Expect the unexpected. That's the mantra of travel expert Mary Long Harvey, who learned the hard way that you can never be over-prepared when you travel. Mary should know, having experienced everything from baggage-handler theft and being held captive by ostriches, to a shipjacking and sexual harassment on a train. In her new book, Travel Wise Travel Safe: From One Who's Been There and Back, Mary presents everything that could go wrong when you travel and how to prevent it. The book is chock-full of lively personal anecdotes, entertaining travel tidbits, industry-insider secrets, Mary's Top Tips on dozens of topics, useful checklists, safety advice, and up-to-date information about post 9/11 security regulations.Mary draws from twenty years experience as a travel agent, tour director, author, and international speaker on land and at sea aboard the world's luxury liners to offer invaluable advice on how to make every phase of your trip safe, healthy, and pleasurable. Her user-friendly format begins at the conception stage -- thinking about, researching, planning, and booking your trip; moves into the transit and traveling leg; and culminates at the trip's destination, alerting readers to potential scams, accidents, and common travelers' mistakes along the way.Readers will also find Top Tip chapters devoted to: traveling solo, traveling with children, business travel, specialty or lifestyle travel, elderly and disability travel, traveling with pets, and staying healthy and fit. A comprehensive resource section organized by subject lists essential travel books, useful government agencies, emergency numbers, and recommended websites. Discover: How to pack your ACT: Attitude, Common Sense, and TactHow to avoid being the target of thieves and scam artistsHow to keep your possessions and pets safe back homeUnique and clever packing secretsHow to stay fit and be illness- and injury-free on the roadMedical and health emergency contacts worldwideTravel insurance myths and factsWhat to do if you are hijacked, arrested, or held captiveInsider hints for getting through security checkpoints quickly and hassle-freeTricks and traps of RV travel, road trips, taxicabs, and rental carsAvoiding gotchas when booking a hotel or fligh