What are some safety tips for couples traveling through the US?

What are some safety tips for couples traveling through the US?

Catharine Hamm (Travel Editor, LA Times) gives expert video advice on: What are popular US beach destinations for couples?; What are some money-saving tips for couples traveling through the US? and more...

Couples travelling through the U.S. need to be engaged in a safety assessment a couple of times a day. The U.S. is not any more or any less dangerous than any other place in the world, but I think, with a couple, the issue is focusing on your surroundings and making sure that you are not just focused on each other. Being aware of your surroundings is really the best way to avoid trouble on the road and that's true whether you are a couple, whether you're a person travelling alone or whether you're a family. You need to make sure that you avoid areas and you need to take advice from your hotel or from people you know about places you should not go and then studiously avoid going there. Using a GPS system is a great help, and if you have a portable GPS, I would recommend that. Stay away from places in the U.S. that you know are trouble, and be aware of your surroundings, making sure that you do a personal safety assessment. Ask: am I wearing too much jewellery? Am I carrying too much cash? Am I flashing money? All of those things are important for couples when they're travelling.