Tips and tricks for travelling

The number one and easily the biggest is watching out for spammers, scammers, and general rif raf with an interest in ripping off tourists and expats for every penny they can get.
Every country and region has them so every traveller should keep an eye out.

First thing to do is avoid ALL deals offered until you have a clue - Start getting clues by wandering around fixed price shops so you can get a handle on what costs what.
How much is a bottle of water, a toothbrush, and other essential day to day items, then find out what salaries local live on.
That should be enough to get you started.

ESSENTIAL - If you see dodgy looking adverts on forums, ignore them once you've reported them so the ads are deleted as soon as possible.

Do not accept handouts on the street.

Edges of paper can be laced with dangerous substances.

Food can be tainted.  Liquids too.   Do not accept free food or beverage.

Unless you believe in giving away your money or give food to beggars, do not make eye contact with likely beggars you perceive in your peripheral vision.  Do not say 'no gracias'.  Do not say 'sorry'.  Some beggars are desperate and-or dangerous .. and may curse  you (psychic attack) or be tempted to become violent if directly refused in a way they determine has demeaned them.  Don't give them an excuse to act against your welfare.

Do not be fooled by someone saying they need fifty dollars because of a lost or stolen passport.

If threatened or spoken-to in a confrontive manner by a stranger, back up at least one step and call loudly for security or police.  Attract the eyes of witnesses.  That may be enough to ward off the miscreant.  Keep your eyes on the speaker until the situation has cleared.

cccmedia in Lima, Peru

Travel security tips....

Carry most of your money in a secret compartment.

Do not carry money or valuables in a back pocket.

Cover your front pockets when boarding or getting off crowded public transportation.

Do not clip your eye glasses over your belt on public transport.

Do not let a confederate distract you while his or her partner grabs your bag or other property.  Consider an odd distraction to be evidence of an ensuing theft.

Do not "dar papaya" (give papaya fruit) by leaving a laptop or other valuable equipment out in the open when you leave your hotel room.

Do not wear bling or fancy watches in public in questionable cities or neighborhoods.

Take extra precautions late at night.  More taxi riding, less walking on multiple-block jaunts.  Have a restaurant or club call a taxi for you when possible instead of flagging down a late-night taxi.

cccmedia

Airport tip....

Pay a bit extra upon arrival to take a taxi service that has a booth inside the terminal.

Gitano taxi drivers encountered outside the terminal may be on the lookout for a wealthy foreign target.

cccmedia

Passport security....

Once you have arrived at your hotel or other place you are staying, carry a copy of your passport or ID -- not the original -- unless you expect to be asked for it at a bank, a government office or a security-conscious nightclub.

Police in many countries understand that travelers need to keep their passports secure and they will accept a copy of the document and the explanation that the original is back at the hotel.

cccmedia

Credit and debit cards....

Travel with a second card, but do not carry both cards with you once you have arrived at your hotel or the place you are staying.

Do not risk the scenario of both your cards possibly being lost or stolen in a single incident.

cccmedia

Banking....

Avoid ATM's that are outdoors and with minimal security whenever possible, especially at night.

Do not be seen taking out a lot of money with multiple withdrawals from an ATM, even inside a bank.  A confederate, possibly a bank employee, can communicate with motorcycle bandits waiting for a target to emerge from the bank with ready cash.

cccmedia

Computer bag...

A black or navy-blue bag large enough for a laptop to fit snugly is a cue for vigilant thieves.

Carry a laptop in a gym bag or another bag that does not appear to be a computer bag.

cccmedia

When out and about try not to look like a tourist. Use a local supermarket carrier bag. Walk like you have been there a thousand times and know where you are heading. Sit in a cafe or restaurant and plan your next trip rather than doing it sat outside.

cccmedia wrote:

Passport security....

Once you have arrived at your hotel or other place you are staying, carry a copy of your passport or ID -- not the original -- unless you expect to be asked for it at a bank, a government office or a security-conscious nightclub.

Police in many countries understand that travelers need to keep their passports secure and they will accept a copy of the document and the explanation that the original is back at the hotel.

cccmedia

Agree totally - one caveat though... some countries, Angola for example, require the copy to be stamped by a Notary - costs a few bucks to get a solicitors stamp. If I'm anywhere long-term I laminate the copies too.

Just to add onto it:

- Don't carry a wallet in your back pocket if you are a guy.  Put credit cards in one pocket of your jeans or trousers with some cash and just some cash in another.  Effective for hold ups and easier to carry around
- Use the hotel safe to store the rest of your belongings including passports.  Carry a copy of your ID but not the original.  Exception would be a card based ID which you can carry with the credit cards. Always leave some funds in the hotel safe as backup or at reception in case you lose your belongings or are held up
- Walk with confidence.  Don't be an obvious tourist.  Pre-plan trips and use tools such as tripadvisor, virtual tourist etc to understand no-go zones and safety precautions
- Use ATMs only in public areas and during day light hours.  Do small withdrawals
- Try to realize that no matter how awesome you are, you are not a movie star and that people, especially of the opposite gender, won't approach you in the street to ask for your company never trust anyone who comes over, wants to be your friend and take you for drinks.  It is a scam and you will end up losing money and worst case, getting hurt. Basically, avoid anyone who tries to talk to you on the street to offer you a deal and if stopped by authorities in plain clothes, always ask for an ID politely.  Never be afraid to suggest going to the police station when in any doubt
- Always pre-arrange airport pick and drops vs. taking taxis there and then.  If you use public transport and are budget oriented, then make sure to research the options beforehand
- For travel planning, make sure to find any and all deals you can.  Try to have cards or be member of programs that can make your travel easier and give you benefits e.g. AMEX , priority pass, airline frequent flyer miles etc
- Get travel insurance for free.  Most good cards or bank programs have this.  For example, I use my AMEX platinum travel insurance - gives you emergency medical coverage, evacuation assistance, insurance on rentals, theft and legal coverage etc etc.  My recommendation as a frequent flyer would be to get an AMEX Platinum card - the $500 or so membership is totally worth it as you get priority pass, elite status in hotel membership programs and a host of other benefits
- Have scans of all your important documents (passports, ID, medical records etc) saved as digital copies on your phone or on an online service like box so that you are able to access them if you lose anything incl. your phone.  On the same note, link your phone contacts to an online sync service e.g. google contacts so that you don't lose those with your phone
- Share your itinerary and details with a trusted contact back home who is able to help in case of emergency.  Provide them with copies of important documents (ID, tickets, bookings, insurance etc) - box allows you to share files & folders with people and set privacy options.  You can always disable sharing once you are back
- Bid for upgrades to business if available as an option on your airline.  If you win, you get business class tickets way cheaper than initially advertised
- Always check in online irrespective of whether you have bags to drop or not.  That buys you extra time in case you end up getting late and the boarding counter closes.  Dropping bags is easier vs. checking in.  Besides, on business trips, I try to never check in bags - intelligent packing allows you to carry on for even a 2 week trip; especially when you are travelling business class
- If your cell phone provider gives data roaming deals, take them or else get a local sim when you land.  Load up phone with taxi apps such as Uber - different countries have other ones e.g. Beat, Ola.  These can save you from getting ripped off as well as having to wait unnecessarily for transportation
- Download local maps onto your phone.  Google maps is ok enough but Here we go has the best offline map solution for quite a few destinations.  Helps you navigate.  Set destinations in advance e.g. mark your hotel as Home upon checking in so you can navigate to it on one click
- Google translate is your friend.  Even if the translation is off and you can't speak the dialect; just the written words in a local language on your phone screen can be shown to someone to ask for directions or help

Thank you for this,now I’m scared to travel there alone.

No don't get scared just don't go to empty places it depend city big city are safe plus Moroccan respect tourists and there police patrol everywhere fir the touristique spot don't worry better travel with group not alive plus alone is boring

The problem is I have not one person willing to travel to Egypt with me.

Sad I know same with me I have no reliable friends where do u live now

A load of stuff in this post that translates to any country.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 06#4309140

United States in Texas

***

Why do you need to travel with someone? Best of my trips were when i was exploring country alone

And the biggest MOST  important tips for the ladies.Have a protective hairstyle & have other alternative hairstyles u can rock just incase U have a hard time finding a hairstylist.

Dorothy knows what presentation expert Robert Panté has long said...

Women who are devoted to beauty are being
tremendously generous of themselves.

Kudos to our Expert in Indonesia for introducing us to 'Fred Unchained' on his home turf .. via the link he posted above....

and to Lazy_Traveler   for his rhetorical question which needs no further explanation.

cccmedia in Lima, Peru

PaitraM88 wrote:

I have not one person willing to travel to Egypt with me.

Research sites such as travelfriend.com to select a well-referenced local to escort you around for several days or portions of those days.

cccmedia