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Visiting a foreign country? Travel tips!Apr 10 '00 Write an essay on this topic.These are simple tips based on my summer in Europe (mainly Norway). Most are lessons learned! I felt this was the best (and seemingly the only place) to put this since I am mainly pointing it toward the young traveler (college age). I was 17, in college, and naive as can be and would have LOVED for someone to point out a few things. Just BE CAREFUL above all else! Don't get caught up in the romance of a foreign country and quit college either ;) Tip #1 Don't break the law. Foreign countries are not the best or fairest when it comes to foreigners breaking laws. Shall we mention the cane whipping one boy got while overseas breaking the law? If you do have the urge to break the law then I have to say Norway has the nicest police officers. Tip #2 (especially for females) Travel in at least pairs..preferably bigger groups. There is safety in numbers. A little tip inside this tip is to pick a responsible partner to travel with. If you have a partner who just parties parties parties then you're going to hate your trip. Who likes to spend their whole vacation making sure a friend is not going to run off the wrong guy? Tip #3 (mainly for females) Don't trust foreign men just because they're nice. If you're from a different country you're an immediate Goddess in many European countries. You can use this status to get free drinks and hospitality but know when to stop! There is nothing more tempting to a man than a drunk woman in a strange country. Sorry to those foreign men I'm referring to ;) I know not all of you are horrid flesh wanting guys...but this is just a warning to watch out for those that are! Norway is chock full of great, respectable males. For every jerk I met I also met 10 gentlemen ready to kill for my honor! Tip #4 Barter is best. American (or Canadian or whatever country you're from) items are highly treasured in other countries. Especially cigarettes. Not promoting smoking but they are good barter material. If you're backpacking through Europe these will help you get food or a lift somewhere. Also chocolate bars (which aren't so practical to haul around), cheap watches (buy a Winnie the Pooh watch at Wal-Mart for $10 and you could get a couch to crash on for the night), and compact discs (super expensive overseas). Tip #5 Don't carry a lot of valuables. If you'd like to disappear forever in any foreign country (and we're not talking just forgetting about your home country and living the easy life..we're talking dead) then wear a lot of jewelry and flash your money around. If you'd like to make it back home at the end of your vacation and tell about your adventures follow these precautions: If you have to wear jewelry make it scarce. Leave your treasured jewelry at home..would you really want to lose the pendant your family has had for generations? Buy cheap costume jewelry (some of these look like real stuff) for the parties or nights out. Don't flash your money. Keep your money dispersed through out your baggage and body. When you pay for something keep your money low and hide it with your body. Tip #6 Don't look like a tourist unless you want to attract the wrong kind of people. When in Rome so to speak. If you come into a town and look to GQ dress down or you'll attract the losers who'll suck you dry and leave you crying for mama. Tip #7 Make a list of where you're going to be and the approximate time you're going to arrive and leave and give it to family. Looking for you in another country is much like looking for a needle in a haystack. Tip #8 Set up a time when you're going to call. Or if you feel to restrictive with calling every night then drop a postcard in the mail every day with a short layout of what's going on and where you're headed. It can save your life. Tip #9 If you want to travel light but are going to be gone a while set up drop spots to have things shipped. Practically every town has a post office that will hold packages for a few days. You'll be thankful for the bar of soap that was sent along with the chocolate chip cookies if you've been backpacking. Tip #10 If your gut tells you you're getting into a bad situation you're probably right. Immediately phone a relative or friend and tell them where you are and what's going on. I know this seems like a pointless tip but if you were to disappear that little phone call could be your lifesaver. Have fun but keep safe. You want this to be a trip you'll always remember and not one you struggle to forget!!  |
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