Leaving your comfort zone and traveling around the world are two things that everyone should accomplish at least once in their lives. If you travel, your worldview will broaden, you will meet fascinating people, and you will become a more well-rounded individual. However, one vexing aspect of foreign travel that impacts visitors worldwide is the rise of scam artists determined to take you from the money you’ve worked so hard to earn. This is an issue for travelers all over the world. Visitors are routinely preyed upon by swindlers who use complicated methods to scam trusting travelers, strategies for which individuals unfamiliar with the industry are typically unprepared. Here are some precautions you may take to avoid becoming their next victim.
1. Recognize the Most Common Drawbacks
Before you board a plane to go somewhere, you should first educate yourself about the major tourist scams that are practiced there. Many of these hoaxes prey on passengers as soon as they leave the airport; for example, there are fraudulent cab scams that may cost you hundreds of dollars if you fall for them. Furthermore, the majority of these scams are targeted solely at male travelers. One example is the all-too-common trick in which an attractive female approaches you and takes you to a pub, where her mafia buddies shake you down for everything you have. Make sure you’ve done your research before you go.
2. Make certain that you are in a position to bargain.
If you’re from a Western country, you may be accustomed to paying the exact price that you’re initially offered for each item, without questioning the transaction. In contrast, in a large number of other parts of the world, the first price stated is only the starting point in a lengthy bargaining process. When traveling to popular destinations such as Turkey, China, Egypt, Malaysia, or Thailand, do not feel obligated to accept the first offer that is made to you because they are all big on negotiation. This is especially true if the offer appears to be exorbitant.
3. Be on the lookout for benefits and extras.
When traveling, it is vital to remember that there are always methods to save money, whether you are reserving hotel rooms or playing casino games in an airport. Let’s use online casinos as an example because it perfectly explains what you should be doing. On their various websites, numerous online casinos offer their consumers access to the same high-quality slot machines and table games. Each of these, however, has a drastically different price tag, a different quantity of free spins, and a different sign-up bonus. At this time, you should use a rewards website. For example, the Casino Rewards Group is one of the world’s largest casino groups, overseeing the operation of 25 different well-known brands. This means you may use the rewards site to compare the several major casinos in order to find the one with the finest offering. If you keep this in mind throughout your trip, you will be able to significantly reduce your spending.
4. Acquaint yourself with some of the local jargon.
Finally, you should always make an attempt to learn the local language of the countries you visit. There is no requirement that you become fluent in Thai before your big blowout in Bangkok, but knowing a few key phrases can get you a long way and will most likely save you money. You can accomplish a lot with only a few basic words like “receipt,” “how much?” and “too expensive.” Furthermore, even if you only learn a few simple phrases like “hello,” “please,” and “thank you,” you will win over the hearts of the locals and assure that you will be treated more fairly than some of the more ignorant visitors.
5. Make it a point to eat at restaurants in the area that specialize in regional food.
A nation’s culture can be determined in part from its culinary traditions and customs. Make it a point to spend each day sampling the numerous delights available in the local cuisine. I can tell you that if you start missing home, there will be an Indian restaurant just down the block to satiate your demands. As a result, our cuisine is well-known.
Because new experiences and new people never cease to amaze, this list of travel tips may go on indefinitely. You will have a lot of new experiences and learn a lot of new things during your holiday, both about the region and about yourself. I put a lot of work into not screwing up my first day, but I still manage to do it. You shouldn’t get too worked up over it since that is where the stories come from. Even while the first few days will be hardest, they will also be the most rewarding. Understanding the way things are done in another country feels like playing a game. I truly hope you have the time of your life on your vacation and bring back many interesting stories and helpful advice to share with everyone.
6. If the distance between your hostel and the airport is too vast, you should take public transit instead of using the airport car service.
On the first day, this is usually where I spend the majority of my money. When I initially started utilizing airport taxis, I had no idea how much more expensive they would be in comparison to other kinds of public transit. To book a cab, I now use an app similar to Uber or one of its competitors that is available in the country I’m visiting and connect to the airport’s WiFi. If none of those options are available, I take a taxi from the airport’s curbside to my destination. For example, while in Bali, I got a cab from the airport to Kuta for 20,000 Indonesian Rupiah (about 960 Indian rupees), whereas the same trip on Go-Jek would have cost 30,000 Indonesian Rupiah (about 145 Indian rupees). When you’re on a long backpacking trip, these seemingly little elements add up.
If you remember to utilize these simple tactics, you will never have to worry about being taken advantage of again while on vacation. If you need convincing to travel alone and the advantages that comes with it, visit Africa Nova, to learn about the top 14 reasons on why you should travel alone.
