Browsing: travel

“Psst, hey buddy, come here, I got a great deal on a brand new Rolex.” If you are an experienced traveler or have visited a large city in the United States, you have probably been approached with a similar line. Of course, the guy in the trench coat is not selling the real deal—they are knockoffs and it is a scam. People have a tendency to become complacent and think they are too smart to …

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Scenario #1: Jane is visiting a new destination and relies on a travel agency to confirm her hotel and touring services. She arrives at the hotel, checks-in, and finds that her room does not meet her expectations. The agency quoted a 4-star property, but Jane feels it is below average. The view from her window is less than appealing, she can hear her noisy neighbors, and the air-conditioning is faulty. Later in the evening, guest …

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Dear Travel IQ: I love to watch travel shows  and I enjoy eating new foods when I travel.  I’ve always been afraid to try street food, however.  It’s tempting, but I’m worried about sanitation and catching some type of bug that will ruin my trip.  How can I safely join the ranks of adventuresome travelers who seem to eat with impunity?

Signed: Hungry in Chiang Mai

Dear Hungry in Chiang Mai: Sampling local …

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The secret to a perfect trip is much like the first rule of Fight Club:  There is no perfect trip.  There is no recipe for success, no combination of details that will guarantee you a good time, no amount of scheduling and booking that will make your time from touch-down to take-off completely carefree.

The beautiful thing about travel is its unpredictability, the glorious way you can plan out an entire day—an entire trip even—and …

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