for warning of public transportation strikes and other regional news. · Photocopy important documents such as passports, visas, airline tickets and credit cards. Keep copies at home and take ones with you. As a precaution, don't keep everything in the same place when traveling.		· Register at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate when you arrive, especially if the State Department has issued a warning for the country. You can do this in person or online. · Be aware of and respect local customs and taboos. For example, dress modestly if the religion of a country requires native women to do so. · Know where you're going -- find out if it's safe to take cabs or buses and always carry your hotel address with you (preferably with directions in the local language.) · Ask the hotel check-in to write your room number down rather than saying it out loud. Women travelers especially should take such a precaution.