Do you register with your nearest embassy or consulate?

This came to mind in light of the events in Southeast Asia with many people still missing or unaccounted for.

Yeah I do, you can do it online at

https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/

I never have. I feel like we lose so much privacy anyway when we travel- why add the info to another datbase? (Yes, I KNOW my machine-readable passport tells them the same thing.)

I have never thought to...somebody always knows where I am.

I don't think I have either. Maybe once 25 years ago to a trip to Japan. I have notified my credit card company a couple of times, so I wouldn't have any problems overseas. Haven't done that in a long time now.

Only if I happen to be near a US Embassy or Consulate.

In my case, I don't think the Mexican government cares

Why bother? Your flight plans are given to the gov't automagically. They know where you're at, when you're going, how you paid, and where you live.

Now whether they're linked up to the same database as what's used for emergency purposes, that's a whole different story.

only in countries where i might be exposed to kidnap risk..

...like Spain and the UK?

Only in countries and regions where I'm advised to, at the time, by the FCO.

Pakistan and the Russian Caucasus were two examples.

Not really. The SRE was actually looking for Mexican nationals in south Asia after the tsunamis (and accounted for many).

Really

I can understand many people do not like "Big Brother" having too much information, but the State Department and the Embassy's do not have much info on you and to get the info it takes some work. There was no immediate figures available about the # of US Citizens in the region during the Tsunami; however I would bet my life on the fact that someone immediately went to search for citizens who were registered with them. I can say this because I have gone through a super typhoon in a location where I was registered with the local embassy, I was looked for and verified that I was OK and no problems and my family stateside was immediately notified that I was OK.

For me, I permanently live in a developing area and travel through out Asia / Indonesia. The embassy is there to help and assist you in times of troubles, and if they know you are in the area it will make it much easier / quicker. I personally have had six times that I have received assistance from a US embassy that was not in my host country.

Plus the US embassy helps out other nationalities all the time during emergencies. It definitely is not for everyone to register their trips or for trips to every country. But if you are in trouble or there is a problem the embassy is a great place to contact. And it just makes it easier if they know your general itinerary / information and have that information right in front of them. Now it is just second nature for me to register my trips.