Fri 2 May 2008
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When you first head off to places in the world that are a lot different from where you live, a number of things change. You have to learn to adapt.
I still make a lot of mistakes everywhere I go, but I try to learn from each of them. Here’s a short list of things I wish I knew before I started my routine of extensive overseas travel, especially in countries in Africa, South Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America that are not part of the tourist circuit.
Healthcare
1. You can legally buy safe medicine, including prescription drugs, for very little money overseas. When in Africa or Asia, I stock up on anti-malarials that cost $5 a day in Seattle. On location, it’s more like $1 for a 10-day supply.
2. The best healthcare is not in the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. The best healthcare is in places like Thailand and Costa Rica; that’s why the practice of medical tourism will continue to surge as both travel and overseas healthcare become more accessible.
Money
3. Take a lot of cash with you, and make sure the bills are new and have no writing on them. If you go to a place that accepts credit cards, then you can just redeposit the cash when you get home. It is far worse to end up short of cash with no credit card option.
4. If you do use your credit card, check the online statement at least once a week while traveling to make sure there are no fraudulent charges. Keep all your receipts, especially for large purchases such as hotel stays, and compare the amounts charged when you get back.
5. When you exchange money, hang on to the receipt you get until you’ve left the country. Once in a great while, someone at the airport will want to see proof of all your foreign exchanges.
6. The U.S. dollar is no longer the world’s currency. (In fact, some currency exchange shops will no longer accept dollars!) Travel with a stock of Euros to complement your dollars. The exceptions to this rule include some countries in Africa and Latin America that still use the dollar as their primary currency, and any country that has had a recent war.
Taxis
7. Hire a taxi outside the airport, not from the guys who approach you inside as you’re walking out. Even better, walk further outside the airport to where the taxis pull in, and you’ll get a better deal because the driver won’t have to pay the entrance fee.
8. Never assume that your taxi driver knows where your destination is. Double-check and get him to ask someone before you go if there’s any doubt.
9. The universal rule of taxi haggling, for both driver and passenger, is that once both sides agree on a fare before setting off, neither side can reopen negotiations once you’re en route. You should not try to get a better deal nor should you accept any increase in the fare from the driver after the journey has started.
10. If you have a dispute with a taxi driver and you think you are being taken advantage of, offer to call the police and have them settle it. Many taxi drivers are scared of the police, and often for good reason (see below). If they are being dishonest and you mention the police, they will quickly back down. On the other hand, if they continue to press their claim, they may be right and you’ll need to pay more.
Safety
11. The police are not always your friends. Sad but true—in a lot of places in the world, the services of the police are sold to the highest bidder. Therefore, if you can pay them, they may turn out to be your friends… but in other cases, they may actually be the least trustworthy people in the country. Don’t be afraid, just be aware.
12. When you feel pressured beyond your comfort level by someone who tries to follow you, be polite but increasingly firm. Don’t string anyone along out of guilt—tell them you don’t want their help, and move on. If they keep following you, tell them to stop.
13. When it comes to visas (and all immigration issues), your experience will vary from place to place. The rules are flexible in most places, and sometimes they will work in your favor and sometimes they will work against you.
Planes, Trains, and Buses
14. All plane tickets are changeable no matter what is written on them, and any fees for changing can be waived with the right airline agent. You have a few options for making this happen: a) Hang up and call back to try with someone else, b) Call the Premium Traveler line or ask at an airline lounge, or c) Offer a “tip” at the airline counter (do this at your own risk).
15. Round-the-World tickets are the best bargains for extensive international travel. I use and recommend both the Star Alliance and the OneWorld products. Each have their advantages. SkyTeam also has a Round-the-World product, but it’s not nearly as good as the other two.
16. Most people flying Business Class are not paying full-fare. A high percentage of them on most flights are using awards tickets, special tickets, or have upgraded from Economy. Flying in premium cabins can help you in more ways than just being comfortable on long flights, because the tickets can almost always be changed or refunded without penalty. You’ll also get to hang out in airline lounges and get priority treatment, which may become very useful when you need to get in or out of somewhere fast. First Class is nice too, but the difference between First and Business is rarely as great as the difference between Business and Economy.
17. In some places, buses are better than trains for overland travel… in other places, trains are better than buses. Check out the options before you go to make the best decision for each place.
Culture
18. The concept of personal space means very different things in different countries. You kind of have to get used to that.
19. Like it or not, you have to be somewhat tolerant of smoking. There are lots of places in the world that haven’t picked up on the Western anti-smoking crusade. If this is hard for you to accept, you’ll likely be frustrated.
20. Unless you can be very discreet, never take photos of people without asking. Don’t be surprised if they say no, because many cultures are not comfortable with strangers taking photos of them all the time. If they do say yes, you may find yourselves indebted to them for a gift or other favor.
21. Never touch members of the opposite sex. This includes sitting next to them on buses and trains—you’ll often be shuffled around to ensure that you only sit next to people of the same sex, although you’ll also usually be given the best seat.
22. Don’t point your feet at people or touch anyone on the head. In several cultures, this is disrespectful or otherwise inappropriate.
23. Be careful with all hand gestures, including the “thumbs-up” sign and the “a-OK” sign. Both of these are highly provocative in some places.
24. Never make promises you don’t intend to keep. Don’t tell vendors you’ll buy from them tomorrow, don’t offer to help anyone visit your country, don’t say you’ll write to someone later if you won’t really do it, and so on.
25. Most important: don’t be a colonialist. Be careful about calling people “locals.” Don’t assume that your culture is superior. People are not stupid just because they don’t speak English or think like you do.
Politics
26. Be prepared to represent your country, whether you care about politics or not. For better or worse, many people will expect you to know a lot about politics in your home country and how governmental decisions in one country affect the lives of people thousands of miles away. Don’t say you’re from Canada unless you really are.
27. Always point out that a government’s actions and the beliefs of an individual (e.g., yourself) are not always the same. Most people understand this and some will even say the same thing without prompting, but it’s usually a good reminder to put forward.
28. No matter who you are talking to, never say anything negative about the government of the country you are in. Many rogue states, from Zimbabwe to Iran to North Korea, employ English-speaking spies who will deliberately try to incite foreign visitors into saying something incriminating. (I’m not making this up. In Guinea I was followed by the Secret Service everywhere I went. A friend of mine went to North Korea and found an extensive tape recording system in his hotel room.)
***
Lastly, remember that there are not many “undiscovered” places left in the world. Focus on the places that are undiscovered to you and you won’t go wrong.
Obviously, each place you go to will offer unique challenges, but following this list will get you off to a good start. Above all, don’t forget the cardinal rule of traveling—pack light. You really don’t need all the extra stuff.
Feel free to add your own advice or tips in the comments section.
###
Healsim
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 pm
My views on medical tourism are rather mixed. I had one friend who received heart surgery in India with no complaints. Another friend had plastic surgery in Thailand and didn’t enjoy it. Anyhow, nice Article on health travel.
Bruce Wolper
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:13 am
Facial expressions can be very important to communicating. Sometimes it might even be helpful to exaggerate your facial expressions in order to communicate a point. A smile goes a very long way.
Blake
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Other countries’ medicine is very dissimilar to ours.
I was in Greece and was given a cough syrup which contained ephedra (banned in the US for causing heart attacks) and codeine, same medicine both drug components! Always take your own medicine, foreign pharmacies are always very difficult to navigate.
The best medicine is the U.S. and I’m saying that having lived abroad and continually looked for American/European trained doctors.
Bear
May 4th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Having lived in Nigeria for 2+ years i wouldn’t be taking anti-malarial medication continuously. Malaria or blindness? you can get tested and treated for malaria.
Rod Rayborne
May 4th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Be considerate! Once I was walking in the streets of Beijing when I came across a young child trying to sell some obviously handmade trinkits. Her prices were very cheap and yet there was a large American man standing over her trying angrily to haggle her down even lower. I’ve always regretted that I didn’t say anything, but I was too embarrassed. Later, when I was leaving, I was at the Beijing airport. This is the worlds largest airport and yet even from a considerable distance I could hear an American woman shouting at someone in one of the little stores demanding a cheaper price. This time I followed her voice until I finally found her. She had just told the small Chinese woman she wasn’t going to be cheated because she was an American when I approached. I said nothing but the look I gave her stopped her in her tracks. Please remember that everyone deserves to be treated with respect.
Seth Pickens
May 7th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
In foreign countries, you can save a lot of money by eating where the everyday people eat. Instead of eating in your hotel restaurant, ask a janitor where s/he goes for lunch. Sometimes, a mountain of rice and beans for 80 cents beats a $9 club sandwich. As long as the food is hot, it’s generally safe, even on the street. I’d trust a country’s staple food before its cold cuts, anyway.
familyonbikes
May 9th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Great tips!! I totally agree about the medicine - I always stock up on basics when I’m overseas and try not to buy anything in the USA. I’ve found the medicine to be exactly the same (or sometimes better) overseas and always much, much cheaper than in the states.
We are a family of five (Mom, Dad, ten-year-old twin boys, and the family dog) who are about to take off to ride our bikes from Alaska to Argentina - it’ll be fun to get back into “foreign” countries after having been in the USA for a few years. You can read of our journey at familyonbikes.org
Africa
May 9th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Be careful getting malarial drugs and antibiotics in some African countries. They are cheaper, but in my experience they are sometimes expired or of poor quality or even fake!
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May 10th, 2008 at 6:02 am
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Stakhanov
May 13th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Some very great points.
As people have pointed out, medicine can be a two edged blade sometimes and for the extra cost it may make the difference between a ruined trip (due to even some milder symptoms of poor medication which is possible, like diarrhea, or much much worse). I have lived abroad, and in a first world country (Japan) and although there medicine is of a very high standard, certain things like hay fever medicine etc are of severely diluted strength, and can be difficult to find there, which could make a trip problematic.
As far as the person in one comment getting mad at a fellow tourist trying to haggle a lot, this too can be a two edged sword. I personally don’t tend to haggle much when abroad, because ultimately most places that have significant haggling offer dirt cheap souvenirs anyways. However, in some ways haggling is something that is done in foreign countries and on certain items you are definitely getting screwed over unless you do haggle. It doesn’t hurt to pay more than a local in most countries, and you are still saving a great deal of money. But don’t let yourself be completely suckered.
Todd
May 15th, 2008 at 9:47 am
There are some good tips in this article Chris. Thanks. I don’t agree about medical care, however. Medical services in North America, Western Europe, and Japan are the best around and for very good reason. The quality of the education, the standards and legal requirements, and the availability of the best technology eclipses that of other nations. Although you may find good resources at medical tourism boutiques, significant research is needed to establish that they are trustworthy with your health. You could end up in real trouble if you experience complications beyond their skills.
Having lived overseas for the past few years and traveling in Europe, the middle east, and Asia every few months, I can’t say that I’ve seen Euros become the new international currency. It’s be a fad recently to like Euros, but the dollar is still the norm and accepted in far more places. That’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
One last thing that I’d add - international travel demands patience and tolerance. Keep your cool, take your time, understand and respect that there are other ways of doing things. Things will happen, but that’s part of the adventure.
crashsystems
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Very good point on taxi drivers not always knowing how to get somewhere! I’ve found that if you can find someone who is knowledgeable of the area and speaks your language, it can be helpful to have them write out directions for you to hand to your taxi driver. Also, if you are trying to get to a little known location, try to find out the name of a well known destination or landmark nearby, and have the driver take you there instead.
I just discovered your blog about an hour ago, and thus far like what I’ve seen. Keep up the good work!
Jack Hayes Bartlett
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
I agree almost 1000%. I find the dollar in free fall in value. In many countries (Thailand, China,Japan,etc) I buy extra local currency to use on the next trip as the exchange rate for USD will have deteriorated. Last week I used Hungarian forints that I got at 200+. The rate now is 165:1.
Nationality? I wear a Canadian Maple Leaf lapel pin and if asked claim to be from Etobicoke (that is a part of Toronto). Mostly because I have yet to meet someone who holds Canada in the low regard they have for America. I will admit that I am ashamed of what the U.S. has committed throughout the world. People in other countries do not get the “controlled” views that we are fed. They pretty much get the “unvarnished” truth.
Carmen
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Regarding haggling. There are times and places where it’s appropriate to haggle. The thing to do is set a price in your head that you’re aiming at and see if you can get there. If not, and you really want the item, take the higher price. It may be that you’re idea of what it’s worth isn’t realistic. If you can’t get the price and are convinced you’d be paying too much - just walk away! The price will either come down, or you’ll find someplace/one selling something comparable.
Don’t ever yell or demean the seller in trying to haggle. You probably won’t get them to sell to you, and you’ll just end up looking like an arrogant Western tourist who is getting stingy over $1 or less. Not the best way to represent yourself, or your country.
Iain Buchanan
May 25th, 2008 at 3:52 am
Medicines can be dodgy in some parts of the world, but find a good local pharmacy and you should be OK. In many parts the locals have got to buy their medication over the counter and can therefore do so for a lot of things only available by prescription in the UK and US.
The hypochondriac guy complaining about cough syrup in Greece takes the biscuit though, none of them work regardless of ingredients!
P.S. Pseudoephidrine and codeine are legal in most countries and are a must for a bad dose of sinusitis.
Corey & Tif
May 25th, 2008 at 5:00 am
Wow that’s some useful info being that I’m on the brink of a 3 year journey with my girlfriend, including a year in Australia as well as another year in her home of Paris, France. It should be an eventful couple years, and i thank you for some of those tips. Keep them coming! Add more if you can!
Thanks!
-Corey
Gabe
June 1st, 2008 at 7:57 am
On the topic of keeping abreast of how the U.S. impacts other countries, especially if you are in an impacted country, I would say this: as soon as you can, try to get the local spin on what is going on, because Americans are most times are kept in the dark about the reality of such situations.
Several years ago, a friend and I were in Greece and there was a bit of back and forth between the U.S. military and the Greek government over waterway access issues. We never heard about it in the U.S., but it was a major problem in Greece.
My friend and I were strolling along Sophia Boulevard in Athens (foreign embassy row) and we noticed it had become weirdly deserted. Next thing we knew, a LARGE shouting mob of protesters with anti-American signs rounded a corner and were bearing down on us, sending automobiles fleeing before them. The police just stood there impassively watching, while my friend and I barely had time to duck into a side street and hide out in a church courtyard until the march was well and gone.
Life-threatening? I would like to think not. Potentially dangerous? Absolutely. Forewarned is forearmed.
Great blog! Thanks!
Travel Rants
June 7th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
[...] 28 Things I wish I knew before travelling [...]
JOHN
June 8th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Hi i like your site and i enjoyed everything i read.i i’m Ghanaian and i hope you will visit Ghana someday.
Claudine
June 10th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I got malaria medication a lot cheaper in Ghana than in Atlanta. I think that I had to start the doses before I left, though. It’s a good idea to be wary of the quality. The medication in some parts of Africa may be old.
Chris
June 19th, 2008 at 9:01 am
@John,
I lived in Ghana (Tema and Accra) for several months back in 2006. It is definitely one of my favorite African countries.
@Everyone else,
Thanks for keeping the discussion going. Please share this article with your friends if you found it useful.
Jake
June 25th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Hi there Chris
Just finished reading your GREAT book - gave me some ideas, for sure. I’m a moderately creative person (ha) who yeah, is stuck in a lame job but have recently had some ideas of what to do next - I have an awesome wife and kid, which understandably limits my options right now, but your site and book are really great - I just found out about them, and I’m going to be following you in my RSS reader from now on - can’t wait to see what’s next.
This article was really cool too - I’m gonna show my wife and I wish my closed-minded father would read some of this interesting insight from someone who has ACTUALLY TRAVELED in his adult life (my father has not). He’s one of your “critic” types.
Thanks again, and keep up the great work
-Jake in NH
n
June 26th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I don’t want to travel anymore! Lol.
I dream of traveling
July 1st, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Nice insights… practically true. You can never be too ready for traveling but you can at least be prepared.