Travel, especially when solo or leaving your home country for the first time, can be incredibly daunting. I’ve slowly been gaining a wealth of travel tips since my first overseas experience, a one-way ticket to Ireland in 2013. I had legitimately zero clue what to pack, what to expect or how to survive backpacking by myself. All the fear and anxiety almost got the better of me and made me re-think my entire departure.  Since then I have visited over 50 countries. Travel has been the best thing I have ever done. After plenty of lessons learned and mistakes made, I have discovered two main things:

 

1 – Fear is an awful reason to not travel.

2 – Travel doesn’t have to be expensive to be completely fulfilling.

I’ve come to realize that I won’t ever stop making mistakes and learning along the way. But through my lessons learned and embarrassing mistakes, I hope to teach seasoned travellers something new or inspire new travellers to take that first, intimidating step out into the unknown.

 

Travel Tips Essentials

These tips go right up at the top, as in my mind, they are essential. I don’t believe anyone should ever travel without having any one of these things. They might be a little costly up front or a pain to get sorted, but they are completely worth the hassle.

 

Travel Insurance – Why You Need It!

I once read “If you can’t afford travel insurance, then you can’t afford to travel”, and I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. The last thing you want to be concerned with when you’re in a hospital sick as a dog, or a limb encased in a cast, is the bill for your treatment. Travel insurance also covers so much more than emergency visits.

Depending on the country, initial medical costs can be quite steep! Remember your home country’s healthcare, or even private health insurance won’t normally cover these costs – read the fine print carefully! A mate of mine once broke his leg inside the USA after allowing his travel insurance policy to expire by only a few days. Medical bills of thousands of dollars and the threat of legal action against him by the hospital only cemented my need for travel insurance whenever I leave my home country, even if only for a day.

Whatever policy sounds like the best fit for you, make sure you understand to the fine print, what is and isn’t covered, and to what monetary limit for which they are covered. Going snowboarding in Canada? Driving a motorbike through Asia? Diving in Australia? These are all activities not usually covered by a generic policy; most require these to be added on.

Repatriation is the transportation of your body back to your home country, even if that is only to your home country for more treatment after becoming stable. Whether your hospital visit is due to a milder injury/sickness, or something more serious, it’s an important thing to have covered. Without insurance, it can be incredibly costly, for you or your loved ones. Think anywhere in the range of 25-100 thousand dollars. Compare this to the cost of even the most expensive insurance policy and it’s still an easy choice.

During the last five years, I have used a few different companies, who at the time were offering the best policies for my particular needs. That is until I found World Nomads.  They offer extremely competitive pricing, great packages tailored to what your adventures will entail and are extremely quick to respond to any questions/claims/concerns I have had. I’ve used them my last three trips.

Sometimes travel insurance can be an extra feature on credit cards or included in workplace benefits packages. It doesn’t hurt to know what’s out there and what your options are. Just make sure everything you plan to do is covered. Also, reading the fine print of your policy is important. Know exactly what you’re covered for and its limitations.

 

Passport 

A seemingly obvious point, but a passport with at least six months validity after your trip has concluded is needed. Even if you aren’t travelling for that long, most countries require this fine print for visas, even simple tourist visas, to enter. A passport’s remaining pages can also be an issue as stamps from entering and exiting various countries do add up. Some countries require an entire page for entry visas stamp/stickers! Egypt, Laos and Cambodia for example, all took up full pages in my passport. This can dwindle down available space quite fast, so make sure you have a peek at how many pages you have left before you jet-set off!

 

Research Prior to Travel

Researching your intended country of travel should be a huge part of preparation before you depart. I’m not saying you need to plan every single step of your journey (nothing wrong if you do though), but a little bit of research can prevent a lot of potentially dangerous mishaps on the road. Plus, if something does go wrong, you’ll know how to handle it better.

 

What Climate Will You Be Subject To?

Climate will dictate much of what is packed in your bag. Travelling South East Asia within June-October? This is roughly monsoon/wet season for a lot of the countries in the area. Waterproof gear is essential, for not only you but your backpacks and gear too. You don’t have to spend a pretty penny for good gear – my bag cover was a few Australian Dollars from a little shop in Bangkok, Thailand, and it’s amazing. I even took it in the shower and stood under it before trusting it to protect my bag! Visiting Canada or Australia around Christmas? Canada will most likely have a foot of snow and temperatures well below zero, while the latter will have temperatures hitting over 40^o Celsius in parts.

 

Getting The Right Visa

Getting the correct visa for your intended visit to each country as visas vary greatly from country to country. Always research well before flying out what visas are available to you. While a lot of Asian visas can be applied for on arrival, countries such as Vietnam can be applied for earlier by sending your passport into an embassy. Some border exits also don’t accept certain forms on visas, such as the Vietnamese to Laos border crossing near Dien Bien Phu – they won’t let you pass through to Laos if you hold an e-visa on arrival. Always an important thing to research to avoid unexpected hiccups.

I was denied boarding on my first-ever flight to Canada, as I had a layover in the USA and didn’t have an ESTA visa. Typically these entry visas take minutes to process online, though sometimes they can take longer. Unfortunately, the entire system was undergoing maintenance at the time, and I was forced to forfeit my flight. All that misery and financial burden could have been avoided with a quick check online!

Bear in mind, your nationality may also change the cost of tourist visas in some countries, in Laos this is the case. A lot of Asian countries, such as Nepal and Laos accept USD for the visa fee – it is a good idea to carry a small amount just in case.

 

How Will You Access Money Overseas?

You won’t get very far if you don’t have access to your funds while travelling. So, it is important to know how you will withdraw/pay for items and services while on the road. There are a few things to check to make sure you’re not getting slammed with crazy amounts of fees whenever you access an ATM in a foreign country.

 

Your Usual Chequing Account/Debit Card

Not only will you be charged a local ATM fee, but your bank will most likely charge a currency conversion fee.  Sometimes you even get an extra ATM fee from your bank. Rude, right?! These costs can add up. A bank’s fee for foreign ATM use is around $5, and about a 3% fee for currency conversion – this is on top of local ATM’s cost. While it is possible to use your debit card abroad, I don’t recommend it if you can get a travel money card – which I describe below.

 

Credit Card

Credit Cards are handy to book transport or accommodation online and as a last resort for other large purchases or if other cards aren’t working. For this reason, credit cards can be a great addition to your travel wallet, as they can get you out of a bind. As with the above, make sure you learn how much you will be charged in currency conversion and any fees related to international withdrawals. Having a credit card affiliated with an airline company that rewards purchases with air miles is also a great way to reduce costs while travelling.

 

Travel Money Card

These are cards with the intent of being used while abroad. By logging on to the online portal attached to your card, switching funds between your regular debit card and the Travel Money Card is easy. From here, you can change the primary currency that will be used whenever any transaction occurs. (For example, if you’re visiting the UK, changing your primary currency to Pound Sterling means you won’t cop an extra currency conversion on your bank’s end (though you still get the local ATM fee sucked from your account). 

When I left in 2013 I had the Commonwealth Bank’s version of the travel card. And I still recommend it. However, there are many other options to choose from. Check out this post for a full comparison so you can choose the best card for your travels.

 

Other Things to be Aware of Related to Money

Whatever direction you choose to go, there are a few things you should do in relation to your bank no matter what.

• Inform your bank you are travelling, including countries and dates you’ll be there. Beware, when they get notified that a random, foreign transaction has occurred, they might still freeze your account, even though you informed them of your travel plans. This has happened to me multiple times with my Canadian bank. This process is now automated and it still gets wrongly flagged – for me at least. If you’re having issues making purchases/withdraws, start by calling your bank.
• Sometimes credit cards aren’t accepted, like at small vendors. Always have a small amount of local currency in cash for situations where you might be stuck otherwise.
• Make sure you check your cards maximum single transaction and daily withdrawal limit. If you need to make a large purchase, you may find yourself withdrawing large sums multiple days in a row – this can add up quickly.
• Personally, I like to withdraw larger sums of money at one time to save on the fees. This obviously brings up security issues as walking around with large wads of cash isn’t always a good idea. I always withdraw from well-lit ATMs and preferably in public areas.
• A common ATM scam throughout Europe is a card skimmer. A fake number pad and/or card insterter is placed over the regular ATM functions, so when you enter your details, the skimmer records them. Giving the ATM card inserter area a firm wiggle before you insert your card is a good habit to get in to. If there’s anything suspect about the machine, use a different one.
• If your card is compromised and needs to be frozen, how will access your money? It is a great idea to have multiple cards as a back-up. The Commonwealth Bank’s Travel Money Card comes with two separate cards, linked to the same account for this purpose.

 

Political Climates

Political climates and periods of unrest in various countries are quite common. Many countries, such as Australia and Canada have websites that detail dangerous areas, provide information on the current situation and will advise whether they deem it safe or to steer clear altogether. To be honest, I haven’t always followed the recommendations I found on www.smarttraveller.com.au and http://www.travel.gc.ca/  to the tee, but I’ve always researched the situation to determine my own level of risk. I went against the Australia Government’s recommendations of staying clear of Egypt in late 2013, and I found myself in Cairo in the midst of political unrest. While there were a few anxious moments, I managed a safe and enjoyable week while in Egypt, and can honestly say that I have felt more unsafe at various other times throughout Europe when no government warning had been in place.

Smarttraveller.com.au allows you to input your intended itinerary, if known, so if anything happens, your whereabouts can be narrowed down and assistance rendered. Check your own federal government website for specific travel recommendations and how to contact them with any itinerary changes.

It’s always a good idea to know where your closest national embassy is while abroad. If not yours, then one that would be more likely/willing to provide any assistance – e.g. a Commonwealth country for an Australian citizen.

You can’t safeguard against everything on the road, shit happens, right? But being prepared isn’t the worst thing you can do for yourself, and loved ones back home.

Another point to keep in mind when researching timelines is to keep a day or two as a buffer in your travel itinerary in case of unexpected illness or weather delay. This allows you to make connecting transport should any bumps in the road arise or spend your intended amount of time at your next destination.

It’s a good idea to update a loved one back home in regards to your emerging itinerary if you plan on the go.

 

Transmitted Illnesses

Researching a country should also involve a look into the region’s possible infectious diseases and common illnesses. Most diseases can be passed on through direct contact, or indirect contact, via one of these three very generalized methods:

• Fluids –  water, body fluids (i.e. blood, particles from respiratory tract), etc.
• Solids- food, fecal matter (so minuscule you cannot see them, or more visible), etc.
• Animal/Vectors- mosquitoes, monkeys, dogs, etc.

 

Methods of prevention, symptoms and the need for medical attention vary greatly with the various nasties out there. For more detailed information consulting a travel health clinic is the best way to get up to date information on diseases and infections, and also the best way to find out information to prevent and combat them – whether that be vaccines, pills, or other ways to reduce your risk. For additional information as well, consulting a reliable internet source, such as http://www.who.int/ or official, country-specific, travel websites are great tools for research!

This section is merely for some basic, baseline information so once again, it is highly recommended you consult a travel health clinic for the most up-to-date and specific-to-you information as these topics are constantly evolving and changing.

A Google search is the easiest way to find a local Travel Health Clinic. This is a link to an Australian-wide directory.

 

Traveller’s Diarrhea

While in Nepal, eating common local “momo’s”, was to be my undoing. Unfortunately, the symptoms set in exactly one hour after I ingested my first ever anti-malarial pill. As I got sicker, I wrongly believed I had just gotten unlucky with commonly known side effects of the specific anti-malarial pill I was taking. I suffered through almost a week of sometimes awful “side effects”, including during a three-day hike to Poon Hill, on the Annapurna loop. While I have a funny/embarrassing story to tell now, at the time it was not a laughing matter! Once I realized what was really going on and took the appropriate antibiotic, I luckily soon recovered.

As the bacteria differ from area to area,  certain antibiotics can be less effective in certain countries, or completely ineffective altogether. Once again, a travel health clinic will be the best place to gain information that is thorough and up-to-date. These antibiotics aren’t preventative, meaning they are to be taken only once the illness has presented itself.

Certain pathogens that can cause traveller’s diarrhea are can also be highly contagious given certain environments. Good personal hygiene (for example using hand sanitizer) adds another layer of defence.  Food that appears dodgy/raw can be easily skipped in most situations. Two common unsuspecting forms of ingesting contaminated food by travellers are:

• Ice – Pathogens can survive in frozen water, and when it melts into your drink can be taken in as easy as ever.
• Salad – Fresh, uncooked vegetables and fruits might not go through the same sanitary processes in place as home.

As your body loses hydration and electrolytes so quickly with traveller’s diarrhea, they need to be replenished. Electrolyte packets work very well at restoring what your body has violently shed. They are essential to prevent complications like dehydration with these types of illnesses.

 

Food Poisoning

Many of the above tips are useful here as well.

However, once you’ve got food poisoning, the most important things are to keep hydrated and rest up, and just wait for your body to get rid of the “poison” affecting your body.

Eating in clean and well-kept restaurants can help reduce your chances of getting sick due to food. I, however, do eat quite “dangerously” – basically anything I want. It took me over three years of travelling before getting properly sick in Nepal in 2017. However, on a recent trip to learn how to scuba dive in Thailand, I got food poisoning twice in one month.

It is a part of my travel mentality that while you can dodge most metaphorical bullets, chances are that sooner or later, you will get hit by food poisoning or traveller’s diarrhea. Sure it totally sucks when it happens but being prepared makes it much more manageable.

Be mindful of local conditions. During my recent trip to Thailand, I was on a boat all day learning to dive. I returned to the island I was staying on, Koh Tao, and didn’t know there had been no electricity that day due to power line upgrades. The prawns I had with dinner were therefore compromised and I definitely regretted my choice the next 24 hours…

A Travel Health Clinic can give up to date information on the issues above, but also on much more serious diseases, parasites and illnesses. Depending on where you intend to visit some, these are some common afflictions that may need to be addressed before setting off:

• Malaria
• Dengue Fever
• Yellow Fever
• Hepatitis A, B and C
• Rabies
• Typhoid Fever
• Polio
• Tetanus
• Measles

This is not a comprehensive list. I highly suggest visiting a Travel Health Clinic (if I haven’t driven that point home enough by now), and taking any recommendations they make seriously. Try to visit 6-8 weeks before leaving if at all possible to ensure enough time between vaccinations before you leave!

Some of these afflictions can differ in how they are contracted and how they are prevented. This information is constantly changing, and some medications differ from one region to the next. Malaria, for example, is best prevented by different pills in Africa than Asia.

Mosquitoes are a huge concern as they can carry many of the diseases and parasites that are able to cause great harm, even being potentially fatal. The best way to combat this pest is by wearing full-length clothing, both during the day and at night. Different mosquitoes are a risk for different diseases, and they vary as to what time of day/night they are most frequently out hunting for blood. Bug spray is also a good way to reduce your risk. The “DEET” concentration is the standard used in most bottles and defines how effective it should be in combating these pests, and how long it lasts for without reapplication.

Drinking unpurified water, especially in developing countries, is a great way to contract some of the afflictions mentioned above. I’ve drunk tap water in a lot of countries and been totally fine. However, in some countries, it is highly advised to only drink and brush your teeth with bottled water. This includes ice as most bacteria can survive in frozen water. So make sure you do your research specific to the countries you’ll be visiting.

 

Other Medication

Specific medication, especially prescription meds can often be quite difficult to obtain overseas, not to mention that a language barrier can make communication in an urgent and serious situation quite stressful.

For example, while travelling Albania in Eastern Europe I contracted some form of blister-like boils all over my limbs (they never got diagnosed). As I travelled to Italy I eventually sought out a pharmacy. If it were not for my French-speaking partner, I would have ingested antibiotics containing penicillin, which I am highly allergic to. While the pharmacist was adamant I would be fine, I decided against taking them.

While you can’t safeguard against it all, sensitive medication should be bought for your entire trip if possible. Make sure to keep it with ALL documentation. A friend of mine’s mother had her seizure medication removed from her checked baggage as they crossed from Australia into Fiji. This was done apparently without her knowledge, until landing in Fiji. It was a lot more difficult to get a hold of those medications overseas, which left her a whole 1-2 days without them.

 

First Aid Kit

 

A first aid kit is a great addition to any travel pack, and a few simple items can make all the difference. Some of the things I always have in mine include:

 

• Band-Aids/gauze
• Antiseptic Swabs
• Tweezers (fine-tipped for removal of ticks)
• Hand sanitizer
• Tensor Bandage
• Burn Cream
• Safety Pins
• Medical tape
• Ibuprofen/paracetamol
• Rehydration tabs or salts
• Nausea Pills
• Anti-Histamines
• Sleeping Pills/melatonin

 

With a small amount of preparation, you can turn an awful situation into something much more bearable.

 

Respect Goes A Long Way

Since I left Australia in 2013, one of my most important tips is slightly cliche. Respect the country you are in, and it’s people. Let me dive a little deeper into why this is important, not only for a richer experience but also your well being and safety.

 

Respect the Local Laws

Travel is amazing, but always keep in mind that you are not in your own, familiar, country. Things that may be legal in your country, might be seen as illegal in others – often carrying heavy penalties e.g. the death penalty is still active in many countries for drugs. Large fines and/or imprisonment are common punishments for illegal activities. Always check in to the country’s laws, and if in doubt, just don’t do it until your back home.

To further this, just because everyone else is doing it, doesn’t mean it’s safe. During a recent trip to the beautiful backpacking town of Pai, Thailand, I was subjected to an extremely thorough drug search on the side of the road. A large number of backpackers I spoke to during my time in Pai had weed on them – exactly what these officers were after. It was so easy to get your hands on weed…almost too easy.

Just in case it isn’t clear, if you’re arrested for crimes overseas, it may be very difficult for your national embassy to help you in any way. It just isn’t worth it at the end of the day.

 

Respect the Local Way of Life

Travel, to me, is about broadening horizons. Too many times I’ve overheard a tourist stick their nose up at a local tradition or cuisine. While I don’t agree with everything I see and hear on the road, it’s important to respect their way of life.  This doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to engage in an adult conversation about a specific subject – just realise this isn’t your home, and it may be appropriate to back off at times. Bringing an open mind with you while you travel is the best way to grow as not only a traveller but as a person. People will be more open to you and immersing yourself in this foreign culture will be more valuable.

While travelling, most likely you will encounter situations that are awful, and it is sometimes hard to deal with (neglect and abuse of children comes to mind). Now, I’m not saying not to help, but always keep in mind that interfering as a tourist could result in you being in severe danger.

 

Packing a Bag for Travel – What I Never Leave Home Without 

When I left Australia for the first time in 2013, I had zero idea what to pack. So I decided to pack everything for every situation I could conjure up. I took a 90-litre bag through Europe for just shy of one year. 90 litres!? What was I thinking?! The weight of my bag by the end was well over 20kg! I guess that much space woke up a slight hoarder in me that had been previously dormant… I now have a couple different backpacks, for different styles and lengths of trips. A 70 L Osprey backpack was more than enough for almost a year through Asia.

Here are a few things I make sure to always pack though, no matter the length of the trip:

• Travel Journal – I never leave for a trip without one. Along with photography, it is my favourite way to record my journey. Sure, it can be quite a chore having to write after an exhausting day of sightseeing (I’m usually a week behind!) but re-reading your thoughts on the road years later makes it well worth it!
• Shoelaces – A constant item in my travel bag, apart from the ones tightening my shoes of course! Primarily used as a clothesline, I have also used them to tie open a broken train window, which was blocking out the refreshing Czech breeze in an otherwise stale train. In my mind, they are just too versatile not to bring. I had three in Asia!
• Money Belt – Specifically an RFID one to stop swiping scams, is something I always have with me. I will cover them in a little more detail in the next section, but they’re definitely worth the mention in what to pack!
• Padlock – Most hostels will not provide a lock to secure your things in lockable cupboards or boxes. Bringing your own small to medium sized lock is your best bet for deterring would-be thieves. Small padlocks are handy to lock your day pack while out sightseeing as well. Pickpocketing is quite common in some highly populated areas, so locking your bag is a major deterrent.
• Hand Sanitizer  – I know I mentioned hand sanitizer in the section above, but it’s a great thing to have multiple while travelling, especially in countries where sanitation is at a lower standard than what your body is accustomed to. Securing it to my day pack like in the picture below was the best method I’ve found of having it accessible.

• External Battery Pack Charger – These often come in handy. Overnight buses/trains often find my phone dead or low battery. Addresses and directions to my booked accommodation are usually listed on my phone, so keeping that alive until I arrive is important. Places with limited power availability, such as multi-day jungle treks (think photos), or the times your hostel bed is no-where near an outlet for an alarm, are also great reasons to invest in an external charger.
• International Plug/Adapter – Many countries have different power plugs and there’s a good chance your home country’s plug will not fit into foreign sockets. Instead of buying a new plug, buying an adapter is another option. A multi-country adapter is very handy in saving space as it combines many single plugs into one.
• Noise Cancelling Headphones – These are one of the first items I pack. With long days of transit or snorers in crowded hostel rooms, headphones are a must. I sleep with soft, gentle music in headphones rather than earplugs.
• Quick-Dry Towel and Underwear – There aren’t many things worse than not having time for your underwear or towel to dry before you have to leave to catch a bus or plane. Microfibre towels and quick-drying underwear make life on the road a little easier knowing that washing or a shower wouldn’t mean I have to carry wet items around for the day.
• Large Scarf/Sarong – A versatile item. Acts as a quick drying towel or a blanket if there’s nothing else. It’s also a great way to cover up shoulders and legs when entering temples or mosques where more revealing clothing isn’t allowed.
• Extra Passport Photos – are needed to purchase a visa on arrival for some countries. Especially throughout Asia. Make sure you research the dimensions specific to each country you intend to visit as they often vary. I have also encountered passport photos being needed for the purchase of a local sim card.

Extra Items/Information To Consider

-Upon entering some countries border officials will ask to see return flights. Even if you intend on travelling one way through the country they will want to see some form of exiting the country before the expiry date of your tourist visa. There are ways around this, such as a cheap bus/flight/ferry out of the country. It IS possible to check out an in-depth guide (such as Lonely Planet) that covers accommodation and copy an address from there. I recommend this only as a last resort, as border officers have never further investigated my address, but I assume it is within their power to do so.

-Many countries will also require your intended address of your stay in the country upon entering. I always have my booked hostel’s address in case it’s needed. Usually, all the border official wants is an address.  It’s a good idea to have one handy even if you haven’t actually booked your accommodation yet.

 

Theft and Scams

The world isn’t as scary as the news (at least the Australian news) sometimes portrays. In my personal experience, it isn’t bad at all. One attempted pickpocketing, a few things stolen from a hostel room, and quite a few scams have gotten the better of me, but nothing too serious. Having said that, I have heard quite a few horror stories from friends and other travellers along the way. From all I’ve heard, most of these aren’t malicious attacks, but rather an opportunistic way of life.

There are a few small tips to greatly reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of scams while overseas. Most of these problems, while potentially serious, can be easily avoided. Keeping your wits about you on the road is important. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Talking and interacting with locals and other travellers is a massive part of travel, but using common sense will keep you out of the way of common scams.

 

Theft

Theft from travellers is mostly opportunistic, meaning a would-be thief sees an opportunity present itself and takes it. Think about it. If I leave an expensive camera alone on a restaurant table while I head to the bathroom – I wouldn’t be surprised if that was stolen, no matter where I was in the world.

Like anywhere, theft will always be present. Keeping your valuables on your person, within eyesight or secured in some way will end most threats of theft. Investing in an anti-theft bag can really add to how safe you will feel on the road.

If hostels are your choice of accommodation, as they are mine, many eyes might view your expensive camera, wallet, or other valuables. It can be hard to keep an eye on it at all times – especially with the constant stream of newcomers in a dormitory-style room. Most hostels are fitted with a locker or cupboard where you can store your valuables away, secure from sticky fingers looking to grab your belongings. As I mentioned before, bringing your own padlock is advised as most hostels do not provide them.

An RFID money belt, like this one, is a great investment. This secures your valuables, such as your passport, phone, cards, and money close to your body and under your clothing. It’s a great safeguard against potential snatchers and “electronic pickpocketing” scams. This specific one has a stainless steel strap, so it can’t be cut with a regular knife. It’s fully adjustable so it can be comfortable and unnoticeable simultaneously. Pickpocketing is a common occurrence throughout a lot of Europe.

One interesting thing I noticed while in Asia, travellers who had waist money belts thinking they were being safe, but they wore them on the outside of their clothing like a fanny-pack. To me, this slightly defeats the purpose of concealing your valuables while out and about.

One warning is the snatch-and-grab attacks from motorbikes – which occur quite often in South East Asia. Wearing a bag with the strap across one shoulder doesn’t deter all snatchers. A friend of mine was wearing her bag cross-body when a “motorcycle cowboy” snatched it. Luckily, the strap gave way and broke before she was flung onto the pavement and potentially dragged. One tip would be to wear a bag on your shoulder facing away from the road, and only over one shoulder, so if it is snatched it’s taken without you going along with it. For this reason, I suggest not taking any cards, passport or large sums of cash out with you in your purse unless needed. This can apply to any type of bag. If you aren’t going to use it, leave it somewhere safe. Wearing a concealed money belt under clothing is another way to prevent this type of theft.

 

Scams

Scams are usually a little less invasive and aggressive than thefts, yet they are more common and vary greatly in severity. Some are well thought out and sly, whereas others can be quite bold!

One scam I witnessed in Paris has a group of young, mostly girls, approach their potential victim asking for donations. They would use the visual blockade of a clipboard resting on your belly button to “get your details”. While you’re distracted, you’re being pick-pocketed below the clipboard. It seems quite easy to spot written down, but let me assure you they were good at their job.

Asia is also ripe with scams, many revolving around vehicle renting – particularly motorbikes. I never encountered any personally, but heard quite a few variations of similar strategies. Most rental companies in Asia require you to leave your passport as a security deposit. Trust me, not my ideal security deposit, but there isn’t much of a choice sometimes.

Two very different examples of these types of scams come to mind. I heard slightly different versions of these in both Laos and Cambodia.

• Damage to a bike is painted over, just enough for the paint to be removed by normal driving. When the bike is returned the owner blames you, and charges you for it.
• A spare key is used to steal the bike that you’ve rented during the night. I’ve been told that often, it’s the owners who are involved in this scam. Sometimes a chain to lock the bike is provided, but I have heard stories of a spare chain key being kept by the owner also. Of course, once you wake up and the bike is missing, you’re liable to pay for it in order to get your passport back…

As they are in possession of your passport, the fee you are stuck with is usually insane. Even multiple times the cost of a brand new bike!

Apart from travelling with a personal chain and padlock – which may make sense to those looking to purchase their own motorbike in Asia, I have one tip to reduce the threat of this type of scam: hire either directly through your accommodation or a company affiliated with them. Whether you’re at fault from an accident or not, at least you will have someone in your corner, if only to explain the situation to you. Most tourists – as result of not being able to understand the language or police reports – are held accountable for any accident – even if they’re not at fault. It’s a good thing to have someone to help you understand what is going on.

 

Pickpocketing

 

Pickpocketing is common in almost every country I have visited. Busy places with large crowds are easy pickings for thieves as physical contact with other people in these environments isn’t uncommon. Someone attempted to pick my pockets at the Running with the Bulls Festival in San Fermin, Spain. Thankfully I was wearing an RFID wallet with an attached chain. Not super stylish, but practical in that I got to keep my cards and money despite being wholly distracted by the festival proceedings.

Some public places where pickpocketing is common, such as trains, make announcements when a suspected pickpocket is present. Hearing this message is a great deterrent to the would-be thief, and also alerts passengers of the potential threat and to be mindful of their belongings.

Using secure wallets, money belts, RFID protective casings and padlocking valuables in a day pack are all great ways to reduce the risk of being scammed or having your pockets picked clean.

 

Taxis

A much less severe scam in the grand scheme of things, but still very common, are a variety of scams existing in the taxi industry. Here are a few tips I have learned along the way – most of them the hard way…

• Getting a metered taxi is sometimes difficult. Despite a meter being clearly displayed on the dashboard, you may often find them turned off. Drivers will love to tell you they’re giving you a “good price” and be overly friendly until you bring up that nasty four letter word – “meter”. There haven’t been many instances where this “good price my friend” was actually a good price. Unfortunately, this is unavoidable at times.
• Playing “hard to get” can negotiate a fairer price for both parties. By saying “No, thank you” and continuing on to other taxis, most drivers will automatically re-negotiate their offer.
• Most bus stations, especially in Asia, will be outside the downtown city limits. Taxi drivers waiting for your bus (or sometimes train) obviously know this and jack their fare prices up. Heading out of the station, towards the road to find an independent driver can usually provide you with a much better price.

 

 

Why Is Travel The Best Thing I’ve Ever Done?

If you’ve read all the way to here, you might have a question I’d like to address:

“Woah, Ben, you sure do have a lot of negative things to say about travel, why do you love it so much?!”

Valid question.

Despite what friends and family back home seem to think, travel is far from constant sunshine and rainbows day after day. There are some miserable days when I swear more than any adult human should. Sickness, homesickness, exhaustion, getting lost, theft…the list could go on. They bring you down so hard sometimes. Here are four major reasons that come to mind to answer why I feel that despite the down days, travel is still totally worth it:

 

1 – Gaining confidence in yourself

When I left for Europe alone as a solo traveller, I booked everything independently: tickets, flights, festivals, accommodation. Any mistakes made along the way? I had to fix them. I had enormous doubts that I could do it and almost gave up many times. Culture shocks were common as I started out on the road,  but I persevered and now even kind of enjoy them.

 

2 – So much is learned about yourself

 

Solo travel can definitely get a little lonely. There’s a lot of time to ponder internally about… well everything. There is so much time to reflect on encounters and what you take from them. Your past and present experiences can teach you so much on the road. I think all the time I spent alone helped me discover a lot about myself, and where I wanted to go next.

 

3 – Meeting new friends/partners

As I just touched on, travelling solo can be lonely. If you want interaction with another person, you may have to put yourself out there a little. It isn’t hard to find someone in a hostel feeling the same way as you. It kind of forces you to get out there and make conversations that you otherwise you might not have. Some memorable friendships have been forged from hostel common rooms; I even met my Canadian partner on a Busabout tour through Eastern Europe. Living in Canada for the last four years is most definitely not where I thought I’d be when I first set out with that silly 90L backpack, but here  I am, and wouldn’t change a thing!

 

4 – See the amazing places on this earth

Lastly, but most importantly, I travel to see the amazing places and people this planet has to offer.

There are plenty of inspirational travel quotes out there, and one I have resonated with is attributed to Saint Augustine – “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”.

There are so many beautiful places on this planet, and though it may be a futile dream, I plan on seeing them all – at least as many of them as I can. I will endure scams and theft, illnesses and infections, long transit days and the occasional threats of danger, to travel and see all I can.

 

In response to Saint Augustine, I want to read as many pages of that book as I possibly can.

 

As always, I’d love to hear your travel stories and experiences along the road. If you have any questions at all, got a specific question regarding travel? Leave me a comment below! I’d also love to hear feedback about my content, what do you think should/shouldn’t be in there? Don’t be a stranger! 

 

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