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(CNN) -- If you think you are ready for a trip, you may want to think again.
Even if you are traveling to a country you are familiar with, it is still vital to be aware of the health and safety risks of international travel.
Mark Hide of Planetwise, a UK company that offers safety courses to business travelers, helped provide CNN with some tips on what to do before leaving home:
Travel with enough information on the country you are visiting, including information on traditions and security concerns.
Remember to make a computer scan of your passport and write your passport number down and potentially learn it by heart in case you lose it.
Photocopy any official documents you might have with you, scan them and email them to yourself so that you can access them wherever you are.
Save your work onto a laptop memory stick or memory card. Even if you lose your laptop you will still have your business presentation with you.
Make sure you get the appropriate vaccinations before you travel. Remember that malaria, typhoid and cholera are still common in many countries, including in Africa, Asia and South America.
Also check if you need to have vaccinations in order to get a visa for some countries. Your doctor or local health worker should be able to give you more details.
On the medical front, if you are going for more than a few days make sure you have seen your dentist recently. It is also worth bringing a basic medical kit with aspirin, bandages, and an antiseptic cleaner.
Ensure that your insurance coverage is valid in case you become sick or injured abroad. Some insurance companies specialize in overseas travel insurance and may allow you to buy short-term coverage.
Attend practical training courses to equip yourself with the skills and state of mind for a safe and productive trip.
While you are abroad
To relieve symptoms of jetlag, eat lightly, hydrate yourself significantly and avoid alcohol and caffeine a few days before your trip.
Try to relax and sleep on your flight and be energetic once you reach your destination. Try to sleep when locals do in order to get used to the local time.
Check out the political situation in the country you visit and get psychologically prepared so you know what to expect. Official websites on the Internet are useful tools to prepare you.
Inform yourself on the quality of the public transport at your destination.
The most common reason for deaths abroad is car accidents. Visitors are not always aware of the driving culture at the place they visit.
Use two wallets. Hide one of them with essential belongings in your jacket pocket.
Fill the other one with a small amount of money. In case of an assault you can hand this over.
Do not count your money in public, especially when you visit a poor country, as you might become a target of thieves.
Know what notes you have in your pocket and wallet. Keep larger denominations away from prying eyes.
It is better to book an early flight than a later one. It is easier and safer to find your hotel and the people you may need to meet with over the day than at night.
Try not to stand out of the crowd; if you have an expensive laptop, cover it so it is not apparent.
Do not wear expensive clothes or jewellery and be aware of the cultural traditions at your destination. Women should be more aware of what they wear in strict Muslim countries.
Do not use or take an expensive mobile phone; you do not want to advertise your wealth. It is better to take an older, reliable model.
Learn to identify what the uniforms of local police look like.
Do not take any taxi you find -- check to see if it belongs to an official company. Ask the hotel reception about rates you can expect to pay when you get into a taxi.
Always set a price before getting in the taxi or ask for a meter to be used. Pick up the hotel's business card. You can always present this to a taxi driver, especially if it is in a local language.
Stay close to your hotel and do not disorient yourself. If you can get hold of a local map it always helps; some hotels hold them in reception.
Use local currency where possible for small denomination exchanges. Make sure to ask the currency exchange bureau or counter to give you small denomination banknotes. Many banking outlets tend to give high denomination notes -- these are of no use in poorer countries where you need money for tips, taxis or a local newspaper.
Set a limit on your credit card, so if it is stolen, thieves will be unable to take out a large amount of money on it.
Do not meet people in dark strange places; you might put yourself in danger. Meet business acquaintances in busy thoroughfares.
Sometimes it is hard to adjust to new flavors and new cuisine. Stomach upsets are one of the more common complaints on the road. Always eat at busy restaurants where local people go and try new food in moderation.
If you have any food restrictions try to learn the local language before you go.
-- Despina Afentouli contributed to this report for CNN.
