The Travel Planner's Compass

Welcome to The Travel Planner’s Compass — for travelers who know great trips start long before the airport. I’m Paul Weber. From an aircraft-engineer father to 40 years in law enforcement and a career as a negotiator, I live by the “5 P’s”: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance. A cross-Canada trek in a 1960s Volkswagen and other travel adventures taught me that thoughtful design turns journeys into lasting memories.

This blog cuts through travel noise and gives you usable blueprints. Every post delivers one immediate action, a timeline, and resource links so you can plan confidently and travel comfortably.

Reader promise: Honest, clear, and actionable advice. Resources that will help you plan better. You’ll leave with information needed to develop a clear, actionable plan for your next trip.

The S.A.F.E. Method (what you’ll get)

• Security Briefings — Practical safety steps and an example: a hotel-room safety checklist (lock review, emergency exits, document storage).
• Adventure Stories — Real multi-generational routes and one sample: a three-day Portugal itinerary tailored for families and active adults.
• Field Training — Hands-on travel skills and one sample: a step-by-step guide to booking and using international rail passes.
• Emergency Preparedness — Disruption templates and one sample: a printable trip-disruption checklist with contacts, insurance steps, and backup plans.

Resouces:

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals to enroll their trip abroad so the Department of State can accurately and quickly contact them in case of emergency.

Benefits

Help the embassy or consulate contact you if there’s an emergency, such as a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency.

Get updates about health, weather, safety, and security for your destination.

Plan ahead using information from the U.S. embassy in the local area.

A recent example was: Alert – Train Derailment in Cordoba – U.S. Embassy (Madrid, Spain) (Jan. 18, 2026) 

Location: Adamuz, Cordoba 

Event: On January 18, 2026, two trains were involved in an accident and derailment in Adamuz, Cordoba. Emergency services are responding to the scene. Train service between Madrid and Andalusia will be suspended through at least January 19. Train companies have provided the following phone numbers for inquiries about relatives or loved ones onboard: +34 900 101 020 and +34 900 001 402.

Actions to Take: 

• Notify friends and family of your safety.
• Monitor local media for updates. 

Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Madrid, Spain

+34-915-872-200

There is no cost to this service!