If only we could find a “portable travel safe” … hmmm …

The Best Portable Travel Safe?

So when I stumbled upon Pacsafe’s Travelsafe line of portable travel safes, I was overjoyed. The GII portable safe is sold in 5L or 12L varieties. While the smaller, more portable 5L caught our eye at first, we eventually settled on the 12L and we’re so glad we did.

The Skinny

So, what is the Travelsafe 12L? In Pacsafe’s words, they describe this portable travel safe like so:

The soft brushed lining and 360 eXomesh locking system of the Travelsafe 12L portable safe protect your gear around the lock. Lock it closed and secure to fixtures in your hotel room, by the pool, in a car or in-flight.

The Traveler’s Take

The Travelsafe portable safes are made with the same eXomesh design as most of Pacsafe’s goods. It’s essentially a steel webbing woven into the lining of the fabric that ensures no one will be able to “crack” it. The bag itself is virtually impenetrable — it takes much more than a pair of scissors or cutters. No opportunity thief (which is what most thieves are) is going to be packing the necessary equipment to cut into the Travelsafe.

The Travelsafe accepts most standard TSA-approved locks and “deploying” it is simple. Stuff your valuables inside, cinch the top down as tight as possible, secure the included cable around something that would be virtually impossible to steal or break, and lock the cable to itself. The entire process takes less than a minute.

For securing it in our truck, we like to use the U-brackets that are visible once folding the rear seats down flat. These are welded to the truck’s frame, so they’re virtually unbreakable. In a hotel room, any sturdy piece of furniture will do (a strong headboard, armoire, etc.) or my personal preference is to use the pipes under the bathroom sink. No thief in their right mind is going to pull too hard on these to try to steal your gear. It’s just not worth the potential mess.

We’ve previously tried and loved Pacsafe’s secure luggage and camera bags. But, the Travelsafe 12L is an ideal insert for an existing bag or backpack. Or, it can serve as a standalone portable safe to keep safeguard goods in your car or hotel room.

Sizewise, it’s capacious enough (20.5 x 13.8 x 0.5 inches to be exact) for a 15-inch Macbook. So, for our purposes, it’s more than large enough to fit our passports, two ultrabook laptops, wallets, and maybe some digital camera equipment to boot. It’s also super lightweight (around 1.5 pounds) and packs down quite flat — shoved into my carry-on, I hardly even notice it’s there.

Other secondary, smartly designed features include carrying handles and an offset/lightly colored, soft brushed Polyester interior to protect and make finding your goods even easier.

Pricing & Availability

Available now in black for around $90 USD directly from Pacsafe or even less from Amazon.

The Bottom Line

Nearly $90 USD may seem pricey for what appears to be “a foam bag with some built-in security wiring.” But, considering Pacsafe’s entire line — including the Travelsafe 12L — is damn near bulletproof, we think it’s well worth it for the peace of mind.

The post This Clever Portable Travel Safe Keeps Your Valuables Safe on the Road appeared first on Vagabondish.

After two weeks in the country, talking with plenty of locals and doing way more research than I should have about our trip … here’s everything women (solo and otherwise) need to know — from clothing to customs to safety — for an unforgettable trip to the land of the Pharaohs.

Solo Female Travelers: What to Pack for Egypt

Clothing

Egypt is more sand than streets, so you’ll want to pack for spending a week in the desert, even if you plan on being mostly in Cairo or any of the other cities. Deserts get insufferably hot during the day and surprisingly cold at night, meaning layering is key.

Pack lightweight items that are either moisture-wicking or 100% cotton or linen. (This goes double for your underwear!) I opted for linen pants and cotton shirts over cotton tank tops.

For the chilly nights, I wore jeans and cotton sweaters with open weaves for breathability. I went for versatility, packing items that I could hike in during the day and dress up for fancy dinners at night.

I’m the queen of flip-flops so it was hard to be without them, but it’s best to leave them at home for this trip. Everything in Egypt is dusty and open-toe shoes mean you’ll be left with filthy feet at the end of each day.

I used a pair of no-name, cushion walk slip-ons. They ended up being perfect — the rubber soles let me climb a desert mountain and comfortably walk through sand dunes. The cushion walk kept my feet comfy even on the longest of days, and the canvas top breathed easy, allowing my feet to stay cool, and more importantly dry, on the hottest days (which is a miracle because I have the sweatiest feet on the planet!).

Best Accessories for Egypt

A scarf is the most important item you can bring, period. (OK, after your passport …) When visiting religious buildings, women are required to cover their hair. Scarves are also key for desert excursions, protecting your hair and mouth from the dust. Along with the scarf, be sure to pack plenty of bobby pins. They aren’t just great for keeping flyaways out of your face, they’ll help hold your scarf securely in place all day.

For days when you’ll be exploring the cities or ancient temples, you can opt for a sun hat instead of a scarf. Of course, you’ll lose the cooling, moisture-wicking effect by not wearing a scarf, so sun hats are better options for cooler days.

Sunglasses are the second most important accessory. Not only is Egypt a sunny country (obviously) in general, but the glare of the sun bouncing off the sand dunes can be absolutely blinding.

SPF Lip Balm & Makeup

There are few things more miserable than dry, cracked lips from too much desert sun. Be sure to always have a conditioning lip balm that contains SPF and reapply often.

Along with the lip balm, try a loose powder foundation that contains SPF. I normally don’t wear makeup on days when I’ll be hiking, but the SPF powder makeup felt much cooler on my face (it was probably psychological, but I definitely prefered it over caking on sunscreen!).

The Perfect Purse

For me, one of the biggest issues when traveling is knowing which bag to bring. I always pack as light as possible and limit myself to either a backpack or a purse. Backpacks for adventurous excursions and purses for staying in cities. This trip was a little different though. It combined both city exploration and desert adventures.

One week before we left, I got my Hedgren Carina purse and it was a game-changer. It has a million compartments like my backpack but it is also a stylish cross-body that’s perfect for going out on the town. I fell in love and it’s officially the only bag I’ll ever travel with from now on.

Always Carry

My list of “always carry” items for female travelers tends to stay the same for every trip, but there were a few extras I made sure to have on hand for Egypt. Obviously, you should always keep your passport on you. Try to keep it in a spot that is not easily accessed by pickpockets, like an interior pocket.

After a traumatic road trip emergency years ago, I learned to always have toilet paper with me, no matter where I go. The majority of public restrooms do not stock TP. You’ll need to get it from a bathroom attendant so be sure to always have small Egyptian coins on hand for tipping. Actually, you’ll be doing a lot of tipping in Egypt, so it’s good to keep a supply of small bills on you as well.

But along with the emergency TP, I also carry a small bottle of Poo-Pouri spray. It’s not just for covering your own embarrassing odors, it works great at covering up existing odors in the questionable restrooms you’ll encounter. Egypt is one of the countries where you shouldn’t flush the toilet paper so odors definitely tend to linger. Poo-Pouri has saved my nose on more than one occasion.

And, of course, I always have hand sanitizer for cleaning up when I’m done. A few of the public restrooms didn’t have running water so my sanitizing gel was the only option.

The drinking water is questionable in Egypt. Only drink bottled water (or carry a SteriPen UV Water Purifier which we love) and only buy bottles that have the plastic seal on the cap. You should also make sure you have a supply of preventive Cipro from your doctor. I got horribly sick for a few days and had to rely on an antibiotic that is not approved in the US. It all turned out fine for me but Egypt does not regulate antibiotics the way we do in the States, so it’s best to bring a reliable stash of medicine from home.

Egyptian Customs

Egypt is a mostly Islamic country, but the guidelines for women aren’t nearly as strict as I imagined they would be. I did a lot of research prior to heading there. I wanted to be sure I was respecting their culture but nothing I found online seemed to tell me exactly what to expect.

After speaking extensively with men on their customs and how women are viewed: they are a strict society that is working to be much more open-minded. Women don’t have to walk behind their husbands, but some still do. They don’t have to cover their hair and faces, but some still do. They can go to school and work, but some still chose to stay home.

What does that mean for tourists? It means you won’t be harassed on the streets for walking next to your boyfriend or wearing a tank top. It means you don’t have to fear for your safety if you wear a skirt. I was told prior to going that I should always keep my shoulders and knees covered but once I arrived I saw that rule doesn’t seem to apply anymore.

Your best bet is to travel the country with a tour guide and they will let you know if you should cover up depending on how “touristy” each town is. In Cairo and Aswan, I covered up while in Hurghada I walked around the resort in my bathing suit.

As far as public displays of affection, I recommend keeping them to a minimum. While Mike and I held hands in public, we never kissed. I also never hugged my tour guides (… and I’m a hugger, folks — I hug everyone!). When posing for photos, my male tour guides always made sure to keep space between us and not get too close.

You’ll notice that men are very affectionate with each other in public, often walking arm in arm and kissing on the cheek. You’ll hear them call each other “habibi” (“my darling”). But men and women rarely have physical contact with one another in public. Of course, there’s no law saying you can’t smooch your sweetie at the pyramids, but the respectful thing to do is to save it for the privacy of your hotel room.

Safety in Egypt

Despite the horrific attacks against Coptic Christians in early 2017, statistically, Egypt is very safe, especially for tourists. The country’s main source of revenue was always, and continues to be, tourism. After the revolution in 2011, tourism dropped drastically which severely impacted their economy. Egyptians know that tourists are their bread and butter and they want to do everything in their power to make sure the industry picks up again.

The Ministry of Tourism tracks the location and movement of many visiting tourists, often providing police escorts for day excursions to remote sites like Valley of the Whales and Abu Simbel. I never once felt “unsafe” while traveling the country and often the policemen who accompanied us would check on me to be sure I felt safe in crowded areas.

Egypt is no different than any other foreign country you might visit. Be aware of the United States travel advisories (although take them with a grain of salt) and always be alert when you are in an unfamiliar area.

Do’s & Don’ts for Traveling to Egypt

And finally some Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind before you embark on your own trip to Egypt:

Do: Research before you go

A week before I was set to leave for Cairo, the bombings in Alexandria and Tanta happened. Rather than freaking out and canceling the trip, I hopped onto forums to talk to actual Egyptians living in Egypt to get their thoughts. All assured me that the country is safe and security had been greatly increased. The only advice I was given was to be cautious around the Coptic Churches. Since that wasn’t in my itinerary anyway, I felt reassured that I would be perfectly safe on my trip – and I was!

Don’t: Worry

Egypt isn’t only safe, but the people are some of the friendliest I’ve ever met. I came down with a bad stomach bug one day into our three-day Nile cruise. Not only did our tour guide call the room to check on me daily, but the head chef of the ship heard I was sick and sent me a fruit platter.

Do: Try the local cuisine

Now is the time to be adventurous and try *everything*. Each region of Egypt has its own unique specialty dishes. In Cairo we sampled traditional coffee and koshari; in Aswan, we feasted on an amazing Nubian lunch; and in the desert outside of Hurghada, we dined with the Bedouins.

Every meal featured new foods and I happily dug right in, devouring everything in sight! And without any guilt too! Egyptian food is super healthy, featuring mainly vegetables and lean meats.

Don’t: Go alone

Just like in any foreign country with crowded marketplaces, you should have a companion with you, even if it’s just your tour guide. In the tourist towns, there are touts that will harass and follow you trying to get you to buy from them. Most are polite and will leave you alone if you wave your hand with a dismissive “la shukran” (“No thank you.”).

However, there are pickpockets in some areas so you need to be alert. Traveling with a companion or a group makes you less likely to be a victim of harassment or petty crime.

Do: Use a tour company

Traveling from town to town in Egypt can be a logistical nightmare for solo travelers. The Ministry of Tourism must be kept informed of the movements of tourists traveling through the country. This means constant check-ins and often an armed police escort — something that even us well-traveled folks at Vagabondish just don’t want to have to deal with setting up on our own.

By using a tour company like Lady Egypt Tours, did all of the important details were taken care of for us and we were able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip.

Don’t: Kiss the baby goats

… no matter how cute they are! My stomach bug most likely was from drinking unfiltered water. But I also kissed a baby goat that day, sooo … we can’t actually be sure what got me sick. Just learn from my mistake and leave the livestock alone =)

The post The Adventurous Gal’s Travel Guide to Staying Safe, Sane, and Comfortable in Egypt appeared first on Vagabondish.

Volcan Tajumulco is 13,845 feet high – measured by topographical prominence, it’s the 24th highest mountain climb on earth. Despite that, it has a reputation as a fairly easy hike for folks in good physical shape. No crampons or belaying, just me, three friends and a guide from Quetzaltrekkers.

But of course it wouldn’t work out that simple. As we awoke from our questionably hygienic berths we were met by the pale-faced young Minnesotan guide we’d met last night.

“There’s a problem,” said he.

“Oh no there isn’t,” said my girlfriend, Magenta. “We’re going to climb that volcano today and everything is just. Fine.”

Firm as she was, the guide wasn’t having it.

“There was a bandit attack on the mountain yesterday. Some hikers were held at gunpoint for an hour or two, they lost their cameras and cash … the women with them were threatened. I just don’t feel comfortable going up there.”

So we struck a deal with our guide. He’d refund most of our money, save a little we used to rent some equipment, and we’d set out to hike Tajumulco on our own. He scrawled out a crude map on the back of a brochure and, just like that, we were off to climb Bandit Mountain.

© Feliciano Guimarães

When I tell that story to my friends and family members they either look shocked or angry. They don’t understand that risk is often a necessary component of exploration. Unless you’re a little unsure or a little threatened, any trip you take is unlikely to have a deep and lasting impact on your psyche.

But, of course, there’s a fine line between healthy risk-taking and a death wish. Here’s a short primer on walking that line:

#1: Don’t Look Like a Victim

In the field of economics, there’s something called Rational Choice Theory (PDF) which states the vast majority of humans are rational actors. We consider the costs and benefits of an action before taking it to ensure the former doesn’t outweigh the latter.

This theory holds as true with customers in a supermarket as it does with criminals. Your average robber or bandito wants to expend his energy on targets he knows are high value … and unlikely to fight back.

Keeping this in mind, we see that the path to avoiding violence is twofold. Don’t look like you are worth robbing while simultaneously looking like you can mess up anyone who tries. That second part can be achieved by being big and imposing, visibly armed, or simply traveling in a large group wherever you go.

My friends and I hid our cameras deep in our bags. We left our electronics locked up at the hostel and were all strapped with enormous machetes and a handful of tomahawks. We showed no signs of wealth and we looked like trouble. Comparing us to a gaggle of tourists flashing big cameras and MP3 players, it’s clear who the profitable target would be.

#2: Always Have a Plan

I know a lady who makes a point of never going out at night in a strange town without a sealed bottle of wine in her hands. It’s innocuous enough that no one will question it, useful at any destination she might find herself, and an effective tool for immediate self-defense. Few people are in the mood to give chase after taking a wine bottle to the face.

Obviously, being “armed” is the smallest aspect of any effective harm avoidance plan. It’s more crucial to be aware of your surroundings and always know the fastest way to get back to your ‘home base’.

And don’t think geographic know-how is all you need. If you are traveling somewhere potentially dangerous, pay careful attention to your clothing. Women, don’t wear high heels or anything that will impede your running. Men, don’t make that rookie traveler’s mistake and carry so much gear that you can barely break a shuffle with your pack on.

Not a place to run into a mugger © Nagarjun Kandukuru

#3: Bring a Decoy

A bulging wallet or a thick roll of cash is the universal sign for “rob me blind, please”. If possible, keep two wallets at all times: one with your crucial ID, your cards and the bulk of the cash. The other should have no less than $20 but no more than $50 in it. If you have an expired card or two, put it in there as well.

Making purchases with this “decoy” wallet won’t arouse undue attention or make you look like a desirable target. And, if you are accosted, it means you have something you can give the robber without much headache for yourself.

#4: Don’t Get Hammered

Honestly, I love to get pissed. One of my favorite aspects of world travel is the opportunity to get inebriated in new ways, in new places surrounded by new people.

But there’s a difference between pulling up the covers and getting three sheets to the wind. Drunk people are considered an ideal target by robbers. Boozehounds are famously terrible at paying attention to the world, which makes them easy to ambush and easier still to scare into compliance.

So if you’re going to drink in a new and (slightly scary) town, make sure you walk home sober enough that you’d trust yourself to drive … or travel with a group of people. And if you do feel the urge to tie too many on, remember: that last shot could end up costing you a wallet, a smartphone, or even something much more valuable.

Cafe, Iran © Shahram Sharif

#5: Conflict Avoidance Beats Conflict 100% of the Time

So, back to my volcano adventure. We were an hour into our ascent when we met up with the folks I suspect were the banditos our guide was so frightened of. They were six men, with no tools, huddled around a house that had been gutted by fire some time ago.

As we approached, one of them came towards us and attempted to get us to sign a log book. He claimed to be a sort of park ranger on official Guatemalan business. I doubted this as his “log book” was the sort a waitress might use to keep track of tips and receipts. His lack of a uniform and the stares from his compatriots might have had something to do with my doubt.

He wanted us to pay a small fee – a pittance, but the fee wasn’t the point. This guy was hoping one of us would flash a wad of cash and prove we were worth robbing.

So we refused to pay, and explained to him that we’d heard the volcano was infested with bandits and opted not to bring any money. We were polite and firm, but we refused to put ourselves in a position of vulnerability. And, as a result, we passed onto the volcano without incident. Conflict avoidance is always easier than conflict.

The post Travel Smarter: 5 Ways to Stay Safe in a Dangerous Place appeared first on Vagabondish.

Swann’s latest product line is a series of Plug & Play security cameras that are inexpensive, easy-to-setup and feature-rich. The ADS-445 SwannEye HD Pan & Tilt All-in-One IP Network Camera (their marketing department is a bit wordy … but it’s certainly accurate) offers a long list of features. The most important for travelers include:

• Record and save 720p HD video and 1280 x 720 HD pictures
• Memory card slots (MicroSD for the Plug & Play and SD for the Pan & Tilt) so recordings can easily be transferred to computers or other devices
• Images and video can be saved directly to your smartphone or tablet via the SwannEye HD™ app
• The 350 degree horizontal and 100 degree vertical motion of the Pan & Tilt camera can be remotely controlled by your smartphone or tablet via the SwannEye HD™ app

For remote viewing from anywhere in the world with an internet connection, the free SwannEye HD app allows users to live stream or view recorded videos/photos from their camera back home.

There’s also an option to enable the SwannEye app to send an e-mail notification when motion is detected by the cameras.

Lastly, straight out of the box, syncing the camera with your smartphone or tablet is super easy and network-free with a unique QR code that comes with each system. Simply plug in the power cable, scan the code and go.

Pricing + Availability

Available now for around $180 (USD) from B&H Photo and other online retailers.

The post SwannEye HD Pan & Tilt Security Camera Keeps an Eye on Your Home While You’re Away appeared first on Vagabondish.

Overall, I’ve always thought that “acting local” is the best way to go when you’re out and about in a new location. Blending in certainly has its advantages, particularly if you’re a seasoned traveler.

One thing you must remember is that acting too local can also pose some dangers. With that in mind, I offer these eight tips for keeping safe while traveling:

#1: Doing “Local” the Right Way

Study your maps and walk like you know where you’re going, don’t flip out your GPS or your map in the middle of the street. Dress like the locals and never walk around with your camera around your neck. Major cultural differences can make it hard to “fit in” but it’s all in the mood and the vibe.

© zoetnet

#2: On Laws + Etiquette

Although locals don’t really follow the law to the letter, make sure you know the basics on driving, smoking, religion, drinking, dress code, etc. Also, when visiting an exotic culture you can easily stand out by not knowing simple daily traditions or etiquette.

#3: Don’t Be a Target

Travelers are easy targets because they always carry money, they stand out in a crowd, and they are often blissfully unaware of the dangers around them. Find out beforehand where the seedy parts of town are and avoid them. There is safety in numbers so never walk alone at night, but don’t over-trust the crowds either.

If you see a group of beautiful women heading towards you ”¦ cross the street! Same goes for kids as sadly a friendly bunch of children can quickly do away with your wallet. Stay alert and don’t allow yourself to get distracted.

The Streets of Gastown, Vancouver © Kenny Louie (kennymatic)

#4: Watch Your Valuables

Never carry around your passport but do make sure you have a copy on you at all times. Don’t be fooled by locals that wear expensive jewelry, carry laptops or flip out their smartphones in public. Your laptop is probably your most valuable item when you travel, don’t take it out in public and always carry it in a normal backpack or bag other than a computer bag.

#5: Pickpocketing

Pickpocketing is everywhere! Do your best to use plastic, and if you have cash, never count or skim through it in public.

Ladies, never place your bag behind your chair, on the floor or any other place out of your sight. Use a bag that straps across your body as there’s less of a chance that someone will snatch it off you or pick at your backpack whilst you’re walking.

Gents, don’t carry your wallet in your back pocket ”¦ that just screams “take me” when you’re walking around a city.

Pickpocket © AntoineMeu

#6: On the Road

In many countries the locals are extremely friendly to travelers. Although this is one of the greatest things about traveling, safety must always be on your mind. Be cautious about people who approach you if you have car trouble and don’t pick up hitchhikers. Trust your instincts, never get out of your car or open your window if your gut tells you not to. When grabbing a taxi, always make sure it’s “official” and have them turn on the meter. Cab drivers can tell you’re not a local no matter how hard you try.

#7: Food + Drink

Not all safety precautions are theft related when it comes to travel. Do your best to learn about the foods of the country you will be visiting, if you suffer of allergies make sure you know what you’re eating. It’s great to try new foods and even exotic tastes, don’t be shy to ask what it is before you dig in. When it comes to drink, not all countries have clean tap water, always ask before you take a sip out of that faucet. Booze is a fun part of being in a new city or country, keeping an eye on your drink is something you must do no matter where you are. Also, avoid getting drunk in an odd town, especially if you’re there alone.

#8: When Heading Outdoors …

Beaches are always a popular destination but, before you dip in, ask the locals about currents, tides and potential dangers such as sea yarns, jellyfish sharks or even crocodiles. Same goes for rivers and even lakes, don’t be shy to blow your “local” cover to ask! Look out for anything that bites – some mosquitoes and exotic bugs can be pretty nasty and carry diseases.

The Bottom Line

Information is power, the more you research the destination you’re about to visit, the more you can blend in as a “local”. Many tourist boards and government websites offer safety tips about their country. Check forums, social media or books as there are many options available for you to read up on all there is to know about your destination’s culture, traditions and safety issues.

The post When Local Gets “Too Local”: 8 Tips for Keeping Safe While Traveling appeared first on Vagabondish.

French police have arrested a group of Eastern European pickpockets targeting mainly Asian tourists outside of Paris’ most famous monuments. Petty theft is a long-standing problem in Paris, but in recent months it has been especially bad. The situation gained attention after employee strikes this spring and after China demanded the French government work harder to protect its citizens.

The gang was sophisticated, dressing like tourists with cameras around their necks and always paying entrance fees. They worked at Louvre, the Musee d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower and the Chateau de Versailles, reports The Telegraph. Their operation brought in about 2,000 euros a day. Asians were reportedly targeted because they are known for carrying large amounts of cash on them. The group has had such wild success since most of the thefts in Paris go unreported due to language barriers and time restrictions.

Though no details have been released on how the thieves were finally caught, police are warning tourists to continue with caution; more pickpocketers are still working the areas. So embrace your cross-body bags and hang on to your iPhones, people.

The post The Louvre is Slightly Safer After Recent Arrests appeared first on Vagabondish.

#1: Taxi Meter Scams

Like most people who travel at all, I have been ripped off by unscrupulous taxi drivers. I flew into Istanbul late one evening, and took a train from the airport to the tram which would take me to where I needed to go. The tram had stopped for the night, so I decided to share a taxi with two Scottish tourists who were staying near where I was. We hailed a taxi which took us to where we wanted to go. When it came to paying, however, the taxi driver showed me the meter, which demanded 28,000,000 old Turkish lira (28 new Turkish lira, or about $19). In fact, the first “2” was the number of the tariff, which was at night, and had nothing to do with the fare, so we only owed the driver 8,000,000 old Turkish lira (8 new Turkish lira ($5)).

His swindling did not end there, however. I gave him a 50 lira note, which he replaced when I was not looking with a 5 lira note, and he pretended that I still owed him 23 lira. It was not the most pleasant introduction to Istanbul!

Here are three common ways for taxi drivers to rip travellers off:

• Breaking the meter. Taxi drivers in poorer countries will often only announce that the meter is broken at the end of a journey, and take the risk that the tourist will refuse to pay.
• Changing the meter. One of the most common scams, and one of the most difficult to spot, is when the taxi driver simply changes the settings on the meter, so that it shows the higher night-time fare for day-time journeys.
• Fiddling the meter. The taxi driver can often change the rate at which the meter runs by fiddling with the meter itself, so that, instead of charging a fixed sum per kilometre, it will charge the same fixed sum per five hundred meters.

© Paul Stevenson

#2: Gassings on Overnight Trains

Sleeping travellers on public transport are vulnerable to anybody with no scruples and an eye on their property. A scam which has been reported on trains in Eastern Europe, Thailand and Italy, runs as follows:

1. The criminal (or criminals) open the door slightly and feeds a tube attached to a cylinder of anaesthetic gas into the compartment.
2. They turn the gas on, knocking the travellers out.
3. They open the compartment door and rob their victims of whatever they are carrying.
4. The victims will wake up a few hours later, with headaches but otherwise unharmed. They will notice that their valuables are gone, but without the slightest idea of what happened to them.

This scam has also been used by criminal gangs on truck drivers. Many large trucks have sleeping quarters in the cabs for their drivers, and when the driver tucks in for the night, the gas is piped in, and the driver knocked out. When he wakes up, his load has been stolen.

#3: Spiked Drinks on Public Transport

Traditions of hospitality, unfortunately, can be abused by criminals. Scammers pervert the practice of offering food or drink to strangers to drug their victims.

In 2009, sisters Sophie and Charlotte Tory, in their mid-twenties and from Britain, boarded a Summer Special train from Dehradun to Chandigarh at Haridwar. They accepted some tea from a stranger when the train approached Ambala, as did two Indian female fellow passengers on the same train. One of the Indian women called her husband on a mobile phone, saying that she had been drugged. Three of the four women were later found unconscious when the train arrived at Chandigarh, and all had to be treated in hospital, though they were subsequently released. The male criminals who had fed them the drugged tea were, apparently, never caught.

Scammers use several drugs, and some of them, if used in heavy doses, can cause permanent harm to the victims, or even death. Rohypnol, scopolamine, nembitol and benzodiazepine have all been used to drug travellers. By far the most common advice given to travellers is: do not take food or drink from people you just met.

Asleep on the Train, Spain © Viajar24h.com

#4: Taxi Mafia Scams

Many countries have taxi mafias of one type or another. They operate like this:

1. The taxi drivers combine to form a mixture of a trade union and a cartel, designed to ensure that tourists have no choice but to use their services.
2. They use intimidation or worse to make sure that no independent taxi drivers break their illegal monopolies.
3. They can then charge very high prices, whether or not the fares are regulated, especially if local police are weak and/or corrupt.
4. They often bribe the police to turn a blind eye to their activities. Sometimes, they have links with, or are part of, organised crime.

Several years ago, an Irish journalist, who attempted to expose shady taxi mafia practices in France, faced death threats and other forms of intimidation. The Frenchmen were using many scams to screw money out of their customers, so that the taxi ride from Nice to Monte Carlo cost more than the same journey in a helicopter. The journalist described the Nice taxi mafia as the worst in Europe. In many tourist resorts or towns around the world, the taxi drivers charge outrageously high fares.

#5: Thieving Baggage Handlers

Travellers must entrust their baggage to baggage handlers. At some airports, the baggage handlers are employees of the airport, whilst at others they are employees of the airline. Virtually every airport in the world has tales of theft by baggage handlers.

In December 2006, twenty airport baggage handlers in Paris were found guilty of baggage theft. In October 2007, nineteen more baggage handlers were found guilty of similar offences. The thefts covered a period during 2001 to 2003, when airport police saw 27 baggage handlers stealing from passengers’ baggage after viewing footage from CCTV screens in the airport terminal. Amazingly, the thieves, who plead guilty, defended themselves by claiming that stealing from baggage was common practice at the airport!

Since 2003, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), which screens checked baggage in the United States, has received more than 70,000 complaints about theft from suitcases. At Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, the problem is so bad that baggage handlers were issued uniforms with no pockets, so they could not hide stolen items in their clothing.

Most baggage handlers are honest, but a sufficient number are dishonest that many regular travellers have stories of losing their property from their checked suitcases.

Stay tuned for Peter’s next article which will detail five common Internet scams!

The post Travelers Beware: 5 Most Common Transport Scams appeared first on Vagabondish.

Not only is the idea of rats on a plane shudderingly horrifying, it’s also incredibly dangerous, so it is a serious matter that a flight attendant has been accused of smuggling pet rats aboard an international flight by hiding them in her underwear.

Colleagues of animal lover Louann Biambattista have said that they saw suspicious bulges in the flight attendant’s clothing during a flight from St. Martin to Miami. A thorough search of her person and belongings upon arrival in Miami did not find any animals.

Giambattista is now suing her employer, American Airlines, over the “absurd” allegations that she claims has left her with post-traumatic stress disorder because she was blacklisted and subjects to various forms of stressful and humiliating scrutiny every time she passed through customs and that this made it nearly impossible to do her job.

Find out more about this in Gadling

The post Flight Attendant Accused of Sneaking Rats on Flights appeared first on Vagabondish.

A man was arrested at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport when he was discovered to have 2kg of cocaine taped to his legs. The would-be smuggler may have been trying to take advantage of the fact that swelling of the body often occurs during flight, and hoped to use this to mask the appearance his disproportionately husky calves, which bore bandages made of cocaine and duct tape. No dice, though. He was soon detected and detained.

Check out more about this from The Toronto Star

The post Man Caught at Airport with Legs Wrapped in Cocaine appeared first on Vagabondish.

I suppose if my country were erupting in violence and on the brink of authoritarianism I might be a bit distracted. That appears to have been the case for border guards when 9-year-old Emily Harris passed through Turkish customs with her family. Her mother inadvertently presented the pretend passport that came with a stuffed unicorn purchased on vacation, instead of the girl’s official passport from Wales.

The mistake was only discovered after the family had entered Turkey and were putting their passports away.

Find out more about this on News.com.au

The post Girl Enters Turkey With Fake Unicorn Passport appeared first on Vagabondish.