Vacation Travel Truths

Crime Abroad; What The Ads Won't Tell You

First, and foremost, it is highly likely that your vacation destination has a significantly lower crime rate than most urban areas of the US. Your travel consultant will discuss any concerns you may have about ports or stops on your specific itinerary. There are some general guidelines we would like to share with you:

01 – Do not wear expensive jewelry unless you are attending a specific event where it would be appropriate. Thieves pick their victims most often on the basis of jewelry and cash displayed.

02 – Do not call attention to yourself as an American tourist. Do not dress, like so many American tourists, as though you are a member of the Polyester Golf and Country Club. Do not wear logo shirts or caps.

03 – To avoid carrying large amounts of cash, change traveler’s checks only when needed.

04 – Pickpockets are the major crime threat in many parts of Europe. Be prepared. Watch out for distractions like small children who come up to you or strangers who stop you to ask for directions.

05 – Make absolutely certain that you know which areas are to be avoided at night. Ask your hotel Concierge for specifics.

A Word Or Two About Hotels

• We believe that hotel security is a major reason to select one property over another. Moderately-priced hotels often depend on tour groups, tour groups from many countries where 1:00am is dinner time rather than bed time. If you are going to splurge on any aspect of your vacation, we recommend splurging on your choice of hotel.
• Mini-bars are rip-offs. You have a refrigerator in your room in the form of a minibar. You are entitled to have the hotel empty your minibar. We urge you to do so at check-in.
• The single dirtiest item in the average hotel room is the television channel changer. Bring anti-bacterial wipes to use on frequently touched hotel items in your room.
• Corner rooms are often larger than standard rooms and have windows on two sides.
• High floors in hotels offer wonderful views but they are beyond the reach of fire truck escape ladders.
• Yes, what you hear about hotel blankets is true. Remove them before retiring.

The truth is that we have seen hundreds of vacations changed from ordinary to truly memorable by upgrading hotels. We think that the biggest mistake that consumers make is booking an “underclass” hotel abroad. Yes, there are small, wonderful hotels with character. But those hotels are so rare, that the chances are they appear in several guidebooks in numerous countries. Travel reality dictates that you book a higher class of hotel then you may think necessary.

State Department Warnings

You know that the press can be alarmist. But it is also true that some countries have successfully kept crime stories out of the mainstream press through the efforts of their tourist board.

State Department warnings usually concern a specific area. Certain highways in certain Mexican provinces, for example, are prone to banditry. There has been a State Department warning about travel to Kingston, Jamaica for more than a decade, but other parts of Jamaica are deemed safe.

Spain has Europe’s highest rate of stolen cars, but we would never recommend that you fail to visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao or walk the Ramblas in Barcelona. A visit to Muslim Istanbul is statistically safer than a visit to Baltimore. The same may be said for Morocco, a beautiful country currently enjoying unprecedented numbers of European visitors.

The "Ugly American" Syndrome: A Few Observations

If you are not a frequent traveler abroad you may encounter behavior that you consider rude. Americans are simply louder and more outgoing than just about any other national group so others, particularly northern Europeans and Asians, often appear to be stand-offish and withdrawn. This is, almost always, more a matter of culture and tradition than any negative feelings reserved for Americans.

Islanders in the Caribbean see so many cruise ship visitors that they often seem unfriendly.

Cultural differences are sometimes misinterpreted as rudeness. The French, for instance, think that people who smile a lot are mentally deficient. That is how the word "imbecile" came into usage. But if you tell a French citizen that you have a problem, you will find that they will often go out of their way to help you. It turns out that the French love to problem solve.

But it is true that Anti-Americanism exists and it appears to be growing at the same time that young people around-the-globe are emulating aspects of our pop culture. As you begin your journey outside the U.S. we would like to share some observations:

01 – Some tourists know little of the history/culture of the countries they are visiting. Tour guides spread stories of our ignorance of geography, world history, and contemporary affairs.

02 – Language. This is a never-ending problem for American visitors abroad. The perception is that our attitude is "Speak English or I won't patronize you." Most European nations require bi-lingualism in their schools. In many Swiss Cantons, for example, students are expected to learn three languages with fluency. Dutch and Belgium schools also share this expectation. Asians, required to study English in their schools, cannot understand why visitors to their country don’t even know a few rudimentary words in the local language.

03 – Dress. We strongly recommend that American visitors abroad leave shorts at home. Overdress. Women should wear fashionable scarves, men should consider lightweight slacks. Do not bring your baseball cap unless you are planning on attending an athletic event. Wear shoes instead of sneakers. Europeans and Asians are particularly "style-conscious" and you will often be treated with the level of respect that your clothing dictates.

"Americans, especially when traveling, tend to regard clothing as little more than comfort and
body cover; the French and the Italians, to name a few, feel that clothes
are an editorial by you and about you."
-Gary Walther

Despite everything, all the warnings, and all the recent events, it is likely that you will be safer on vacation then you would be, statistically speaking, if you stayed at home. So make the most of it and forgive us for our cautions.