No one could pretend that America is trouble-free, although away from the urban centers crime is often remarkably low-key. Even the lawless reputations of Miami, Detroit or Los Angeles are far in excess of the truth, and most parts of these cities, by day at least, are safe; at night, though, some areas are completely off limits. All the major tourist areas and the main nightlife zones in cities are invariably brightly lit and well policed. By planning carefully and taking good care of your possessions, you should, generally speaking, have few real problems.