Whether you're a seasoned veteran of overseas travel or a
bright-eyed newbie embarking on your first trip out of Singapore,
make sure you don't fall for these top 9 mistakes you should never
make while travelling abroad.
When
travelling in a foreign country, it's never a good idea to go
anywhere without identification and proof of your right to be
there, just in case. But that doesn't mean you should bring your
passport with you everywhere you go. Losing your passport or
getting it stolen, while not a disaster (your country's consulate
can help you get another one), is still a stressor and waste of
precious vacation time. Instead, consider carrying photocopies of
the important pages from your passport with you, and leave your
passport safely in your hotel room's safe deposit box.
It's
not unusual to feel a little more adventurous than usual when on
vacation in an exotic locale. But before you stick out your thumb
to catch a lift while backpacking through the wilderness, think
twice about whether you're casting reasonable caution to the winds.
It's generally just not safe to hitchhike in your home country, let
alone in a foreign country where you may be identified as an easy
target due to being a foreign tourist with few to no local ties and
little knowledge of the local geography or customs. This especially
applies if you're travelling solo.
When
in Rome, do as the Romans do. When travelling, be sensitive to the
possibility that certain topics or opinions may be quite
controversial or provocative in your host country, and refrain from
engaging locals in arguments. Law enforcement may not work the way
you're used to in Singapore, so it's best not to make any
assumptions or unnecessarily poke the bear. This advice is all the
more important to heed when you're around people whose filters or
inhibitions may have been lowered, for example if you're at a bar
where people have been drinking. The last thing you want is for an
argument to turn into a brawl. As a guest in their country, do your
best to respect local customs and taboos, and hold your tongue when
it's prudent to do so.
In
the age of crowdfunding, it's not uncommon these days to see people
popping up on our social media feeds begging for their friends and
family to pitch in to help cover some unforeseen expense they can't
afford - such as outrageous medical expenses or an emergency
flight back to Singapore after adventures abroad go awry. This may
be especially true for people who plan to engage in potentially
dangerous sports activities like skiing or scuba diving. If you
know there may be some level of risk during your trip, make sure
you buy travel insurancewhen travelling overseas to avoid
being forced to join their number.
This
tip doesn't just apply to millionaires. In many third-world
countries that double as popular holiday destinations, you're
already probably more well-off than the majority of the host
population. Tourists are already considered relatively easy targets
by local pickpockets in many countries, so it's a good idea to try
not to stick out any more than you already do by being discreet
with your wealth. In practice, this could look like not wearing
excessively flashy or expensive jewelry and refraining from making
apparent how much cash you're carrying in your wallet.
You
should always make sure you're properly vaccinated for any
infectious diseases that may be endemic to your destination country
when travelling abroad. You can find out which vaccinations are
recommended for your travel destination on websites such as
the Center for Disease
Control or by consulting your local physician. Depending
on your health insurance plan, vaccinations may seem a little bit
expensive given the relatively low risks you'll contract a disease,
especially for a short-term trip. But you'll thank yourself for
going ahead and biting the bullet if you do find yourself somewhere
malaria or yellow fever is having a resurgence.
Another consideration is that if you are planning to buy travel
insurance (hint: you should be), insurers often require that you
take the necessary reasonable and sensible precautions before and
during your travel to avoid taking on unnecessary risk. If you are
advised to get vaccinated before travelling somewhere and don't, an
insurer could justifiably find you negligent should you actually
get infected and refuse to pay out for your claim.
The
tap water may be safe to drink in Singapore, but assuming it's safe
in other places in the world is a great way to spend your entire
vacation recuperating from food poisoning in your hotel room. Keep
in mind that just because locals can safely imbibe the local tap
water without experiencing any issues does not necessarily mean
there are no risks for you. As a foreigner, you may not have
developed the same tolerance to, for example, bacteria in the local
water that locals may be inured to.
For a
quick glance at which places it's generally safe to drink the tap
water and where you're better off sticking to water bottles, check
out the following table:
Safe Tap
Water
8. Eat Near or at Major Tourist
Sites
For
the best experience sampling the local cuisine where you're
travelling, avoid going to restaurants at or near major tourist
traps. These restaurants, designed to ensnare and accommodate the
maximum number of tourists who may not want to stray off the beaten
path in an unfamiliar place, tend to be overpriced. Not only that,
they rarely feature the best local cuisine your host country has to
offer. Take the time before your trip to find out where the locals
like to eat for the most authentic dishes, even if it requires
ditching the well-trodden tourist footpaths to find. As an added
bonus, enjoy eating away from the crowds!
Another thing newbie travellers may not be aware of is the massive
rewards you can earn for spending money abroad with your credit
card. With a credit card tailored towards rewarding overseas spend
such as the Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Card, you can
earn 3 air miles for every S$1 spent overseas, which is one of the
highest mile awate for overseas spend on the market. Not only that,
credit cards often give you much better exchange rates than banks
or money changers. Avoid the notoriously terrible currency exchange
rates at the airport terminal entirely and just use your credit
card for the best bang for your buck. For more information about
this card and other great alternatives that help you get the most
out of your travel, check out our list of the best credit cards for avid travellers.
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