The Bigger Picture

Online resources that reveal the other side of the story

When you're researching the possible threats of a trip abroad, State Department advisories should be only a starting point, says Neil Livingstone, CEO of the international risk management company Global Options. "They are often too broad, and I don't think the government updates them enough or spots trends as quickly as it might." After reviewing State Department advisories, Livingstone says, travelers should search the Web for articles on the destination using key words such as crime and security. He also recommends the site of The Economist magazine, which has free reports on 60 countries (with a focus on politics and economics). Related articles cost $3 each but are free to subscribers (www.economist.com/countries). For other timely on-the-ground information, www.newsdirectory.com lists the Web sites of more than 3,600 English-language newspapers around the world.

Advisories provided by the governments of other English-speaking countries can also help provide Americans with a more balanced perspective. "I find that the British travel advisories are generally less politically sensitive than ours are," Livingstone says. Advice on foreign travel from the Australian, British, and Canadian governments is available at www.smarttraveller.gov.au, www.fco.gov.uk/travel, and www.voyage.gc.ca. Note that opinions sometimes differ from one government to another: At press time, the United States advised against travel to Saudi Arabia, while the United Kingdom did not; the reverse was true regarding Ecuador. Web sites for U.S. embassies and consulates abroad sometimes have news and safety information not available on the State Department's site; a list of these resources can be found at www.embassyworld.com The State Department does make public a yearly review of terrorist attacks entitled "Patterns of Global Terrorism" (www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt). And while most of the information on the department's Overseas Security Advisory Council's Web site is restricted to American businesses with interests abroad, tourist-related news not generally picked up by the mainstream U.S. media is available to all. The site also posts a calendar of events such as elections and demonstrations worldwide that might affect travelers (www.ds-osac.org).

Livingstone also recommends reviewing the risk-assessment reports sold by several companies. IJet Travel Risk Management, for instance, offers support during both the planning and execution of a trip, with country-specific reports that are updated weekly and are available through Amazon.com ($15 each), itinerary-specific reports updated during your trip via e-mail ($25) or cell phone ($10 per day), and access to 24-hour travel and medical assistance (ijet.com). Nationwide Intelligence sends breaking travel news on topics such as politics, weather delays, and airlines via e-mail or fax, along with recommendations for travel to affected regions; one year's subscription costs $95 (www.nationwideintelligence.com).