Women and Children Alone:

Take children on a long day experimental trip to see how they fare when tired and hungry. Pack lightly as you will end up carrying the bags. Talk to children about the danger of travel and about not being overtly American, if you are going abroad. Pin the name, address and phone number of the hotel on each child's clothing. Ask the hotel reception when booking how close is the nearest playground; you will get an idea of their attitude to children and the neighborhood's safety for them.