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The Vagabond warns not to stumble
into these common travel pitfalls
By Doug Lansky
Tribune Media Services
Travel advice tends to come across like a cheap pick-up line: there's little substance, you've probably heard it before and chances are you don't believe it anyway. At least, that's been my excuse for not handing out much.
Besides, I was looking for my own niche, far from my mother's Family Circle tips column, where she has established herself as an expert at using peanut butter to get chewing gum out of kids' hair. She knows a full range of tricks that sound like the sort of stuff MacGyver would do to impress his parenting group.
So I'll share a few of the things I've picked up in nine years of travel to nearly 100 countries. (For once, I'm not talking about parasites.)
I'll begin with three of the most difficult aspects of independent travel.
Watch for scams
This is tough to do, especially if you don't know what you're guarding against. Here are a few typical travel con games:
 | The Hotel Burned Down. This is what the taxi driver tells you when you name the hotel you wish to be taken to. No problem, however, because he has a recommendation. He can take you to his uncle's hotel, or one that pays him a commission. I suggest you have him drive you by the "burned down" hotel anyway.
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| Fake Police. U.S. passports can fetch thousands of dollars on black markets around the globe, and a few locals have been known to pose as undercover police, ask you to produce your passport, then keep it. Offer to show your passport if an "officer" asks you, but only after you've walked with him (never get into an "undercover" car) to the nearest police station.
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| Backpack Clean-up. In this scam, someone will walk up, squirt ketchup or shampoo on your backpack, then run off. An accomplice will offer to help you clean it up, discreetly robbing you in the process. I recommend politely declining any help.
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Pickpockets. They tend to operate in crowded areas and on buses and trains. Keep valuables in a passport pouch underneath your clothes, or in a safe at your hotel. Keep less than $10 in local currency in your front pocket, and if you have a camera, carry it by your side (not on your back) in a nondescript bag (i.e., one NOT emblazoned with the words "Canon" or "Nikon").
While staying on the lookout for scams, keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of the people you come in contact with have absolutely no interest in driving you where you don't want to go, sticking their hands in your pockets or dousing
you with ketchup. In fact, you may encounter genuine offers of hospitality that seem absurdly generous. It would be a pity to refuse them for security reasons.
Plan, but be flexible
An itinerary is nothing to sneeze at, but it's a hard nut to crack. This double-edged sword can lead you by the nose, and, if used to skin a cat several ways in the same basket with all your eggs, will leave you singing for your supper in a glass house with your bridges burnt at both ends. In other words, only set up the few maneuvers that require
reservations. Leave most of your schedule open so you can explore at your own pace and take advantage of chance opportunities.
For instance, I once hitchhiked to Namibia's coastal town of Swakopmund, catching a ride in a Range Rover with a local tour operator named Connie. After chatting with him for a couple of hours, Connie invited me to move in with his family. My planned one-hour stopover turned into a one-week visit, during which I learned more about local culture than the next two months in Africa put together.
Bargain, but don't obsess
Travelers with lots of time but little money often fall into the trap of the professional shopper, spending much of their day bargaining for dimes and walking an extra mile to save a quarter - the "coupon ladies" of the travel world. I know this because, for several years, I was one of them.
The trick is to know whether it's worthwhile to buy 75 postcards at four times market value, or bargain for three hours to chip an extra dime off the price. What you finally do depends on your budget, what else you hope to accomplish that
day, and your bargaining skills.
There are several methods for effective bargaining, but in the end both you and the clerk should be content with the deal. It's largely up to you to keep the exchange pleasant. You can be firm, you can plead a little, but keep a smile on
your face.
To some travelers, all of these instructions may sound simple. To others, they may seem along the lines of winning the Indy 500 without speeding, renting a video without first checking out all 5,000 titles on the shelf, or sitting through the
entire Academy Awards show without medication.
You can handle it. Just keep your brain in gear at all times and, if possible, stay in control of the situation. There's no "correct" way to travel. As long as you're aware of the issues, you're a step ahead of the tour group.
Doug Lansky is a 20-something globetrotter.
Contact him via e-mail at douglansky@aol.com
or c/o Tribune Media Services, 435 N. Michigan Ave.,
Suite 1400, Chicago, IL. 60611.
Copyright © 2000 The Seattle Times Company
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