A Few Trip Tips
So, we all like to travel, but sometimes we can forget some simple tips that can keep us out of trouble. Here are a few travel tips:
- Be wary about the hand gestures you make. If you are in a foreign country, simple hand gestures, such as a thumbs-up or an “a-OK” sign, may have different meanings. It may be something rude or offensive somewhere else.A It is also always good to be careful about what you are using your finger to point at.
- Don’t take the taxi by the airport. Tempting as it may be, a taxi found in close proximity to the airport will in all likelihood have much higher fares than the typical rate. Another note on taxis: Once a fare has been settled at the beginning of a drive, no further attempts at negotiation should be made.
- Be cautious about including people in pictures. In many cultures, it is not okay to be in a picture, especially one taken by a stranger. You always should ask permission to include people in pictures and be gracious if they do not respond in the affirmative.
- Negative remarks about the government should not be made. As scary as it might sound, some rogue countries employ spies to be on the lookout for foreign visitors who show disapproval of their government. Such comments can get you in a lot of trouble and should never be made.
Keep more than one form of money. A traveler never wants to be caught somewhere without enough money for food, or more importantly, a way out. However, the more cash that is carried, the more there is to lose. If you keep both a credit card and cash, you can use the credit card where it is accepted and save the cash for the situations that the credit card cannot be used. Additionally, you should be prepared to make currency exchanges because the dollar is not as widely accept as it was in the past.
Most of these tips are especially applicable outside North America and Europe where the culture gap widens. Travel wisely, travel safely.
