Most first-time international travellers start worrying before they have even walked out of the house. Marjorie on safety that actually helps, what to do when a trip goes wrong, and the one thing she does before she lands anywhere.
First-time international travellers fall into a stereotype and immediately start worrying about whether it is safe, before they even walk out the door. When I was travelling back to back to Croatia, Key West, Vegas and Aruba, my sister called me right away asking, is it safe?
International travel is just as safe as it is here in America. But you have to be savvy and pay attention to your surroundings.
International travel is just as safe as it is here in America. But you have to be savvy and pay attention to your surroundings.
What being savvy actually looks like
- Put the phone away for at least thirty minutes when you are going through security and picking up your bags.
- Wear pants with side pockets.
- Stop assuming that once you get overseas you will not find medicine, stores, or anywhere to eat. You will.
When something does go wrong
On day two of our trip to Hawaii, my sister and a couple of others took a bike ride down Waimea Canyon and had a major accident. My sister fell, broke her arm in three places, and lost all her teeth. And it still turned out to be a beautiful trip, because you have to know who you travel with. The friends on that trip were what I call the root of the tree — people who stick with you for twenty or forty years.
You bring the right attitude and energy, and Hawaii's customer service took such good care of us. The doctor arranged everything until she could get permanent implants back home. My sister even insisted on going to the luau on our last night with her face all covered up.
That's how you handle it. Travel with good people, keep a positive attitude, and turn a mishap into a great vacation.
The thing I always do before I land
Research the destination and understand the local people. Do not bring stereotypes with you. Figure out the local pace, and learn a couple of basic sentences in their language — how to say hello, or how to read the signs for the bathroom. Saying hello in their language goes a really long way.
Money, cards and cash
I carry some American money, and I also get a little bit of the local currency before starting out, so I can buy water or bracelets from local street vendors. I always bring a free and clear credit card with available balance in case I need to book an emergency hotel, plus a card that allows cash advances if needed.
What Dubai taught me
People talk about Dubai as just being a desert, but their technology is way more advanced than ours and the place is absolutely fabulous. I had misconceptions about how to dress — you cannot wear spandex or casual clothes when you are visiting a mosque. I also learned that men dominate the service industry there. They are your restaurant servers, busboys, concierges and check-in agents. It taught me to get a real understanding of a place rather than relying on rumours.
What is always in my bag
Nothing to do with clothes, everything to do with peace of mind
- A heated back pad, for when my back acts up.
- A sweater and a scarf, because I am always cold.
- Dental floss.
And the difference between how I travelled at the start of my career and how I travel now? Less luggage. I cannot stress that enough. Less luggage.
Written by Marjorie Bolden
All stories