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Now that the U.S. Surgeon General has forcefully reminded us that there is no safe lower level of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, and that inhaling even small amounts of tobacco smoke drifting into the no-smoking section can trigger a fatal heart attack in a few minutes time, many U.S. nonsmokers traveling abroad are increasingly concerned about being exposed to tobacco smoke pollution, but are wondering about how best to protect themselves and their loved ones.

So Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), which started and now leads the nonsmokers' rights movement both here and abroad (through the Framework Convention Alliance), has put together this page of tips, information, and links to help you protect yourself and members of your family.  Here are some general tips, with links to additional information and resources.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ASH, PLEASE CLICK ON: http://ash.org/
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TO LEARN HOW ASH HELPS NONSMOKERS, PLEASE CLICK ON: http://ash.org/victories.html

However, each traveler should carefully check each of their destination countries just before they travel, and also determine as best you can the extent to which these laws are actually being complied with or enforced in the areas you plan to visit.  Some tips on how to do this are presented below. 
However, you can also go on ASH's web site [http://ash.org/ ] and use the search engine for the most up-to-date news articles.  For example, typing in "smoking  Germany 2006" will bring up the most recent articles on the ASH site using the words "smoking" and "Germany," and posted during 2006.
You can, of course, also use other Internet search tools, including http://news.google.com/ for recent news items, http://groups.google.com/ for people who have posted comments to discussion groups (be sure to sort by date), and even http://blogsearch.google.com/ for blogs.

In general, you are more likely to have problems with smoking in public places -- where there may not even be no-smoking sections, and/or where restrictions on smoking may be widely ignored and not enforced -- in Asian and South American countries.  But don't be discouraged -- the tips which follow provide ideas for protecting yourself in virtually all countries.

2. KNOW/PICK HOW YOU ARE TRAVELING:  Most U.S. citizens travel abroad primarily by airplane.  Here are some general tips
A. U.S. and Canadian airlines are generally nonsmoking around the world, as are a growing number of airlines based in Europe, and any flight which departs from or land in the U.S.  In general, you are most likely to have a problem with smoking on airlines flying in Asia and South America, and on airlines from those countries.
B. While there appears to be no current list of airline smoking policies, the following link -- now several years out of date -- show that even then the overwhelming number of airlines and airline flights are completely smokefree.  But ASH suggests that travelers check with each airline they are planning to fly with, and get a statement in writing -- in a letter or email, or downloaded from a web site -- that each flight segment they will employ will be nonsmoking.
For somewhat out-of-date lists, see:  http://hem2.passagen.se/fungus/  and additional links on the page.
C.  Trains, especially those in Europe, are rapidly moving towards being smokefree, at least in theory.  The Swiss Federal Railways went smoke-free as of December 2005, joining rail systems in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. France banned smoking on its TGV system in 2004 and is scheduled to ban smoking on all French trains this year.  However, ASH receives frequent reports that the rules restricting smoking are often ignored and not enforced.
D. Buses are increasingly likely to be smokefree, and this is especially true of buses (including tour buses) frequented by Americans.  No comprehensive list of buses and their smoking policies exists, and again travelers are urged to check for themselves before leaving.
E. Cruise ships, while they may provide more absolute protection for nonsmokers (since nonsmoking passengers can almost always find places to move away from smokers), often are not very vigilant about enforcing existing no-smoking rules aboard the ship, and sometimes even worse on insisting on enforcement on shore trips (where they have to rely upon local tour organizers).   There also appear to be a growing number of complaints about passengers who smoke on their private balconies, and where the smoke drifts directly onto the nearby balcony of a nonsmoking passengers.

3. KNOW/PICK YOUR LODGING AND DINING:  Some hotels, especially in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, have gone completely smokefree, and many additional ones now offer at least smokefree rooms, often on smokefree floors.  In foreign countries, hotel chains based in these countries, or which have many outlets in these countries, are probably more likely to provide effective protection for nonsmokers.  But some U.S. based hotels may provide little protection  in foreign countries, while some foreign hotels are excellent.  So carefully check before traveling, and also check out these links:
International Hotels: http://www.freshstay.com/  and  http://www.freshstay.com/wst_page14.html  

4. ASK/INSIST/DOCUMENT: It's impossible for ASH or any other organization to provide accurate and up-to-date information on no-smoking policies and their enforcement in all the places travelers plan to visit.  Moreover, if you are the victim of a violation, you may not be able to complain effectively, especially if you are not fluent in the local language, and are going to leave before anything can be done.  Therefore ASH suggests:
A. Insist that your tour operator and/or travel agent provide you with a written statement/guarantee that there will be no smoking on any form of transpiration, in any hotel, in any eating establishment, and any other place you are planning to visit.   Insist on such statements, and be sure they are in writing so that there will be no misunderstanding. 
B. Ask the tour operator and/or travel agent for a phone number in the U.S. which you can call if you experience problems with smoking, and, if possible, a name and phone number of a local agent to whom you can also complain.
C. In addition, you can get added protection if you individually and directly contact each hotel where you will be staying and, if possible, each carrier and restaurant you plan to use -- something which is increasing possible by using the Internet.  Explain to them your strong concern about being protected from tobacco smoke, and be sure to mention any medical conditions which make you especially susceptible.   Ask them to respond in an email clearly spelling out their policies, and explaining how they will enforce them.  This way you have additional documentation of what you expect, and at least the name of someone in authority to whom you can complain (or whose email you can show to desk clerks and others).
D. Remember that your opportunity to get effective redress -- at least after the fact -- is far greater if you deal with a U.S.-based hotel, airline, etc.  If necessary, you might be able to bring -- or at least threaten to bring -- legal action;  something which would be almost impossible against a foreign entity.

5. COMPLAIN AND COMPLEMENT: 
A. Complain immediately, forcefully, and loudly if necessary, if you are involuntarily subjected to tobacco smoke.  This is especially true if you have been promised protection and/or if the smoking is occurring in violation of posted restrictions.  
B. If the person to whom your complaint is addressed does not take effective action immediately, ask to speak to a supervisor and, if necessary, to his or her supervisor.  Keep complaining until you get someone to listen. 
C. Obviously if helps if you can get other nonsmokers traveling with you to complain also -- and it might be a good idea if you are with a tour group to talk about this problem beforehand so that everyone will be behind you if and when it happens.
D. You can and should also complain even if there are no posted restrictions since, without such complaints, management often doesn't realize how significant the problem can be to many travelers.  Some will take steps to help eliminate the problem: e.g. moving your party to another table in a restaurant, asking the smoker politely not to smoke, etc.  And, even if you don't win this battle, you will help prime the pump for the nonsmoking travelers who come after you. 
E. Equally important, if you are happy with the establishment's smoking policy, please complement those in authority.  It will help stiffer their resolve to keep or even extend the protection, and/or to enforce it better.
F. When you first arrive at a hotel, confirm with the desk clerk that your room is a nonsmoking one and, if possible, visit it before accepting the key.  The best time to complain effectively, and possibly get a better room, is when you are first checking in, not once you have been escorted to your room and the luggage has been delivered. 
G. If you are eating at the hotel, check on the hotel restaurant and its nonsmoking arrangements now, rather than waiting until you are ready for dinner.  The restaurant is much more likely to be able to change your table or make other arrangements to protect you from smoke if they are notified of your concerns several hours before dinner time, rather than waiting until the restaurant is already crowded.
H.  Similarly, if you arrive at a new restaurant which doesn't completely and effectively ban smoking, walk around quickly so that you can request the best location.  Don't wait until after you have been seated at a table to suddenly discover that there is a bar nearby where someone has just started smoking, or that you are uncomfortably close to an area where people or smoking now or where smoking is permitted.  Some members have reported that restaurant owners, upon request, have agreed to set up an informal no-smoking section in which only nonsmokers will be seated.

6. GET HELP WHERE NECESSARY:  If you can't get the written guarantees and other protections you need, or if you have had a bad experience and have suffered from tobacco smoke pollution, seek help.  In the U.S., you might find that a letter or request from a major national antismoking organization like Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, (most of which have state chapters) etc. may be more effective.  You may also wish to try contacting a nonsmokers' rights group in the countries you will be visiting and ask for their help and advice.
FOR A LIST OF FOREIGN ANTISMOKING GROUPS, SEE: http://ash.org/foreignorgintro.html
If you return to the U.S. after suffering a bad experience, you might want to contact a local antismoking or nonsmokers' rights group to help you send an effective letter of complaint, or even to bring a law suit.
FOR A LIST OF U.S. ANTISMOKING GROUPS, SEE: http://ash.org/nationalorgintro.html

You can help by being a strong and effective nonsmokers' rights advocate when you travel, and following the tips above.
If you have any additional tips, suggestions and comments, please send an email to intltravel@ash.org