Be sure to use all of the tips mentioned above, plus the following tips if you plan to travel to meet your online interest: DO NOT plan to stay at the other person's home for your visit. If you cannot afford a hotel, do not go.

If you've made hotel reservations, do not tell the other person where you're staying. They don't need to contact you there. You can contact them. Tell them you're staying with a relative if they get too inquisitive and then if you want to reveal your hotel later, you can say that the relative had to go away so you are now staying in a hotel.

Be sure to keep in touch with friends and family. Have a schedule in place as to when you should call and ask your date to remind you to call - they are then aware that you have a call to make. And make. sure they know where you're staying and how to reach you. Again, this is a good time to carry and use a cell/mobile phone.

Just in case...keep your valuables in an in-room safe or in with the front desk - they often have safety deposit boxes available for free or a minimal charge.