How To Ensure You’ll Be Able To Use Your Bank Cards Abroad

I always notify the bank in advance that I'll be travelling (especially when I go out of the country) to ensure my use of the card is honored.

Betty Sheldon

Cut Down Packing Time With “Pack As You Wear” Tactic

When I went on a cruise, I unpacked everything and put the suitcase under the bed. I put all the clothes I had worn into the suitcase and by trips end, was pretty well packed.

Pat Buckley

How To Avoid The Need To Pack Your Address Book

Instead of carrying an address book (or pda) with me on trips, I print out self stick address labels for the people to whom I intend to send postcards. For longer trips I might print out two or three labels for each recipient. The labels are small enough to keep in my wallet, weigh next to nothing, and save me time in addressing postcards. As my trip progresses and I no longer have a label for an individual then I know that I have already sent him/her a postcard.

Carol Fox
San Diego, CA

Why You Should Wear Damp Socks On The Plane

Here’s an unusual tip for you that some of our readers swear by. Wear damp socks on long flights I know it sounds strange and, if you're chilly on the plane at first, unwelcoming. But try it, the socks are cold and wet, of course, at first but then heat up with body heat and, before you know it, you're wishing they were cool and damp again! Helps prevent feet swelling and, some say, jet lag.

(Evelyn Hannon, editor Journeywoman.com)

How To Ensure You Get Great Service From The Hotel Maid

If you are going to be staying in a hotel for more than one night, leave whatever tip you would leave for the whole trip on the first day. Let the maid know you will be there for 3 or 4 or whatever days. That encourages special service instead of leaving the tip for the last day for someone you will probably never see again and who will therefore probably not get you that extra package of hot chocolate or special pillow.

Dan Freeman

Now remember, what's normal for you can be strange for someone else -- so if you see your favourite dish listed, don't blame me :)

The dishes are listed by country of origin (alaphabetically).

The Amazon

1. Piranha

Tried piranha in the Amazon. Didn't care for the mushy texture.

Ellen Meeson

Australia

2. Witchity Grub

My wife and I visited Australia last year and while up in the Northern Territory at an Aboriginal site I was offered a live Witchity Grub. I was told how to properly eat it so I did what they suggested and bit off the head and spit it out, sucked out the insides and then chewed the skin like chewing gum.

It really didn't have much taste and wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Rudy Koch

(Witchity Grub II)

I ate a live witchetty grub in Australia. They dug it out of the tree and handed it to me. Not bad...a little sweet flavor. The cooked grub tastes like creamed corn.

Ellen Meeson

Chile

3. Barnacles

Strange but nice experience was eating picorocos (cooked barnacles) in Chile. Tasty and sweet -- like lobster! For dessert I had some delicious lucuma ice cream -- made from a sapote-like South American fruit.

Brian Merget

China

4. Jellyfish

On my first day of business travel in Beijing China, the local Sales Management wanted to make a good impression and took us to a special restaurant. Everyone was given a small pot of broth over a warming pot. The fare included raw vegetables, meats, and fish, which were to be cooked in the broth.

I was trying to be polite, and yet a little adventurous, and tried the beef, pork, and one type of fish. Although language was a slight barrier, by description and hand gestures, I was able to determine that the white opaque fish was actually jellyfish.

I was in the middle of asking for a description of what appeared to be a long, dark meat (served on ice), when several actually JUMPED off the plate. The only description that could be attempted was "squirmy little fishy thing." I politely declined and returned to the vegetable plate.

During my two and a half weeks in Beijing, my adventurous nature declined the longer my trip lasted. Although our hosts were very gracious, I was ready for basic pasta on my return to the States!

Jackie Parker

(Jellyfish II)

Jellyfish in China. I didn't know till after the fact what it was. Feels like pasta, but when you chew, it is kind of crunchy and squeaky. Tasted ok though.

Linda Schaefers

5. Dried Fish Rectums

Little white tubs, very crispy and like pure salt. The Chinese love em and eat them by the handful.

What are they? Dried fish rectums. Yuk

Gary Gates Sr.

6. Duck Tongue

Hi Michael – I just returned from China and had duck tongue…………tasted like gristle! I saw fried scorpions and seahorses on a stick in at an outdoor food vendor, but didn’t have the courage to go there.

Lynn

(Duck Tongue II)

Duck tongues in Hong Kong market - supposedly quite a delicacy - rather chewy, but full of flavor.

Neil Falkeid

7. Tube Steak?!?

Maybe not strange, but in Xian, China, many years ago it was difficult to get western food, but the food served in China at that time was horrible.

So, for our last night I booked an entire Western meal at around $80.00 additional per person. They brought us into a room where a lady was playing the harp, dressed in black gown and waiters were in tuxedos.

First course was thinly sliced beef, we assume. Condiments on the table were substances resembling catsup, mustards and mayo.

Second course, served on huge silver trays was five hot dogs for every person in the group. no rolls, no beans, no nothing but five hot dogs rolling around on huge silver platters for each of us.

The next morning the proud manager of the hotel asked me how I liked my meal. Not wanting to offend, I said it was very nice but that we are not used to having so many hot dogs served w/o anything to go with them.

He was very offended and couldn't quite grasp 'hot dog', then started rattling in Chinese with about every other word 'tube steak'!

Well it was better than Chicken feet soup or duck embryos!

Lee Turner

8. Chicken Feet

Baked (or perhaps boiled or fried?) chicken feet in China. Don’t really know why I decided to try them, guess it was because there were everywhere.

Not too bad, good for the experience, but surely would not eat them again. They were nothing to write home about.

Jerry Leynes

9. Scorpions

Maybe not that strange, but I had fried scorpions in Shanghai

Ray Schwartz

10. Garden Pests!!!

While traveling in Beijing, I accompanied a co-worker and her niece, who was living there, to a Hot Pot restaurant. This is basically an eatery with pots of boiling broth placed in round holes in the tables and you cook the meats and vegetables that you order before you eat them.

We finished eating and I was fishing through the boiling broth for any meat and veggies we may have missed and came across what looked like baby shrimp. We didn’t order these and I thought they were just part of the broth.

I ate one and it tasted like dirt.

I fished around and found many more. Upon closer examination, they appeared to be grubs. I asked our local host what they may have been. He asked if there were any vegetables in our order. I assured him there were. He told me they were probably garden pests.

Now the pickled jellyfish I had while there were soooooo much better than this but this makes for great story telling of my international travels!!

Steve

11. Deep Fried Pigeon

One of my colleagues had a deep-fried pigeon in China (I was not there). Head, skull, and all; he said it was crunchy & delicious.

R. A. Pease

Democratic Republic of the Congo

12. Caterpillars and Grubs

While in the Democratic Republic of the Congo last summer, my husband and I were served both caterpillars and grubs by Congolese friends.

I managed to eat a grub, and it was crunchy and a little smoky, actually not bad. I understand from my husband that the caterpillars tasted a lot like bacon because of the way they were grilled.

I, however, picked up one from the bowl and just dropped it again. I figured Bob was upholding the family honor!

Nancy Archibald

France

13. Pig’s Trotters in Tripe Source

My husband and I love all of the food in France and we're game to try anything. Sometimes the experience is a little different than our expectations.

In Roussillon, our favorite small village in Provence, my brave hubby decided to try "pieds et paquets", a very traditional Provencal dish.

I know enough French to know that "pieds" means "feet", so I decided to opt out and have something I recognized.

Poor guy!

He really had trouble working through the plate of pig's trotters and tripe in a heavy sauce! I couldn't stand even looking at the "pieds".

La Juana West

Indonesia

14. King Cobra

I had an introduction to a family who owned a hotel in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. I rang them after I arrived in Jogja and they invited me to dinner that same night.

When I went to their house they informed me that they would take me to a recently opened restaurant that they wanted to try.

When we pulled up in front of the restaurant, I looked up at the name and gulped: KING COBRA, with spotlighted paintings on either side of the name of the specialitie de la maison.

I hate snakes. I am terrified of them, I admit it.

After we were seated, the waiter asked me, the guest of honor, if I would like to choose the main course for dinner from a large, shallow, lidded box in the kitchen while it was still alive.

I declined the offer and ask him to choose for us. After vegetables and a few other unidentified side dishes had been brought to the table, the waiter brought out the main course, fresh, fried King Cobra, stacked on a silver platter looking like nothing so much as a pile of chicken nuggets.

They were bright pink inside, the color of bubble gum, and they tasted like--you guessed it--chicken and it wasn't bad at all! I saved face by pretending to enjoy the experience, but the truth is that all during dinner,

I kept an eye on the floor in case any of the other main courses escaped the kitchen.

Mike Blevins

Italy

15. Donkey

In Cisternino, Italy (REGION OF PUGLIA) I had at a local restaurant roast donkey. When asked how it tasted I responded, " Tastes amazingly just like jackass" Regards, Rich Chitos

Jamaica

16. Blue Goat Meat

Cooked Blue Goat Meat in Jamaica, WI. It tasted OK after you got past the blue color. The color had something to do with the way it was cooked

Walter Ward

Japan

17. Bacon Fat

I had some 1-inch cubes of lightly cooked bacon fat at a Chinese restaurant in Tokyo.

They looked yucky but tasted wonderful.

R. A. Pease

Mexico

18. Road Kill

Probably the strangest thing I've ordered is Atropellado. This is an appetizer on a Mexican menu. Loosely translated - road kill. The dish itself was quite tasty. It looks like shredded road kill and you eat it with tortillas and spicy sauces.

JB

19. Worms

I ate some small worms (gusanos) in Mexico City. They were very tasteful and sauteed in olive oil and Garlic, and were delicious! Some of our group would not eat more than a tiny sample; but a few of us had seconds and thirds. They were excellent.

R. A. Pease

Nepal

20. Salt Tea

I had a cup of salt tea in Western Nepal (at Dhorpatan). It was NOT made with rancid yak butter. Unfortunately, I volunteered to drink my buddy’s tea, and then, to be polite, I had to drink a third cup. I spit salt the rest of the day. It was NOT very nice.

R. A. Pease

New Zealand

21. Whitebait

Whitebait (juvenile fish) in New Zealand is a local (expensive) delicacy. When we invited friends over for dinner - they were pleased to have us try this (having recently scooped up a big net of whitebait out of the river).

Whitebait look like tiny transparent worms - along the lines of caviar with eyes. They are mixed in a pancake-like batter to make whitebait fritters - so the taste is pretty similar to savory pancakes - with the exception of feeling like you are being watched as you take each bite.

Nada Wheelock

Philippines

22. Milk Flan

Leche flan made from fresh carabao milk. Thick, rich, and heavy cream taste. Served in restaurants in Bacolod City in the Philippines.

Brendan Madden

Turkey

23. Sheep Intestine Sandwich

The strangest food experience I had was on my recent trip to Turkey. While in Istanbul my travel partner and I ate a sheep intestine sandwich (the intestine was fried).

It didn't taste too bad, kind of crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. We followed that with a big helping of goat's milk ice cream, which had a very gummy consistency, not smooth like we are used too.

Cheers, Marcy Benson

Mobal Member, Marjorie sent me these 3 tips:

1. The Safest Place To Carry Copies Of Your Travel Documents

Make copies of not only your passport, but also your credit cards and other documents. Put them UNDERNEATH the lining of your carry-on.

2. How To Stay Hygienic In Public Rest Rooms

Take disposable toilet seat covers - I found some at Target.

3. The Best Way To Learn About The Local Customs And People

Eat, drink, partake in as many local and regional foods, fairs, activities as possible. Spend a day or two people watching in a cafe on a busy street. You might learn something!

Mobal Member, Rosemary Chiaverini sent me this tip:

4. How To Speed Up The Postcard Writing Process

I print out small Avery labels ahead of time for the people to whom I'll be sending postcards. Then I just take the sheets with me. I sit in cafes, write the cards and stick on a label and voila! They are in the post. Eliminates the need to take my entire address book. (You can update the labels easily too year after year -- plus you can use them for your 2008 address/appointment bookl!)

Mobal Member, Sandra Toms sent me this tip:

5. How To Totally Avoid Having To Carry Copies Of Your Travel Documents

Rather than carrying paper copies of credit card numbers and your passport (in case of theft or loss) in your suitcase or on your person, scan your documents and send them in an e-mail to yourself. You can always go to an internet cafe to look up your info, or use your laptop.

Now remember folks, these are based on personal experience, so don't shoot the messenger...

Includes entries from the USA, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, Russia, Canada, Spain, Morocco, the Caribbean, Hotel Websites, Airlines and Taxis...

USA

1. Fairmont Hotels

Worst tourist trap? Fairmont Hotels! Santa Monica and Chicago, too. Premium rates for crowded little rooms where nothing they advertise as amenities is actually available without paying extra, and at premium rates, too. The only reason to stay there, or in similarly managed hotels, is if location is the only consideration and simply vital. Otherwise, get yourself to the nearest Marriott Suites and ask in advance what is included in the rate.

Jane Russell

2. Old Faithful

Featured in National Geographic! That's what the printed promotion information said that we picked up at our hotel. Never having seen a real, live geyser we hyped our selves up for the event and off we went.

This is the come-on on the web page: "Visitors of Calistoga's Old Faithful Geyser are calling it "utterly amazing". The Geyser is one of only three Old Faithfuls in the world, designated as such because of its constant and predictable eruptions. This spectacle is a true rarity, and there's no better place to see it than here!

The Geyser is an all-natural phenomenon which tosses a scalding curtain of water anywhere from 20 to upwards of 75 feet into the air. Currently, Old Faithful is erupting approximately every 20-30 minutes, ensuring a minimal waiting period for an exciting and educational experience the whole family is sure to love."

With a stretch of the imagination this description is true. But the actual anticlimactically event is about as interesting as the a popped-off sprinkler head on any lawn in American. In between the "eruptions" you can walk over to feed some animals after buying feed by the less-than-handful from a small vending machine that looks very suspiciously like a ball-gum machine. Cost for the few minutes of being awed by this natural phenomena: $8. Cheap enough to hook me into buying a ticket and disappointing enough to make me wish I hadn't.

Maybe I'm jaded because in today's age of theme park exaggerations this puny little stream of heated water lacks an "awe" factor plus I can't appreciate the natural wonders at work that make this a marvel.

Best Regards

David Steely

3. Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota

My first and only visit to the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota was years ago when my family and I were driving from Minneapolis on the way to Mount Rushmore. The route takes you through The Badlands which has unique and fascinating terrain. Beyond the Badlands lies the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. Wikipedia tells me that this is actually the third Corn Palace, with the first one dating back to 1892. Today's Corn Palace is a large building which is decorated with corn products on an annual basis. Wikipedia tells me that there are half a million visitors each year to this funky tourist attraction. I guess it's partially the result of the many billboards for miles around, citing the wonders of the Corn Palace. I call it a tourist trap, but at least they don't charge admission. They even have a webcam if you want to see it for yourself! (www.cornpalace.org)

Pete Winkler
Schroon Lake, NY

4. The Four Seasons, Houston

While staying at the 4-Seasons in Houston, Texas, on behalf of a client, their cheapest room was $300, PLUS US$10.95 per day for internet access. My colleague down the street at the Hampton Suites paid US$99 for his room, with free internet. What's wrong with that picture? Once installed, incremental access to the internet is virtually zero added unit cost.

Art Kosatka

5. "South Of The Border Experience", Carolina

Michael, There is a place just below the North Carolina, USA state line called “South of the Border”. It is supposed to be a recreation of some great tourist attraction in Mexico. The flashy advertising billboards start from almost 200 miles away. The signs build up so much anxiety, you feel that this just has to be the eighth wonder of the world. They advertise everything from authentic Mexican food to hand made Mexican pottery.

Of course, I had to stop and see this Mecca myself. By the time I got there, it was dark outside. The bright lights could be seen from 20 miles away. I can’t remember when or where I had seen that many flashing lights. Being hungry, the first order of business was to pick out a restaurant. Tough choice as there were several. I asked a few people which one was the best and settled on the one with the most lights. Long story short……one of the worst meals I have ever had. Microwave Mexican from the supermarket would have been an improvement.

I then went to the “authentic” Mexican stores to look at real Mexican blankets and other “home made” products. After looking for almost an hour, I decided to buy anything, I repeat, anything, that was actually made in Mexico. I could not find one thing! Almost everything was made in China.

The only really memorable part of the trip started the next morning. I was sick for almost three days.

Don Wesner

6. Daytona Beach, Florida during Speed Week

That's generally in February for the running of the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. All prices are inflated and traffic is grid locked.

Eldon A. Buddy Gee

7. Graceland

Not only was Elvis a bad decorator (interesting place though), by tourist trap: how can they charge that much money - and EVERY part is "a la carte"?

How can someone dead make that much money???

Thanks for asking.

Valerie Brownlow

8. Orgainized Tour, Kauai Hawaii

The worst tourist trap I have experienced was on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. I usually prefer finding my own way to places, but this tour sounded good. It explained that we would boat up a beautiful river where we would see beautiful tropical flora. This was indeed true; however, they didn't tell us that a bad Hawaiian band would play awful Hawaiian music to which all passengers not only had to listen, but were encouraged by lovely young women to dance the hula. This went on for the entire boat ride which ended up in the beautiful Fern Grotto where the boat passengers were lined up and the band played and sang the Hawaiian Wedding Song. E-e-ew! At tour's end we were shuffled on to a bus to return to home base. This was enough saccharine to last a lifetime!

9. A Luau in Hawaii

Was expecting a evening on the beach...sitting on logs...with tiki torches and great food and up close dancing...and it was like a cheap wedding...

Big ole tables in a parking lot and a stage miles away with the entertainment...So sad...but a great joke...

Rebecca Fonner
Kalamazoo Mi


Italy

10. Pisa

In June of this year, the choral group with which I sing went on tour in Italy. It was all wonderful with the notable exception of Pisa. The route from the tourist bus stop to the cathedral close was lined, to the point of blocking our way, with street vendors and pickpockets. Pisa was the only location in which anyone lost items to thieves. The tower and town are unremarkable. If it weren't for the engineering problems that cause the tower to lean, it wouldn't be on the tourist routes. If one has limited time, avoid Pisa and buy a postcard instead.

Linda Pennell

11. Murano Glass Factory in Venice

Murano glass factory is to be avoided. My wife and I were approached by a man offering free round-trip tickets to ride a power boat to visit the Murano glass factory. Once there, a special tour was given us. We were isolated from other visitors while a salesman took us from room to room in an effort to get us to purchase something. The prices were astonishing; US$600 for a set of six cocktail glasses, etc. The pressure on us to buy was hard-core. When we declined to purchase anything, we were rudely shown out a side door, unsure about how to get back to Venice (the boat ride, it turned out, was one way). After asking about, we discovered the location of a ferry dock on the island, and returned to Venice, very annoyed, but significantly wiser.

Bill Henson
Rocky River, Ohio

12. Hop On Hop Off Rides, Rome

The worst tourist trap I've encountered so far are the Hop On Hop Off bus rides in Rome. Rome is so compact, so walkable, and the city busses are so plentiful that taking a tourist bus is almost ridiculous. When you arrive in Rome, at termini station and many other kiosks there are well marked city bus route maps. Also, less than $20 US you can get a weeklong transportation pass good for busses, trains, and trams. It's almost impossible to get lost.

Happy travels,

Susan

Mexico

13. Shoe Shine, Mexico City

My trap was in Mexico City when I was offered a shoeshine at the Zocallo. I should have asked quanto valle ( how much) but did not. I was charged almost the cost of a new pair of shoes. Where is the guadia when you need them.

14. Free Taxi Offers In Puerto Vallata

While exiting the baggage claim area at the airport in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, my wife and myself (luggage in tow) were approached by what appeared to be a young, attractive, neatly dressed and English speaking school girl asking if we needed help with our luggage.

During which, we said yes, thinking she could hail us a cab, we walked over to her counter to arrange for transportation. At that time she stated the free cab ride was just outside the side doorway not 50 feet away. She began to ask us if we were from America and how long we'd be staying. We talked for a few minutes and she asked if we'd be interested in some free sightseeing coupons and showed us a rather long list of things we had planned on doing while we were there so we listened further.

She called the cab driver and he came to get our luggage. She said she got paid by talking to tourists about local tourism related activities and she also would appreciate it if we could tour the local resort. We told her we did not want to tour the local resort and she said that was fine but we needed to sign a document just to show that she had talked to us and had arranged the free taxi ride. She appeared harmless enough and knowing we were in a country where the locals probably do not earn as much money as their counterparts in the US, we complied.

The cab driver had already taken our luggage to the cab and she proceeded to show us out. Then she got in the cab with us telling us she wanted to make sure we got to our booked resort intact. While in the cab she proceeded to make small talk telling us about how wonderful it was to have such nice tourists as ourselves visiting her city. Talking all about the things to do and places to see, where not to go, what types of people to avoid and such. When we arrived at our booked resort, she jumped out of the cab to make sure we got checked in ok and even tipped the cab driver. Now I am getting suspicious.

She walked us in and called for a hotel luggage clerk. Then proceeded to ask us what day we wanted to view the new resort she had spoken of so that we could receive our coupons. We told her that we never agreed to view the resort and just keep the coupons. Then she proceeded to tell us that we would have to view the resort for her to get paid and besides we had been given a free cab ride. I guess that was the hook because we said ok. These young school girls are hard to get by. She assured us we did not have to buy anything and that the tour would only last about 30 minutes. So we went ahead and scheduled a time for the next day at 9:30am.

At 9:00am the next morning our room phone rang. It was the school girl telling us she was down stairs waiting to take us to view the resort at our prearranged time. I was hoping we could get by her some how because we were actually fixing to leave the resort and go eat breakfast in town. As we exited the elevator there she was all bubbly and happy, neatly dressed and a car waiting.

So we went. She dropped us at the resort for our 30 minute tour.
Three hours, and three different salesmen later we were exhausted and just wanted to get away. We had done what we promised and so we felt like we deserved our coupons. So we waited another half hour to get the coupons. While we were there they asked if they could prearranged the appointment with the vendor we wanted to go horseback riding with. We had actually planned on going the next day so we said sure.

The girl in the coupon office dialed the phone and appeared to be asking for the person in charge at the riding stable we were going to be riding with. She gave us the coupon, told us to meet our ride at 9:00am the next morning outside the hotel at a particular curb.

The next morning, coupon in hand, we arrived about 10 minutes early and waited. And waited. No cab showed, so by 9:30 we just hailed a cab and found the place ourselves. When we arrived no one was there. There were horses and it did appear to be a riding stable so we walked around the place till we actually found someone that spoke English. The person we found was actually a local veterinarian only there to check on the horses.

We told him our story. He appeared surprised that we had been taken and called to speak with the operator of the riding stable. The conversation was in Spanish but after he got off the phone, the veterinarian rounded up and guide and a couple of horses and we got our horseback ride for free, less the tip we gave the guide. The horseback ride was wonderful and so was the guide. The veterinarian had told us not to worry cause the operator had said that the we be glad to bill the resort tour company for our costs.

We learned two lessons on that trip. 1. Do not talk to or accept anything free from anyone inside the airport looking to help you. 2. There are still good people in the world (the veterinarian, the stable operator, and the horseback guide).

Robert Powers

15. Overcrowded Snorkling, Yucatan Peninsular

I have a pretty good nose for smelling tourist traps and can think of
few. I can't remember the name, but on the Yucatan coast, an hour
south of Cancun, there's a snorkeling venue recommended in guide
books - that's how we found it. It's an inlet guarded by food stands
and snorkeling gear shops. We're not there ten minutes when three
buses off a cruise boat stop in, everybody eating their box lunches
at 10 AM. The fish disappeared.
We left and found another great snorkeling inlet simple by following
a dirt road. No buses, no crowds, lost of fish.

Gil Fuld
Keene NH

New Zealand

16. Milford Sound, New Zealand

We were visiting Queenstown New Zealand and wanted to experience a glacier. "Milford Sound" was suppossed to be this amazing totally worth it full day trip and the closest to the face of a glacier you could get in a one day trip from Queenstown. When I mean full day...it takes 5 hours to get there by coach bus for a 90 minute BORING cruise and 5 hour return by bus. We were smart enough to avoid the long bus ride and instead we paid the $500 to helicopter there and return by 5 passenger plane. The cruise was so boring and there is absolutely nothing there...not even a real gift shop or real place to eat. You can buy the buffet on the cruise...but a complete waste of time and money. So disappointing. We saw a sprinkle of a very unimpressive waterfall and some seals. My trips to Alaska with all the bountiful wildelife have been 1000 times more interesting. The heli flight was great...but i would have enjoyed a simple helicopter flight around the area and back just as well which probably would have saved at least half of what we spent. Save your time and money...don't bother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Respectfully,
Stacey Rizzo

17. South Island, New Zealand

However, for pure trapping of tourists, you have to admire the people of the South Island of New Zealand. The sights are wonderful and well worth seeing, but the locals figure (correctly) since most people have traveled so far to see those sights, they'll pay an arm and a leg to see them. When we visited in 2002, the US dollar was very strong relative to the Kiwi dollar, yet the prices to visit the fiords and activities around Queenstown were painful. I can only imagine what they feel like now! PS - if you are not an experienced hiker, never ask a Kiwi to rate the difficulty of a hike!

Rebecca Fonner
Kalamazoo Mi


Ireland

18. Blarney Castle

A second or third rate castle ruins with a few mediocre exhibits and a long line to kiss a rock, thereby sharing germs with a million or so other tourists. And, oh yes, a huge gift shop complex.


D M Fryer

19. Blarney Castle again

Can't say I've seem them all, but the one that sticks out in my mind is the Blarney Castle. Sure, it has tradition going for it, but geez, what a bunch of hype just to bend upside down to get germs from some old stone.

Ireland is so very lovely that when the traditional tourist go there they may get a wrong impression. Alwee Cave up in the Burren is wonderful. Rather go there than Blarney Castle.

Regards!


UK

20. Stonehendge in England, biggest disappointment.

The photographs lie about its size, making it look a lot taller and massive than it is.

It is located in the middle of a traffic intersection of at least two major highways, with high-speed traffic zooming by within feet of Stonehenge. To get to it you need to go through a tunnel under one of the highways.

D.M. Fryer


Russia

21. Russia Bus Drivers

Russia, several years ago. Bus Driver commits some minor traffic infraction to help out day guide-gets ticketed-tourleader explains massive fine, everyone chips in, sympathetic to plight.
2 years later-different driver & day guide-same scheme, this time license suspended for short period, can't feed family, same sympathy ploy.
Local resident laughs and explains all of them will split the donations with the cop later. Sometimes it's a phone call, drivers child hospitalized, he loses job if he calls for a sub driver instead of taking group back to ship.
Also said it doesn't work with French or Netherland tour groups, only sometimes with Aussies, but Americans are always a good haul.


Canada

22. Niagara Falls Boat Trips

Now for the best tourist trap. We were in Niagara Falls ON and saw
two kinds of boats going to the falls. One was a large boat packed
with people - the other was a much smaller boat with just a few
people on the rail. After watching for awhile, we realized that the
big crowded boats were from the Canadian side, while the small boats
came from Niagara Falls NY. So we walked across the bridge to the US
(probably much more difficult now after 9/11) and had a great trip,
standing in the bow of this little boat that went right up to the
falls. But do it from the US side. otherwise it is a rip off.

Gil Fuld
Keene NH


Spain

23. Entrance to Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

I would have to say paying to enter the grounds of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona ranks right up there, as you really appreciate the architecture better from a distance, and the tour is overpriced, plus they make you make a significant deposit (credit card or passport or 50 euros) to rent a 3.50 euro headset - as if I would want to lug that around the rest of my time in Barcelona.

Rebecca Fonner
Kalamazoo Mi


Morocco

24. Arts And Craft School, Tangiers

My tourist trap experience was visiting a “famous school of arts and crafts” in Tangiers, Morocco. My husband and I were traveling through Spain, and decided to take the ferry across from Algeciras to Tangiers for a few days. We had been warned that as soon as we got off the boat, we’d be assailed by people wanted to act as our guides, and it was best just to pick someone so as not to be harassed for the rest of the trip. That part turned out to be true, and our guide took us through the souk and the Casbah and we had some interesting experiences. That is, until he took us to Tangiers most famous school of arts and crafts, AKA a carpet factory!

Once inside, we were trapped, and spent three hours trying to convince someone that no, we really didn’t need to haul three rugs back to NYC with us! Finally we purchased one small rug and we were able to escape.

Annette

Caribbean

25. High pressure selling, Jamaica

While stopping in Jamaica on a cruise; my husband and I went on a guided tour. The tour included a stop at a shopping 'area'. We were not allowed to shop where we wanted, we were guided to the back (supposedly to share the wealth with those vendors). My husband and I were immediately separated from each other by the vendors, I was blocked in a shop prevented from leaving; after buying something I was then 'encouraged' to have a braid put in my hair and I did, but they didn't stop at one. Two more females stepped up and promptly had my whole head braided in 5 minutes flat and wanted to charge me $50! They said we had agreed on this! I agreed to pay $5! So I offered them $20 and 'escaped' quickly! Next, a man asked my husband his name as well as his wife's name- I wasn't there; remember we were separated? He then immediately carved our names on 2 salt shaker size carved pieces of wood and trapped my husband into paying $40 for these!!!!!!!!! We didn't have enough cash so they basically held my husband hostage as I RAN all the way back to the ship to withdraw some more cash and RAN back to pay them!!!!!!!!!!! Never again!!!!!!!!!!!

Diane Pankratz, RN, BSN, MLC

26. Caribbean Hotels

No specific hotel, but having just returned from the Caribbean island of St Kitts, the Marriott Resort - like any other with a captive audience -- charging unconsionably high prices for food, wine, laundry, etc. -- and the ONLY alternatives within walking distance know that, so they charge virtually the same.

Art Kosatka


Travel Websites

27. Hotel Booking Websites

I think the biggest tourist trap is to book hotel rooms online ... select an upscale room ... then arrive at hotel and get some lame excuse why the room is not available (the people in the room decided to stay over 3 extr days is usually what you hear). To get the room you paid for, you have to get mad, demand to see the manager, and threaten to report the hotel to the internet site you used for booking.

ALWAYS carry a paper copy of your reservation ... do not let the hotel touch it .... because it will disappear ....

Howard

Airlines

28. British Airways

I used an on line booking agency to make my reservations through British
Airway and they did not make the connecting flight arrangements
correctly. I called British Airways directly and an agent walked me
through fixing the problem by having me book another connecting flight
ticket to correct the first mistake. I did not mind paying the
additional money if it made the trip correct. Then after the fact I
was told by British Airway that I could not use that ticket or it would
make the rest of my itinerary invalid. And they removed my name from
the roster of the corrected flight so I could not go on that flight -
but they did not refund the money. So British Airways wins as my
biggest tourist mistake. When I got home I wrote a letter and received
a 53 cent refund for $700 in tickets.

Brenda Guardala


Taxis

29. European Taxi Drivers

Biggest tourist trap we ran into was taxi’s that went way out of their way to get you to your hotel. They charge outrages prices for anyone with two suitcases – you need a van for that or two taxi’s. But we did notice after a day they went the long way to get you back to the hotel. We even commented on it so the driver took the next left (we were two blocks away). It cost us twice as much since he took the scenic route.

Thank you

C. Shelton

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Mobal Member, Marjorie sent me these 3 tips:

1. How To Guard Against Catching A Cold When Traveling

Carry Zicam, either the nose gel or the spray and use it anytime you're around anyone who even sneezes, or anytime you feel the slightest tingling in your nose or throat. It clears up any sign of a cold immediately. I like it a lot better than Airborne. I also carry some echinacea or vitamin C, although I buy those along the way as well.

2. How To Ignore Your Snoring Husband On The Plane

I rely a lot on earplugs, especially if my hotel room is facing the street. They're great on the plane and for snoring husbands as well:)

3. How To Deal With Jetlag Before And After Your Trip

OK - one more tip, this time about jet lag. I ignore it by setting my watch to my arrival country's time immediately on board the plane. I sleep as much as I can on the plane, and when I'm at my destination I check into my hotel and just go. I go as long as I can, even if it's only until 6 or 7 in the evening, and then go to sleep. Usually I've managed a full day of activity. When I come home I don't really care that much about jet lag because I take a couple of days extra off from work - I LOVE that travel tip - to relax, unpack, get groceries, etc.

Marjorie

Mobal Member, Greg Kempson sent me this tip:

4. Why You Should Avoid That Relaxing Glass Of Wine On The Plane

Aloha:

I love wine and enjoy drinking it at appropriate opportunities. But this one travel tip is THE BEST tip anyone ever gave me, and it is 100% true. No matter what, never, never, drink alcohol on an airplane flight over a few hours and never ever drink if you need to feel vibrant -- even after a short flight. I used to have just a glass or two with dinner on overseas flights in business or first class, and always felt tired when I deplaned. When I stopped drinking, even one drop, I felt 100% better. That is the number one travel tip from someone who flies hundreds of thousands of miles per year... And it works... Save that glass for after the flight and enjoy it even more!

Thanks,

Greg Kempson

Mobal Member, John Laborn sent me this tip:

5. How To Beat The High Prices Of Soft Drinks In Europe

BEAT THE HIGH COST OF SOFT DRINKS IN EUROPE
I know that it is a sin not to be a wine or beer drinker while in Europe
however I am not and I have endured the outrageous cost of soft drinks in
restaurants for years often just refusing to buy them. On my last trip I
took along a supply of "Crystal Light" in the small, slim packages. Now I
order mineral water with gas and enjoy a variety of flavors without the high
cost. It took some experimenting but I finally decided that it is best when
the water is poured into a glass and then add the CL.

John Laborn

For many people, summer means cooling off at a pool, lake or the beach. But what should you do if your cell phone accidentally gets dunked? U.S. Cellular's wireless experts offer tips to improve the chances that your phone will survive a dive.

* Power down: If your phone doesn't turn itself off when it gets wet, power it down right away. Once the power is off, remove the battery.

* Dry off: Grab a towel or napkins to get as much excess water off the phone as you can. Remove any skins, covers or faceplates. If you have a flip phone, you should open it up, so air can reach the keypad.

* Just a little patience: Now comes the hard part. You should leave a wet phone powered off for a day or two to give the internal circuitry a chance to dry out.

* Moment of truth: Once you replace the battery, push the "on" button. If the phone turns on, you can breathe a sigh of relief. However, check your keypad. Keys that stick or don't work all the time are signs of permanent damage. U.S. Cellular's phone doctors say it will likely get worse with time. If you have phone insurance, most policies require you to report the damage within 90 days of the incident.

* Get technical: U.S. Cellular service technicians might be able to help. You should bring a wet phone to a service technician as soon as possible.

* Don't lose your contacts too: If your phone can't be revived, your old phone's address book can be easily loaded onto your new phone if you have My Contacts Backup, a free service offered to easyedgeSM customers.

This article was originally in the Chicago Herald Tribune

In no particular order, here's what you never leave the country without. Some are hightech, others very simple, but they all help your travels run more smoothly...

Underwear

Micro fibre underwear – Tom Hansen

Compass

I have found that a magnetic compass is essential. Especially in old
towns where on a cloudy day your sense of direction can be fooled.
If it was not for my compass, I could still be roaming around
Padua.It looking for the train station. Beware of maps that do not
have North at the top. Look for the "Compass Rose".

James Ford

Cell Phone Charger

Battery-operated cell phone charger, don't have to worry about finding an outlet

Gretchen Edgren

Digital Camera

There are a number of gadgets I travel with but the most important, for me, is my digital camera. In Switzerland, this last June, I got a beautiful, late afternoon, picture of the Matterhorn while in Zermatt. I never leave home without the camera.

Parker L. Phillips

Safety Pins And Nail Clippers

1) safety pins
2) nail clippers

In that order.

Linda Johnson

Electronics

In no order

laptop
camera
iPod

Bill M

Cell phone

Norman Cleary

Digital SLR Camera And Travel Scrabble

Going to Southeast Asia....I MUST have my digital slr.

Other parts of the world....travel Scrabble.

Judy Guffey

Wind Up Alarm Clock And Penlight

There are two items I always carry on my trips. One is a wind-up alarm clock so that I don't worry if the battery powered clock should die in the middle of the night and cause me to miss a flight.

The second is a penlight so I can see when I getup at night to use the restroom. Also it's good to have if the hotel's power goes out during the night.

No name given

Portable GPS System

I rent a lot of cars, so I take my portable GPS with me whenever I travel. The GPS enables me to drive stress free especially to and from the airport and my accomodations while at a location I'm not familiar with or haven't visited in a long time.

jK

Leatherman

Leatherman

Bill Zolbert

Leatherman pocket tool. It helps keep everything else operational!

David A. Lieberman
Senior Vice President for Business & Finance Emeritus
University of Miami

XM sat radio

XM sat radio

AL B. Moore

Alarm Clock And Flash Light

Michael: I never travel without a small alarm clock with a face that lights
up (with fresh batteries) because sometimes the "wake up" call does not
come.

Also, I always have a small flashlight (with spare batteries) both
for getting up at night to find the bathroom and in case of power outages.

Regards,
Bob Christofk

Clothespin

My travel gadget of choice is the humble clothespin!

When the hotel's curtains don't close tightly, and they let in too much light, a simple clothespin won't hurt the fabric and does the trick.

I clothespin my just washed clothing to the curtains ~ as high as I can and they are dry by morning ~ usually the air conditioner or heater is just below the curtains as well, so your clothes get blown dry ~ and even jeans will dry overnight.

Donna

Alarm Clock And Heating Pad

It is my combo alarm clock/sound machine.

Next is my small electric heating pad with a long extension cord

Dona J. Jones

Noise-Reducing Headphones

Noise-reducing headphones!

Pat Burns

Swiss Army Knife

I never, ever, ever travel without my little Victorinox Swiss Army knife. Never. This isn't a big, cumbersome model with nuclear-tipped cruise missles and a hacksaw, but the climber's model (I think). It has the large and small blades, plus and minus screwdrivers, can and bottle openers, cork screw (all important for France and Italy), leather punch, and scissors. It's the size of a normal pocket knife, and carries well. Of course, I have to pack it in checked luggage for a flight, but it never leaves my pocket otherwise. I've had this one since 1995 and it has a lot more miles on it than my car, and has served me well all over the world.

Michael P. Martin
Attorney and Counselor at Law

Toothbrush

Michael:
The world is still a simple place. A toothbrush works for me. I can live without my Blackberry for a bit.
Jan D'Angelo
Senior VP, International Sales
Adam Aircraft

Watchband Compass

In all my years of traveling, the one item I never go without is actually pretty low tech. It's a very small compass that attaches to my watchband. With that, and a good map, I can find my way around in most any city.

Bud

Pizza Cutter And Hand Sanitizer

When I go to Italy, my pizza cutter !! When I go anywhere else, hand sanitizer, small, cone-shaped tooth brushes and, of course, my Mobal phone !!!!!

Ray Schwartz
Memphis, TN.

Umbrella

I never travel anywhere without an small lightweight umbrella about 14"x2"x3/4". Has come in handy a number of times.

Leigh Lingard