IIn the last few years, common sayings such as “I’m having a blast in Bali” or “I’m
getting bombed in Tunisia” have taken on a whole new meaning. The world is no
longer a safety free adventure. Even on our own turf we have been warned of possible terrorist attacks.
Disneyland the overpriced Magic Kingdom has even had a few suspicions of
the ghastly unknown.
SARS has literally brought Asian travel to a
halt. A trip to the Holy land doesn’t seem to be the smartest idea at present time.
Many Americans are snubbing France and Germany for pride related reasons.
Interior regions of Mexico are now possible kidnapping zones, as well as many areas
throughout Central and South America.
So where do we go and how
do we protect ourselves from the thug mentality festering worldwide? First of
all before I go any further let me say this: Leave your American flag bathing
suit at home. I have seen USA bathing apparel on the beaches in St. Martin,
St. John & Jamaica. Typically they are worn by a fortysomething either flabby,
pot bellied or shockingly white wannabe biker looking type couple. Believe me
people, the laughing you hear as you stroll by in your Uncle Sam duds is actually
being directed at you.
Besides protecting our lives we must also
think about protecting our health as well. I have passed on Travel Health Insurance
for every trip I have ever taken, although I am beginning to think otherwise.
While snorkeling in the Virgin Islands, a piece of coral sliced across my
ankle opening up a cut deep enough for stitches . With no insurance, I
had to make do with a large bandage, and now a nasty scar. If you are traveling
outside the US and get hurt, be prepared to break out the cash. Many doctors and hospitals will not deal with
credit cards and often your passport will be taken from you until you can pay up.
Because most people are much more active on vacation than during
their normal lives, it might be beneficial to seek some protection before heading
out One company offering medical travel insurance is Insure My Trip
(www.insuremytrip.com). They offer one time plans for as low as $20 and provide
medical and evacuation expenses if the need arises. Rarely does your
own medical plan offer you worldwide protection. Even if it does, most likely
the foreign doctor or medical clinic is going to want cash up front.
So
now where do you go and not end up returning in a box as checked luggage?
That is the question that is hard to determine. I think looking at the situation
statistically makes the most sense. Bali tourism is still reeling with rock
bottom prices currently being offered. With a government crack down on terrorism
and no more incidents against the tourist industry it seems like a pretty safe
low cost bet, but when you add the SARS scare into the mix it becomes a “no way
in hell” idea at the current time.
Thinking about a trip around Europe?
It might be a safe bet, at least over the skies since all the major European
airports are in 100% compliance as of January 1, 2003 to inspect every piece
of checked luggage for explosives. Once on the ground, you are on your own as to how safe your journey will be. Walking around in cool guy pants dropping
down your butt might not be a good idea. These type of pants leave your
wallet, with everything you are going to need for a successful problem free trip,
exposed to any thieving hand.
Various companies are now willing
to keep you updated (for a fee of course) on the events in the region you will
be traveling to in the near future. A great site that can be just as informative
and doesn’t cost anything is from the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs (www.travel.state.gov)
The way we travel is changing as well. Just recently the Transportation Safety
Association (www.tsa.dot.gov) began warning passengers not to
put food into checked luggage as items like chocolate and cheese can possibly register
false alarms on the new explosive detection devices. Before departing check
their website for up to date listings of what is allowed and what isn’t.
Prices are amazingly low during these turbulent times and I would
suggest just forging ahead with your plans although travel smart. I will leave
you a few tips to remember that might keep things running smoother.
If traveling abroad: Carry an International Cell Phone. Keep a color copy of
your passport separate from your real one. Carry a mini flashlight as you will
need it at least once. Don’t hold a map up in public for long periods of time
letting the world know you are lost. Rely on hotel -arranged transportation. Don’t
rely on ATM’s as your only source of cash. Keep the expensive jewelry at home.
Always have the addresses of your destinations written down. Many cabbies
have enough trouble with their own language so don’t expect them to understand
English.
And finally if traveling anywhere, try not to look like
a dork. Nothing looks stupider than the guy with shiny new Reeboks and creased
matching outfit. Blending in with the local culture will cause things to flow
much smoother. Having respect for the local people will most likely lead to
an anti-hostile and fun filled journey.
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