Travel Safety
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 The
purpose of this section is to help the unseasoned non-domestic
traveller (A person not accustom to traveling outside his/her country)
find peace of mind and safety of body while enjoying the exploration of new territory.
Why do you need this ? Well can you imagine losing your money, wallet or purse
while abroad and being left stranded in unknown turf ? Can you imagine how you
would feel ? How will you feel about that new place you visited ? Probably you
would not go back there, but remember, crime is everywhere and a lot of the time
its the fault of the tourist being too dumbfounded by sight-seeing that he/she
forgets that there are those who are 'sight-seeing' their wallet or purse. At
the end of this page is a form that you may fill if you wish. By the end of this
page you should be aware of the following;
Safety
first while traveling abroad... Understanding
the place I am going to be living for awhile...
Tips
on countries or States I have been to... So
you want to travel abroad eh? Well, you probably have a bit of
Indiana Jones in you because according to the hospitality industry most of the
holiday travel of any given country exists within the country. The same is true
for the United States even though they lead the world in foreign travel using
planes, ships, and the ever popular; automobile. Okay, we will now discuss your
future adventure in a land unfamiliar to you since it should be taken as normal
to travel within the bounds of ones own land. However, you may wish to apply this
to travel of any sort since traveling from Colorado to New York cannot possibly
be the same as a holiday in Colorado itself. 
www.InternationalDiscussions.com
If
you are the kind of person that seeks constructive
intellectual discussion then click on the above banner. It is highly moderated
and has numerous features. To join is free so long as you agree to live up to
their rigid standards. There are also Premium and Premium Plus membership accounts
that have tons of features. Safety is paramount in your quest for a new place to visit,
after all what's the good if you return home worst off than you left. You need
to be conscious of all around you. I am not saying suspicious, but at the same
time 'be AWARE'. If something looks like it really should
not be then do not pass it off as, "Oh, its probably the way it is in this country..."
.Here are some solutions to make the problem of unsafe travel almost non-exsistant.
Find
out, find out, find out about the place you are going to. Use the libraries,
news articles, travel tips magazines, local consulates or embassies, and of course
the internet. You can never find out too much. Know
the prices and economy of the place you are going before you get there. In this
way you will save yourself the embarrassment of being without money to finish
your vacation or do the things you wanted to do. Again, call the nearest consulate
or embassy of the country you are going to. Its always good to plan for emergencies
too... NEVER travel with EXACTLY the amount of money you think
you will need. Its far better to have MORE than LESS. Before
you get to your destination, try to arrange for someone you know to meet you,
if that is not possible, then beforehand try and get hold of familiar groups you
are a part of such as; a religious organization, Lion's Club, tourist board of
that country, etc. Make sure that your travel plans are sure and that the route,
time, dates and supplies (documents) are all in order. It never hurt anybody to
phone your travel agent to confirm or double check yourself that all is well for
your day of departure. Do
not keep large sums of money on you. It's more wise to use travelers checks or
a visa card and just keep a few dollars in cash for taxes, tips, taxi, gas, etc.
$200 US should be a good amount. Do
not travel with so much that it becomes a worry... "How will I lift this?" or
"I hope all my stuff is safe?" or "Darn, we cannot walk around because we have
so many suitcases!" Avoid
electronic equipment if possible. Airlines do not reimburse for damaged electronic
items if they are placed in your suitcase and they are also one of the great targets
of thieves. In
your hotel make sure its safe... lock the doors and windows before going to sleep.
There are also special gadgets you can take with you to put on these doors and
windows... check your local travel shop for details. Its a good idea to register
your name with the embassy or consulate of your country with details of where
you will be staying, length of stay, and other details so as to make them 'aware'
of your presence in case of an emergency. On
the streets as you shop... be streetwise... DO NOT DO THE FOLLOWING:
Leave your bag on a table while looking at dresses or something... Take out
your wallet in the public's eye and flash a load of cash... Keep your handbag
or wallet close to you at your side with your hand over it... Give out information
that should not be required of a stranger... |
Here is a step
by step process to securing your wallet or bag
OTHER
SECRET METHODS
I LIKED TO USE:
When I served my mission in England and Wales we used to have to walk through
some pretty rough areas, so we decided to come up with some innovative ways to
'hide' our money. | |
|
1.
Take a piece of leather or heavy cord and cut it about 4' long depending on your
needs. 2.
If you have a handbag.. then tie one end (or you can use a leather clip) to the
bag handle and the other end to your wrist or waist or if you are wearing pants
with strong loop holes then tie it to the loop. You can get a leather maker to
make a fancy one for you. I have seen the kind you can put around your arm or
waist under your clothes... but are you going to pull that out every time you
have to buy something? 2a.
With regards to the wallet... take the same chord or strip of leather and do the
same except use a leather clip or staple to place the other end to the wallet...
pocket pickers will hate you for it... *hehehe* 3.
My personal favorite is a leather bag attached to my belt around my waist.. but
not everyone wears a belt. 4.
if you are wearing a tie... use the inner part of the back of the tie to hide
your money 5.
If you are really desperate... cut a small hole in your shoe and make a rubber
cap using a sharp knife to cover the hole. 6.
Of course there is the woman's bra... (WE NEVER USE THOSE BY THE WAY) I just thought
I would mention that. 7.
Take the inner pieces of your pen out and replace it with your rolled up cash.
Of course it cannot be a clear color pen. You
must be thinking... "Wow, if I have to do all this why bother?"
Well I must admit... in my experience traveling abroad can be a real hassle at
times with delays, unexpected incidents, and theft, but then again as I said before...
its an ADVENTURE... and well worth it! *smile* |
Places
we have been and what we think...SOL
and I have traveled a lot and we know what it means to be safe... we have also
been witnesses to many angry victims of theft. The following are only our personal
view. |
|
Positive
| Negative |
TRINIDAD
& TOBAGO (positive) Trinidad and Tobago are beautiful islands. There
are a lot of things to explore here. You can see some pictures if you go: here!
There are many cultures all living in one; Hindu, Muslim, African, Syrian, Chinese,
Creole, and whites. So many foods and if you like to party well we have that round
the clock. Trinidad invented the steel pan, limbo (dancing under a stick) and
carnival. There is a lot of natural flora and fauna. The people are naturally
friendly. things are cheap for those who walk with US dollars and transportation
is one one of the cheapest I have seen in the world. We recently had the Miss
Universe 1999 competition here |
TRINIDAD
& TOBAGO (negative) Be careful of who you take information from... unfortunately
some try to con you out of a few extra dollars that you should not be paying.
Do not walk in lonely places at night and follow all the tips given before. |
| ARGENTINA
(positive)Argentina is a beautiful country. The people are super friendly and
there is plenty places to visit in the South: Rio Negro, Neuquen, Chubut. San
Carlos de Bariloche in Rio Negro State is one of the most wonderful landscapes
in the whole world. The north of the country is fantastic and you should go to
"Cataratas del Iguazu" (Iguazu Waterfalls) in the Misiones State and of course
Buenos Aires, a beautiful city very similar to the european cities. Thousands
of tourists visit these places every year. Argentina has the most delicious dishes
and steaks! *smile* | ARGENTINA
(negative) If you don't know nobody in Argentina, beware when you take taxis.
Sometimes, they like to go round and round in the same place and as you don't
know where you are, when you arrive to your destination, you have to pay a lot
of money... One US dollar is equal to $ 1 (one peso) but don't think that is the
same as what would you spend in the United States, you can't spend as much in
Argentina. Its an expensive country...so...watch the things that you buy. Be careful
when you walk in the streets or in unsafe areas. Try to go to places with plenty
people and you will be safe. |
| NORTH
WEST ENGLAND and NORTHERN WALES (positive)If you have the taste for history,
castles, lore and adventure then this is the place to go! As far as being able
to get around its excellent... there are maps for everything! I love this place.
The people are always very helpful and friendly. You may have a hard time with
the accent at first but you will soon get used to it. You will love fish and chips
sold in selected places known as "chippys". |
NORTH
WEST ENGLAND and NORTHERN WALES (negative) Of course due to the exchange rate
of the pound sterling... things tend to be a bit expensive. The time zone is obviously
different so you may suffer with jet lag the first and second night. English food
is more bland compared to Caribbean Spicy food. Be careful with some of the radioactive
beaches... yep... radioactive! |
| VENEZUELA
(positive) Things here are cheap! Even for the Trinidad and Tobago dollar.
There are many beautiful women and they have a beauty competition every week!
There is a lot of scenery with tropical and winter climates. The people are generally
friendly. They have an abundant variety of food and culture to keep you entertained.
The people are extremely talented and you will be awe struck with some of the
crafts and art you will see. | VENEZUELA
(negative) You really need to be constantly aware of all. The country is a bit
unstable at times and you may find yourself trapped in a mob of protesters. You
just need to make sure of the political climate before you arrive. Be careful
of people misleading you. If you cannot speak the language fluently make sure
to find a translator... better safe than sorry. |
| UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA (positive) Well you have it all here. Technology, food,
great bargains and loads of places to go. Maps and sight seeing are both pretty
good. I like to go to the States especially to shop. |
UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA (negative) Its very easy to spend all your money here so be
a bit thrifty. Watch out for each State's tax.. you may pay more for something
in one State verses another. Beware of strange looking folks who may take you
on a ride that you may never return from. | |
Activism / Political Updates: