With the popularity of going to countries in Central and South America for vacation, there are many unforeseeable problems that are not as prevalent in mainstream society in our country. There is also an alarming rise of unscrupulous people waiting for the easy target from another country. Keeping safe and having a good time is the objective of your trip, so to help you I have put together some tips that will make your trip more enjoyable.
Stay at a Reputable Hotel
Knowing that where to sleep is safe, clean and restful can set your mood for whatever you plan to do for the entire day. Brand name hotels are the safest bet, for they will have English speaking staff available and be able to point you into the right direction for things to do. Names such as Hilton and Marriott will give you a safe place to crash and refresh yourself for the next day. Spend the extra money if you have to, it will be the best money you will spend.Dress Casually Plain
Try not to wear clothes with obvious logos or designation which will cause you to stand out. Wearing area specific sporting apparel will single you out as an obvious mark from out of town. Note: There not many Green Bay fans in Argentina.Keep Jewelry to a Minimum
Yes ladies, remove your diamonds. Jewelry is easy to breakup and pawn off. Bling-bling is the obvious flag for thieves. The less jewelry you have, the less noticeable you will be to thieves.Eat Breakfast
Eat breakfast preferably at the brand name hotel you are staying at. A good breakfast will keep you going through the day, and you can bypass lunch if it is questionable.You Are a Tourist, Do the Touristy Things
You are a tourist. You are not a native. Stay away from questionable areas especially where there are no tourists. Going out to the local neighborhoods, or places only "locals" go to can be a dangerous. If it looks questionable, move on. Local police are out in force to make sure the tourism continues, but you have to be where they think you will be.Drink Bottled Beverages
This is a must. Only drink items that come in a bottle or sealed canister. The water in any country may cause adverse affects that will have you praying to the porcelin god out of one or both. Name brand bottled drinks, even if they are bottled in the country you are staying in, use water that is filtered at a level much higher than what is available locally. Drink from the bottle, and even brush your teeth with bottle water.Learn Some of the Language
Before you go to a country learn some basic words that will be helpful. Words such as: thank you, please, excuse me, bathroom, police, taxi, help, and goodbye. Everyone will not know how to speak your language, at least have the common courtsey to learn some of local words.Keep Your Passport Safe
This is your primary ID if something really goes wrong. Keep it safe in your hotel room while you go out, if the hotel has a safe store it there. If something terribly goes wrong or a major instability takes place, this is the only ID that the US embassy will recognize. Remember to get the phone number and address of the US embassy in the area handy prior to your arrival.Travel Light
Take all you need and then some extra clothes when you travel to your destination hotel. It is always good to have too much than not enough at the hotel. But, when you go out to visit take only what you need. Carrying too much will slow you down and items are easier to disappear from your possession.Have Fun But Be Aware
Don't drink too much. Inebriated people are easy to take advantage of, are less aware, and also have a tendency to do stupid things. Enjoy yourself, take plenty of pictures, enjoy the local atmosphere, but be aware of your surroundings and the people who notice you.
If you follow the above rules of vacation, you will reduce the possibility for harm to you and your property.
