As seasoned travelers we continue to be amazed everytime we meet or hear about fellow travelers that have broken one, some or all of the basic commandments of travel and how they paid the price dearly. Experience counts, be it yours or someone else’s. A wise man once said “if you fall over the same log twice, you deserve to break your neck.” This is the basis of learning and respecting the basic commandments of travel and survival both domestically and internationally.
While we may be familiar with the larger picture of domestic travel because we live and interact in the country on a daily basis there are local intricacies that can easily change a fun filled adventure into a horrible excursion into hell. Check with your airline, bus or train company often or set up mobile alerts to be notified in the event of delays, cancellations or equipment changes. Check out the official website of the company to familiarize yourself with updated baggage and meal policies. Choose your seat wisely especially on longer trips. It is always funny to see very tall people in the smallest and most cramped seats on the plane. A great site to check out airline seats and equipment before the trip is the "Seat Guru". International travel is an entirely new and different experience unto itself. The basics are the same but need to be completed much sooner than in domestic travel. Remember to always arrive and check in a minimum of 3 hours before departure. Be sure you have your passport, visas and any other necessary documentation such as child custody papers and any medical perscriptions in order. Different languages, laws and customs are an adventure significant and special in itself. When personal preferences and challenges are added to the equation an eruption of mishaps and drama can occur. As the internet, the news and a host of other opportunities are available before you leave the comfort of your homes there is no reason anyone should not be familiar with the very basics. Know the basics: Why arrive in a new and exciting place without having first perfomed some research first. Language, currency and safety are the most important. Other simple but helpful bits of information are the people, neighborhoods and food. Before arriving, you should know what language is commonly spoken. The currency that is most widely used and what are the simple dangers and annoyances most often encountered in and around the arrival area. Very important, have an idea of how to get from the airport to your hotel or guest house. 
If by taxi or public transportation have an idea of the fare, directions and rough time frame before beginning the journey- not all public transportation is what you expect or safe. If being picked up have a clear idea of where and when you should meet your party. Ask for a landmark. If taking public transportation These are all items of basic information that can be relatively quickly and accurately collected from updated guide books, web sites and travel blogs. Some of the best are Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Trip Advisor and Virtual Tourist. They all have suggestions, local facts and recent reviews of fellow travelers. A nice start to any adventure is creating a small index sized cheat sheet with needed basic information on it. The name, address and phone number of the place you are staying (when possible I always tape a business card from the hotel directly on my cheat sheet so if I encounter language difficulties I can just point to the card). Other information on your cheat sheet should be the address and phone number of your consulate. Registration with the consulate is a matter of personal preference. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Haiti I registered with the American Consulate because of the volatility of the country but in my more than 80 visits to the Dominican Republic I have never registered with the consulate but I know where it is and have the phone number in case of an emergency. Just before leaving for the airport check the official website of the place you are traveling and the state department website for traveler’s advisories to get the most updated information and money exchange rate of the day. I often plan ahead and set aside the money I intend to initially exchange and cab fare before leaving home. The remainder of my money and credit cards I stash in the special pockets I had sewn inside my pants or my money belt.
Money, credit and cash:The surest way to end up in the fiery flames of “trip gone to hell” is to walk around with large wads of cash in large bills. Dumber is to walk around flashing the large bills. Remember the local beer guy or taxi driver in your neighborhood that doesn’t like to handle large bills in a society of counterfeit and phony money. This is true of communities all over the world. Many places are hungry for American dollars and Euros but most are not willing to change or handle larger denominations. Remember bills smaller than 50 are the general rule of thumb and the most valuable. Insist on smaller bills when exchanging money and getting money back from purchases. Do not carry all of your money in one pocket, purse or pouch. Carry only the amount you need for the day and then divide your money into a smaller amount kept in the fairly obvious place so if robbed, pick pocketed or bamboozled by the police you will only loose “your small stash” as opposed to everything. Never pull out large sums in public no matter how safe you think you are. You might be king of the block back home but that’s just it. YOU ARE NOT AT HOME! 
Don’t argue with the police: This tends to be less of a problem domestically not withstanding a few ordinance differences locality to locality such as public drinking. This can be as extreme and different as drinking and open containers being allowed in public (New Orleans) to the extreme of no drinking or open containers allowed in public period (Los Angeles and New York). Internationally this can be a living hell. Remember you are in a different country and the rules are in their favor not yours. Unless you speak the language and are familiar with the customs with the expertise of a native “don’t argue with the cops”. Don’t try to be impressive and show you can speak the language. This can give the perception that you understand the culture and automatically give up any tourist immunity that you may get. Unlike our American police, police in other parts of the world (police and the military are often one in the same) are taught to take immediate action as opposed to discussing who is right. The perception in many countries of the world is that Americans are filthy rich slobs who have tons of money to just throw around so the police who make pennies for a monthly salary (300 USD) are not interested in who stole what from whom, or if you didn’t know he or she was under the legal age.
Arguing will only get you hauled off to the police station or in the extreme worse beaten to a pulp, robbed and left in some dark secluded part of town. In many cases a dumb tourist look on your face and I don’t speak the language will get you a verbal warning and you will be on your way. In cases of corrupt cops there will be some type of fine or scam for some money. Usually a driving offense or public lewdness, then it is up to your slickness to cheaply work your way out of the problem. Use your small stash not the larger one! In more serious cases such as drugs or sex with a minor, you should let them arrest you and then call your consulate immediately. You know the number you wrote down on your cheat sheet you made the first day of your trip.
Dangers and Annoyances: There are inherent dangers and annoyances that come with the very nature of travel and tourism. Knowing is half the battle. Other than the smack you in the face obvious scams remember to not walk around wearing expensive or expensive looking costume jewelry. Necklaces, earrings, expensive watches, and bracelets etc. are not to be worn except when going out to an upscale chic event or party. Your “bling bling” is an attention grabber and will set you up to be robbed, mugged and or killed in certain areas. Keep it on the down low to be safe! The same rules apply to cell phones. Never leave your cell phone attached to your hip. Especially in certain Latin and South American countries where it is very popular to ride by on motor bikes and snatch phone right off the waist bands of unsuspecting tourists and locals alike.
If you feel uncomfortable or plan to check out the sites solo use a disposable camera and buy a cheap $5.00 watch off the street vendor before leaving home.
If by taxi or public transportation have an idea of the fare, directions and rough time frame before beginning the journey- not all public transportation is what you expect or safe. If being picked up have a clear idea of where and when you should meet your party. Ask for a landmark. If taking public transportation These are all items of basic information that can be relatively quickly and accurately collected from updated guide books, web sites and travel blogs. Some of the best are Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Trip Advisor and Virtual Tourist. They all have suggestions, local facts and recent reviews of fellow travelers. A nice start to any adventure is creating a small index sized cheat sheet with needed basic information on it. The name, address and phone number of the place you are staying (when possible I always tape a business card from the hotel directly on my cheat sheet so if I encounter language difficulties I can just point to the card). Other information on your cheat sheet should be the address and phone number of your consulate. Registration with the consulate is a matter of personal preference. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Haiti I registered with the American Consulate because of the volatility of the country but in my more than 80 visits to the Dominican Republic I have never registered with the consulate but I know where it is and have the phone number in case of an emergency. Just before leaving for the airport check the official website of the place you are traveling and the state department website for traveler’s advisories to get the most updated information and money exchange rate of the day. I often plan ahead and set aside the money I intend to initially exchange and cab fare before leaving home. The remainder of my money and credit cards I stash in the special pockets I had sewn inside my pants or my money belt.
Money, credit and cash:The surest way to end up in the fiery flames of “trip gone to hell” is to walk around with large wads of cash in large bills. Dumber is to walk around flashing the large bills. Remember the local beer guy or taxi driver in your neighborhood that doesn’t like to handle large bills in a society of counterfeit and phony money. This is true of communities all over the world. Many places are hungry for American dollars and Euros but most are not willing to change or handle larger denominations. Remember bills smaller than 50 are the general rule of thumb and the most valuable. Insist on smaller bills when exchanging money and getting money back from purchases. Do not carry all of your money in one pocket, purse or pouch. Carry only the amount you need for the day and then divide your money into a smaller amount kept in the fairly obvious place so if robbed, pick pocketed or bamboozled by the police you will only loose “your small stash” as opposed to everything. Never pull out large sums in public no matter how safe you think you are. You might be king of the block back home but that’s just it. YOU ARE NOT AT HOME! 
Don’t argue with the police: This tends to be less of a problem domestically not withstanding a few ordinance differences locality to locality such as public drinking. This can be as extreme and different as drinking and open containers being allowed in public (New Orleans) to the extreme of no drinking or open containers allowed in public period (Los Angeles and New York). Internationally this can be a living hell. Remember you are in a different country and the rules are in their favor not yours. Unless you speak the language and are familiar with the customs with the expertise of a native “don’t argue with the cops”. Don’t try to be impressive and show you can speak the language. This can give the perception that you understand the culture and automatically give up any tourist immunity that you may get. Unlike our American police, police in other parts of the world (police and the military are often one in the same) are taught to take immediate action as opposed to discussing who is right. The perception in many countries of the world is that Americans are filthy rich slobs who have tons of money to just throw around so the police who make pennies for a monthly salary (300 USD) are not interested in who stole what from whom, or if you didn’t know he or she was under the legal age.
Arguing will only get you hauled off to the police station or in the extreme worse beaten to a pulp, robbed and left in some dark secluded part of town. In many cases a dumb tourist look on your face and I don’t speak the language will get you a verbal warning and you will be on your way. In cases of corrupt cops there will be some type of fine or scam for some money. Usually a driving offense or public lewdness, then it is up to your slickness to cheaply work your way out of the problem. Use your small stash not the larger one! In more serious cases such as drugs or sex with a minor, you should let them arrest you and then call your consulate immediately. You know the number you wrote down on your cheat sheet you made the first day of your trip.
Dangers and Annoyances: There are inherent dangers and annoyances that come with the very nature of travel and tourism. Knowing is half the battle. Other than the smack you in the face obvious scams remember to not walk around wearing expensive or expensive looking costume jewelry. Necklaces, earrings, expensive watches, and bracelets etc. are not to be worn except when going out to an upscale chic event or party. Your “bling bling” is an attention grabber and will set you up to be robbed, mugged and or killed in certain areas. Keep it on the down low to be safe! The same rules apply to cell phones. Never leave your cell phone attached to your hip. Especially in certain Latin and South American countries where it is very popular to ride by on motor bikes and snatch phone right off the waist bands of unsuspecting tourists and locals alike.
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Where are you spending this holiday T
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