Planning

If “a penny saved is a penny earned,” now may be the perfect time for your trip around the world. Economic facts have intervened and made earning pennies more difficult. Luckily the dollar can still go a long way in many parts of the world, and saving pennies is just a plane trip away. This downturn may be the perfect time to explore the planet, especially the inexpensive parts, for less money than it costs to chill back at home. With a little luck the US economy will be on the upswing again when you return.

Budget travel may be the most exciting way to save money; After a two dollar bus ride up the Ganges you might find yourself dancing in the shimmering moonlight or facing a disgusting toilet in candle light. One dollar you spend next to the Mekong may buy you one of the best meals you have ever had or a night battling bed-bugs. For less money than it costs to buy strir-fry in the States you can spend a day on a Thai beach.

If you are interested, the following are the three basic steps.
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Riding the Italian railway system is like learning how to use hand grenades or trade stocks; if you can avoid the larger downsides in the beginning, you will be an expert in no time. Here are 5 tips to help you sidestep some of the worst problems.

4) Board and Disembark Swiftly

This Helps you Avoid:

Missing your train -or- Ending up in the wrong town

Explanation

In order to keep things moving, the trains stop for just long enough to let people jump on and off. Usually this means the train will be there for just a few minutes before heading on it’s way. At some of the smaller stations the train may only stop for 60 seconds.

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Truth be told, records show that there is notably less crime per person outside the United States than inside it. However, when traveling in a foreign place sometimes you still feel more vulnerable than a turkey on Halloween.

Creative Commons picture by nikan_gr.

Even if you start your journey by leaving the most dangerous place on the itinerary, knowing how to call for assistance in the local tongue can provide peace of mind. Perhaps there will be a police officer nearby. You could also just pull a Blanche Dubois and rely on the “tripping foot” of strangers. Very few crowds are friendly to pickpockets and muggers.

To help you feel a little bit more comfortable at your destination here are 16 translations for the term “Help, Thief” in 16 languages that Google translates into.

Danish

hjælp, tyv!

Czech

pomoc, zloděj!

Bulgarian

помогне, крадец!

Dutch

help, dief!

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When traveling now-a-days, carrying money is about as necessary as eating. Luckily people haven’t started charging for air yet.

In the previous SimplyLeave.com article we went over how to transport your money in such a way that it vanishes, now let’s look at three money-toting methods that encourage it’s persistence.

Creative Commons picture by infomatique.

3) Money Belt

Your crotch is pretty high on the list of “areas of your body that you instinctively protect.” Why not use your instincts to your advantage? When you carry money near your genitals, you will be surprised how fast you react to someone try to grab it.

Don’t use if:

You put ALL your money in there. It is embarrassing to have to root around in your crotch when you want to buy that candy bar in the airport. You can get arrested for that in some places.

Even beyond your pride, reach into your money belt all the time sacrifices one of it’s main advantages: that people don’t know you are keeping your money by the baby maker.

You are usually better off if you carry the things you will need frequently somewhere else.

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Having the only pint of ice cream on the bus tour of death valley is a rare situation. It is a circumstance where people want to steal a possession from you that isn’t money. For all those other times here is a look at the three least secure ways to carry your money. [The three most secure ways to travel with money is the next article.]

Creative Commons picture by gruntzooki.

3) In An Open Purse, in Cash

A big wad of cash loosely stuck in an open purse is like a big red button with a sign that says “do not push.” Previously honest people will be tempted. Those who have spent the last few years working at a boring job will wonder if they could get away from it. Even a devout monk would get a rush of adrenaline looking at it. It is just so easy.

Extra points if:

You only hold one side of the purse, so gravity seductively pulls it open.
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It is a hassle to travel with pepper spray. You are not allowed to have it in your carry-on or to take it into many countries. However, flashlights are rarely considered contraband and can be bright enough to temporarily disorient an attacker while you run away.

Creative Commons picture by gadl.

If you plan on camping in an area with bears, or other almost-as-tough-as-chuck-norris animals, pepper spray can be a nice “just in case” tool. It can also be used for self defense when you don’t trust all the humans around you. That said, it is illegal in places like Canada, Belgum, Hong Kong, an many others. Even in locales where it is legal, it can be a bad travel companion.

The solution: flashlights. Airport security usually doesn’t care about them and they can be bright enough to temporarily disorient an assailant. Read the rest of this entry »

Creative Commons picture by Jasoon.

Phillip Smith was anticipating the fun and confusion of his next vacation so much that he had to cancel it. “I just got too freaked out” he explained. Many look forward to their vacation for months. Sometimes this leads to an increased level of excitement and preparation. Other times it is slow descent into panic.

“In retrospect it seems like it was the wrong decision” Philip said, “but the more I read about the possible pitfalls and adventures the more it seemed out of my league.” Philip was planning a trip to San Francisco with his wife of 12 years. They had the needed money. They had arrangements with airlines and hotels. However, he wasn’t sure he had the right bag or if he could properly avoid being mugged. “If I was mugged, how would I respond?” Philip wondered if he should go to the police, fight back, yell “thief” really loudly, or just pull out his sidearm and start shooting.

“I’ve seen those movies where the police turn out to be accomplices of the criminal. I wouldn’t be smart enough to figure that out. I could lose everything!”