How to Avoid Scams While Traveling Abroad

Avoid Scams While Traveling Abroad Con men, hustlers and other scam artists often target obvious tourists as their victims. By being alert and knowing what to watch out for--you can avoid being taken during your journeys abroad. Read on for some safety tips. Other People Are Reading How to Avoid Spring Break Travel ScamsHow to Stay Safe While Traveling Abroad

Print this article Instructions 1 Never hand your wallet to anyone. One popular European con involves crooks in police uniform who stop you on the street, show phony badges and request to check your wallet for "funny money" or drug cash. It's all a ruse to clean you out of your hard-earned cash. 2 Beware of photographers that snap your picture at famous landmarks without even being asked. This is typically followed by a request to pay them before waiting for them to return from their nearby studio with your pictures. They never come back, and neither does your money. 3 Lookout for that "free" drink. There's one scam with a few different takes on it that involves being invited to a bar by a beautiful gal or handsome guy; after a few drinks your new friend has slipped away and a massive bill awaits. 4 Be aware of pickpockets, particularly at large gatherings or on busy streets, and beware of possible diversions-someone spilling their ice cream on your shoes, or a couple arguing loudly nearby-that could be intended to take your mind off of watching your money. 5 Another scam involves a found object-such as an expensive-looking watch, that a stranger appears to suddenly find on the ground or somewhere else around you. It won't be long before they're trying to sell you the item, and at a "bargain" price no less. 6 Overcharging cab drivers is a common way tourists get taken. One way to try and avoid this is asking ahead of time how much the fare will be-and not being afraid to negotiate if the price seems steep. Tips & Warnings It's better to be safe than sorry if you sense a possible scam coming.

How to Travel Alone in Europe

Traveling alone in Europe can be intimidating. Women particularly may have concerns about personal safety. Luckily, there are things you can do to make it easier, such as learning some of the local language and making copies of all your important travel documents, which will make traveling alone in Europe no more worrisome than being alone at home. And while you may be alone at first, there is nothing to stop you from meeting people and making friends. Instructions Planning Your Trip 1 Plan your route. Consider where in Europe you would like to go and for how long. Don't be intimidated by traveling alone for an extended period. You'll always be able to make friends along the way. If you hope to see multiple countries, remember to allow yourself enough time in each country to really absorb the culture. Consider getting a Eurail pass that allows you rail travel in multiple countries and make sure that you understand the visa requirements for those countries. Most EU countries are part of the Schengen Agreement, meaning it's unlikely you will need a visa, however countries like Cyprus are still not part of the agreement. 2 Sort out your finances. Since you won't have anyone with you to pool your money with, you will need to plan your finances ahead of time. When you go to Europe make sure you have a credit card, just in case, as well as a debit card that you can use for purchases and for getting cash. Luckily, much of Europe uses Euros so you won't have to worry about constantly changing currency. Learn some of the language. While most countries in Europe speak English, it is always courteous to be able to say a few phrases in the local language, especially if you are lost or need help. Consider taking a short language course or at the very least getting a phrase book. Safety 4 Consider taking a short self defense course before you leave. It's unlikely that you will actually need it, but a self-defense course will help to build up your confidence before you take your trip abroad. 5 Take care of your personal possessions. Leave the purse at home and bring a backpack instead. Pack lightly. If you're worried about your luggage being stolen, consider purchasing a bag protector alert which works like a car alarm, letting you know if your bag has been moved. Don't forget to make copies of all your important travel documents in case something does get stolen. 6 Stay alert. Just like at home, always be cautious around crowded areas such as railways stations where somebody can easily pick your pocket. Be cautious of overly friendly locals particularly someone looking to buy you a drink for no reason. Dealing With Loneliness 7 Get a mobile phone. Mobile phones are perfect for staying in touch with family back home and for staying in touch with people you meet on your travels. If your phone plan is on the GSM network you should be able to make international phone calls. However, it might just be cheaper to buy a SIM card for your GSM phone. If you don't have a GSM phone, simply get a pay-as-you-go phone in Europe. 8 Stay at a hostel. Not only are hostels cheap but they are an excellent place to meet people and make friends from all over the world, many of whom may be traveling alone as well. 9 Organize trips and nights out with friends from the hostel. Just because you are traveling alone doesn't mean you can't go sightseeing with friends from the hostel. Also, if you plan to go out for drinks, it's always a good idea to have a friend from the hostel with you so you can both look out for each other. Tips & Warnings Plan your travel ahead of time so that you won't be trying to get a ride from the airport to your hostel in the middle of the night.

The Best Things About a Travel Consultant

Data from the U.S. Travel Association shows that most Americans use the Internet to make vacation plans. With such a variety of websites offering discounted airfares, accommodations and even car rentals, taking a trip has never been easier. Still, for a number of reasons, many travelers prefer using a consultant to handle their planning. Group Travel Traveling with a group involves lots of moving parts. Travel consultants have the experience and expertise to get your group from your point of departure to arrival with the least amount of hassle. Whether you're attending a wedding, a family reunion or a team-building event, consultants can design your itinerary to suit the nature of your trip. A travel consultant can attend to details as small as booking a private tour bus that drops off and picks up members of your group at different times and places.

Discounts Travel consultants who specialize in specific regions will often have a well-established network of connections. They may be able to help you procure discounts you wouldn't otherwise be able to get. Travel consultants who have personal relationships with hotel or inn sales managers often receive access to special rates in exchange for referrals. While many travelers know about favorable times to book a trip, many are not sure when exactly they can get the best pricing. Travel consultants are experts on when to time your trip. They can even get you extras such as free transfers and meals. More Accommodation Choices When you're not in the mood for conventional hotel or bed-and-breakfast lodging, a travel consultant can best advise you on your choices. Because of their personal familiarity with the area to which you're traveling, travel consultants can book you accommodations in a dairy farm in Ireland or a camping site in the Sahara Desert, for example. Travel consultants often know every side street and back road of your destination, which enables them to recommend smaller, less-advertised motels for a better value. Personalization When even mix-and-match tour packages seem too cliche, hiring a travel consultant is your best bet. Travel consultants help you avoid the usual crowded tourist attractions and discover hidden gems off the beaten track. If you're not as inspired by dining at a five-star hotel in Paris as you are by patronizing a pop-up restaurant on someone's rooftop, a consultant can help make experience this possible, as well as create other opportunities for you to have an insider experience.

How to Set Up an Itinerary

By Kevin Corbett, eHow Contributor

Itineraries should help you relax, not stress you out.

An itinerary is a list of plans and estimated times for any day's activities. For travelers, it means mapping out a route and its associated sights and events. Itineraries are most valuable when they provide guideposts and suggestions for things to see and do on a trip, rather than trying to scrupulously plan out every minute of the day. By trying to fit in an unrealistic number of destinations, you can end up feeling unsatisfied even with those you see.

Instructions

1. • 1
     List all the things you would like to do during the day. Whittle this list to 10 items. Circle two items that are indispensable and put the others aside for the moment.
   • 2
     Select one of your indispensable activities and pick a starting time for it. Call the location to get its hours of operation. Determine how long it will take you to get from your hotel or residence to the first location, and add at least an hour to account for possible delays. Subtract this from your first activity's start time to determine your time of departure. If you're leaving in the morning, leave yourself plenty of time to eat breakfast.
   • 3
     Schedule your meals. Meals are just as important as other activities, because they provide you with the energy you need to enjoy yourself. Give yourself plenty of time to eat. Meals also provide you with the down time you need to keep from burning out.
   • 4
     Select a starting and ending time for your other essential activity, which will be your last of the day. By spacing out the most important things you want to do, you will be able to get to both even if you are held up at some point. As before, call ahead for the location's operating hours. Add to the ending time of the activity the travel time you will need to get back home, and an extra hour just in case, to figure your return time.
   • 5
     Draw a route on a map from your point of departure to your first destination, to your second destination, then back to the starting point. Use the map to locate any of the remaining items on your top 10 that are reasonably close to this route. You can use these to fill in the time between your top two destinations and meals, but you can skip them if you decide to spend more time at your favorites or are delayed.

How to Honeymoon in Santorini, Greece

Honeymoon destinations don't get any more romantic than the island of Santorini in Greece. Made famous world-wide by such films as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Santorini conjures up images of bright white buildings set against the deep blue waters of the Aegean Sea. Be prepared for climbing at this honeymoon hot spot -- Santorini is hilly.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Select a method of transportation from Athens or nearby Piraeus. Olympic Airways provides flights every day from Athens to the Santorini airport. If you choose to go by boat, ferries run from the port city of Piraeus to Santorini twice a day. Buses meet the ferries to transport you to your destination on Santorini.
   • 2
     Research accommodation options on the island from a reliable source like a travel agent or a reputable travel guidebook. Look into apartments and villas with efficiency kitchens. Some areas are very quiet, suitable for a honeymoon with sunset views and easy access to the beach, while other are more exciting and draw crowds.

3 Book your accommodations a couple of months in advance, especially if you plan to stay at the height of the season. In the summer months of July and August, the island is very crowded. Print out the confirmation for your hotel reservation if you book online.

4

Check out restaurants in advance, and make some restaurant reservations from home if you are honeymooning in peak season.

5

Take along a list of attractions you may want to visit. Even on a honeymoon, it's fun to have an adventure like climbing to the ruins of ancient Thira where you will discover the city high on a precipice surrounded by the sea.

6

Look into some nearby hot spots for late night entertainment. Some locations like Fira offer all night discos and nightclubs. For a quieter, more romantic nighttime experience, seek out sophisticated restaurants with scenic water views.

7

Rent mountain bikes to explore the island.

Tips & Warnings

• The more research and planning you do at home, the less time you will have to spend making decisions and arrangements once you get to Santorini.
• Bring along a map of the island.
• Take plenty of film along to capture the scenic views, and each other.
• Make advance reservations for hotels and restaurants, especially at the height of the season.
• If you rent a mountain bike, check the brakes and steering before you set off, and then watch out for other drivers.

HOW TO PLAN A VACATION ON A BUDGET

A family vacation can be expensive these days. Gas prices are high. Air travel is not cheap. So how do you vacation on a budget? Just follow these travel planning tricks and you'll be able to go on more trips that cost less money than what you're paying now.
Instructions

1. • 1
     Vacation on a budget right in your home town. Unplug and turn off your phones. Visit museums and parks. Bring your own food and have a picnic. Go to a movie, or have a BBQ and invite the neighbors.
   • 2
     Save your money and take a road trip. Be aware that food and lodging costs often can be expensive. So if you're stressed before a vacation, you may become even more stressed after the vacation because of the big debt you've incurred. Only spend money you have and can afford to live without.
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   • 3
     Check the popular travel web sites on the Internet for specials on hotel rates, and for package deals involving lodging, airfare and/or car rentals.
   • 4
     Call the hotel you want to stay at directly and see if you can get an even better deal for your vacation on a budget.
   • 5
     Join airline frequent flyer programs to begin building up points redeemable at a later date for free airline tickets.
   • 6
     Book with a travel agency to save time and often money. (See Tips below for more on this.)
   • 7
     Secure lower rates by scheduling airline flights on Tuesday, Wednesdays or Thursdays; and/or late at night or early in the morning. Fly off-season; your destination will be quieter and more relaxing without the crowds.
   • 8
     Search for books and other travel tips on the Internet where you will find eBooks, publishers on budget travel, and websites that bid and barter with major airlines for canceled seats at a discount for you. (See Resources below.

Tips & Warnings

• If hotels, cars and out-of-the-way travel are involved, it may be wiser to use the services of a travel agency. That's because car rentals and hotels still give agencies bonuses; and the seasoned travel agent can give you tips and suggestions when travel adventures bring you to new and unknown places. Airlines stopped giving bonuses to agencies in the 1990s, so agencies do charge a fee. But in 2004 a travel industry auditor found that 93.6 percent of the time agencies found cheaper flights at an $80 average over individuals booking online. An article published in USA Today (07/27/06) on the cost savings of booking online versus using an agency concluded it's impossible to tell who is booking cheaper flights because airlines are constantly changing flights and prices practically by the minute.
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