Spotting Danger for Travelers - (Head's Up) by Gary Dean Quesenberry (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

AWARDS

FINALIST-Travel, American Book Fest 2023

Spotting danger before it happens while traveling alone or with your family is a skill that can be developed and may even save your life.

So, you've decided to go on vacation. Good for you! Unfortunately, when planning a getaway, you must think about more than just the fun stuff; you must also consider your personal safety and the safety of those you're traveling with. This is where situational awareness comes into play.

Domestic and international vacationers spend nearly 1.1 trillion dollars annually in the U.S. alone. Any time there's that much cash involved you can expect there will be someone nearby looking to take advantage of you. When traveling, you must acknowledge and prepare for this potential danger.

In Spotting Danger for Travelers, you will learn how to develop a solid foundation of situational awareness, preemptively spot danger, quickly implement escape plans, and take control of your own safety while traveling.

Details include:

• Conducting a threat assessment on your destination


• Properly securing your home while away


• Taking travel precautions on the road and in the air


• Securing your temporary accommodations


• Building situational awareness techniques specific for traveling


• Becoming familiar with your surrounding area


• Developing an appropriate cultural awareness


• Dealing with so called "common" encounters


• Creating contingency plans when "incidents" occur

Regardless of your location, criminals tend to stick to specific patterns of behavior. This book will teach you important skills including how predators choose their victims, how to establish behavioral baselines, the process for identifying baseline anomalies, and how to harden your personal defenses. By implementing what you learn here, you can travel confidently and be secure with the knowledge that you can spot danger before it has the chance to spot you.

"Today more than ever, it is imperative that we pay close attention to our surroundings and learn how to interpret what's happening around us. Tragic events can often be both predictable and preventable." --Gary Quesenberry Federal Air Marshal (Ret.)

Review Quotes

"In his latest book Spotting Danger for Travelers, Gary Quesenberry draws on his nineteen years of experience as a federal air marshal to enlighten readers about the importance of situational awareness while traveling. Far from dry or clinical, Gary expertly weaves the technical aspects of situational awareness with personal stories and experiences to give the reader a deeper understanding of the critical role awareness plays in personal safety. The result is a comprehensive yet easy-to-read guide that covers everything from setting up home security before you leave to post-travel considerations once you return home. So whether you're planning a big family vacation, solo business trip, or a quick weekend getaway, I highly recommend reading this book."

-Steven Pressfield, New York Times best-selling author, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Gates of Fire, The War of Art, among others

"The term "Spotting Danger" is more relevant today than ever before in this increasingly dangerous world. Gary encapsulates why we need to be a lot more aware of our surroundings in simple and straightforward terms that everyone can understand and relate to." --Rick Collins, founder and CEO of S.A.F.E. Inc.

"Every environment is different, and what is normal in one place may be a warning sign in another. Unfamiliar environments have inherent risks, and understanding this can be the difference between a memorable trip or a tragic experience. Spotting Danger for Travelers is an important addition to the Spotting Danger series as it breaks down everything from preparation to pre-incident indicators in a sequence that is easy to follow and fun for an individual or for the whole family." --Joseph Koury, US Army, Special Forces; federal agent, special agent in charge, Newark Field Office

------"Anyone who is a frequent traveler or is planning a domestic or international trip needs to read Spotting Danger for Travelers. Gary has taken the key fundamentals of international safety operations and applied them to a realistic and sensible approach. Like Gary's other books in this series, he has presented principles of safety and security that are easily remembered and applied to enhance anyone's safety. I've had the honor of meeting and working with Gary at the Federal Air Marshal Service and co-instructed many of the topics he covers specifically in this book. Gary is spot on as he describes his processes and taking situational awareness on the road. Having been in some questionable security situations with Gary, I can attest that the guidance Gary offers in this book works. I've been fortunate to be one of the founders of two security companies that has worked with hundreds of churches across the United States. Many of the preparation and operational principles outlined in Spotting Danger for Travelers has been taught to church staff and volunteers serving on mission trips. The examples in this book brought back a lot of memories of my personal world travel but most important the reminder of the everchanging world and the need to be more vigilant then ever in our travels." --Troy Szotkowski, founder and CEO of ACG Security Consultants and National Tactical Security

"Gary Quesenberry does it AGAIN! In this exceptionally well-written book, Gary effectively leverages his decades of experience in the counterterrorism and protection realm to succinctly communicate essential awareness fundamentals for traveling safely. The fourth book in Gary's awareness series Spotting Danger for Travelers seamlessly complements his previous wo