INDIA, Nov. 28 -- Unlike most graduates who receive new travel tech or fancy luggage before embarking on their first solo trip as an adult, I was gifted with a copy of Gavin de Becker's "The Gift of Fear" and a door alarm by my dad when I started traveling alone nearly 20 years ago. His military background and time spent traveling the world as an airline pilot gave him a unique perspective on staying safe while on the road, which is why our family always took travel security very seriously.

Like the book (and my father) taught me, being aware of your surroundings and trusting your instincts goes a long way in staying safe while traveling, but there are some great tools out there to help protect against some of the biggest threats while ...