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The Secret of Travelling

Travelling tips

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adel 007
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67 views

The Secret of Travelling

Travelling tips

Uploaded by

adel 007
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The secret of travelling

1. Learn Common Travel Scams


Wherever you go in the world, you’ll always find people
ready to trick you out of your hard-earned cash. If you’re
lucky, they’ll be kinda obvious – but there are plenty of
craftier, professional con-artists out there too.

Everyone thinks they’re too smart to be scammed —


but it happens.
Here are some of the most common travel scams I’ve
come across. I recommend you learn them all – then fire
up the Google and do even more in-depth research into
the worst scams happening at your specific destination.
For example, the milk scam in Cuba. Broken taxi meters
in Costa Rica. Or the ring scam in Paris. Every country
has its own special ones to watch out for!

Forewarned is forearmed, and this research can help


defend you from being tricked out of hundreds, maybe
thousands of dollars (while suffering the kind of
frustration and misery that ruins a dream trip).

2. Write Down Emergency Info


If disaster strikes, you might not have time to search for
numbers for local police or ambulance services, or
directions to the nearest embassy for your country. You
may also be too stressed and panicky to think straight.
Don’t put yourself in that position. Instead, record that
information in advance, and create an “Emergency Plan”
for you to follow if things go badly. Save it on your
phone somewhere (I use the Evernote App).
I also recommend you write it down on a small card or
sheet of paper, get it laminated (easily done at your local
office supply store) to protect it from moisture, and keep
it in your wallet/purse.
That way, if something goes wrong out there, you’ll
always know exactly who to call and where to go for
help.

3. Check The State Department


Website
The U.S. Department of State has a page for every
country in the world, where it lists all known difficulties
and current threats to the safety of visitors.
However, a big caveat for this one: it’s the State
Department’s job to warn you about everything
that could go wrong, which is sometimes different to
what is likely to go wrong.
This means their advice is generally on the hyper-
cautious side. Factor that in, while you dig up more on-
the-ground information.
But researching travel warnings will give you a general
idea of what’s going on in the country you’re visiting,
and specific problem areas you may want to avoid.

For example, just because certain parts of Thailand or


Mexico have problems, doesn’t mean you should
completely avoid those countries.

Lock Up Expensive Stuff


4: Lock Up Your Valuables
Putting aside the fact that traveling with anything super
valuable is usually a bad idea, there will always be
something you absolutely cannot afford to have stolen. I
travel with a lot of expensive camera gear for example.

Your job is to minimize the easy opportunities for


theft.
Firstly, know that most travel backpacks aren’t very
secure. It’s easy to feel that a zipped, even locked bag is
a sufficient deterrent to any thief, and doze off next to it.
Waking up to find someone’s slashed a hole in the side!
Unless it’s a slash-proof backpack, the material can be
cut or torn by anyone determined enough. Many zippers
can be forced open with sharp objects like a writing pen.
Always be aware of your valuables, and try to keep an
eye on them in such a way that it would be impossible
for someone to steal without you knowing. I’ll use my
backpack as a pillow on train/bus routes that have a
reputation for theft, and will sometimes lock it to a seat
using a thin cable like this.
Secondly, call your accommodation to ask about secure
storage options like a room safe, lockers, or a locked
storage area. Carry your own locker padlock when
staying at backpacking hostels.

5: Get Travel Insurance


You never think you need it, until you do. If you’re really
worried about the safety of yourself and your gear while
you travel, you can almost completely relax if you have
some good insurance.
People ask me all the time if I’m worried about traveling
with an expensive computer and camera. I was, when I
didn’t have insurance for them. Now that I do, I’m not
worried. If stuff gets stolen, it will get replaced.
Everyone should carry some kind of health and property
insurance when traveling. Why? Because shit happens.
Whether you think it will or not. It doesn’t matter how
careful you think you are.
My recommendation is World Nomads for short-term
travel insurance (less than 6 months). They make it super
easy to buy online. Just be aware that they have “per
item” limits on coverage of $500. So it’s not going to
cover a whole $3000 camera.
If you’re going to be traveling for a long time, there are
good long-term options like a mixture of expat health
insurance from IMG Global and photography/computer
insurance from TCP Photography Insurance.

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