9 Safety Mistakes You Make While Traveling

Kelly Dunning | February 19, 2015

Not-Knowing-the-Common-Scams Ammentorp Photography / Shutterstock

Not Knowing the Common Scams

There are a lot of typical scams locals use to trick tourists out of their money. Before you go traveling you should always do an internet search for “Top 10 Scams in (Your Destination)” so you know what to watch out for. Just knowing the scam exists will help you to avoid being tricked by it.

For example, there is a scam practiced in many cities in South America and Europe in which someone will sneak up behind you and squirt some gooey liquid that looks like bird poo on your shoulder. Then a few minutes later, a “well-meaning stranger” will stop you to let you know that you have bird poo on your shoulder and give you some napkins to wipe it off with. You will feel a bit gross and you will naturally stop and become preoccupied with cleaning it off. While you are distracted with that, a quick-footed thief will pickpocket you and make a run for it.

If you know about this scam in advance and someone approaches you on the street saying that you have bird poo on your shoulder, you can simply keep on walking, avoid it altogether and clean yourself when you are safely back at your hotel.

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Keep Your Flight Boarding Pass and Get Discounts on Your Vacation

After boarding a flight, most people just stuff their boarding pass into their carry-on and forget about it. By doing this, you’re missing out on potential savings. Many airlines offer discounts and freebies for those who keep their boarding pass. Depending on where you land, you could score savings on tourist attractions, restaurants, wine, or even airport transfers.

The Most Common Scams from Around the World

There’s nothing like traversing the world and exploring new countries and cultures, but sometimes the experience is spoiled by dishonorable people preying on uninformed travelers. If you make an effort to learn about the classic scams, you’re unlikely to fall victim to them and can just enjoy the positive side of your trip. To help, here’s a list of common scams around the world for you to get acquainted with.

How to Make Friends During Your Trip

One of the biggest fears of people who want to embark on a solo trip is being alone. They think meeting new people will be a struggle, and if they can’t find a partner to travel with, they just cancel or postpone their adventure. The truth is that with a little bit of planning and initiative, it’s actually harder to be alone than you think. The travel community is extremely welcoming and one doesn’t need to try hard to be part of it.