Join Cheapskate Living
If you want to comment, access our Members Only Pages, or would like new posts in your email, please Register. Your Email is safe with us. See our Privacy Policy. You can also SUBSCRIBE to our Feed.Cheap Travel – Safe Travel
When traveling abroad you can take advantage of all the discounts and then lose everything you have if you get robbed. So one of the ways to prevent being a victim of robbery or assault while you are traveling is to not look like a tourist. How does one do this? Mobil Communications recently surveyed its phone subscribers and came up with these suggestions. Here they are:
Ditch the white athletic shoes: White athletic shoes scream “Look at me! I’m an American tourist!”
Ditch the fanny pack: A Mobal survey participant says “I’ve never seen a non-American wearing a fanny pack.”
Wear black: According to another survey participant “Folk in Paris, London and other European capitals tend to wear lots of black, and as a tourist you tend to blend in if you’re wearing it too. (Maybe you can’t buy Tide detergent there and black doesn’t show as much dirt?) If it is really hot where I am visiting I think I would wear light grey even though I don’t like that color.
Wear local accessories: Wearing a scarf in Europe, helps women blend in. In Muslim countries it is a must. Guys, I guess you’re out of luck – maybe no white socks with sandals?
Use hotel concierge services: Having a good idea where you are going prevents you from looking like a lost soul. A friend once did advise me that if I was going through a bad neighborhood to walk with an “attitude.” If you look confident and purposeful people are less likely to choose you as an assault target. I learned that in my Defense for Women class that the sheriff’s department sponsors.
Don’t forget the basics – Avoid wearing a lot jewelry – even good costume jewelry can be mistaken for something more valuable. Don’t wear shorts and t-shirts in cities. Don’t study the maps in public or wear your camera around your neck.
Learn a few words of the language – This won’t camoflauge your tourist identity, but it may be appreciated by the people you deal with and even get you better service in restaurants. Rick Steves, the noted Travels in Europe guy always recommends you do this and that guy gets around.
If they had surveyed me, I would have said smile without showing your teeth. Americans are famous for their straight white teeth.
Popularity: 26% [?]
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!No Tag
Related posts:
Recent Comments