Travel
8 Popular Travel Scams You Should Know About
Don’t let these clever scams ruin your vacation.
Animal Photo Ops
Getting a photo with an elephant or camel is big with tourists. Their trainers will usually offer $15 photo-ops on the camel’s back in front of iconic places like the great pyramids in Cairo. Yet once you’ve mounted the 8-foot tall beast and taken your photo, the trainers will demand another $15 just to get off. They’ll hold you hostage up their until you pay up– scary! Or they’ll offer to take a photo of you with an animal, but then demand a photography fee give you your camera back. Be wary of animal trainers or photographers offering photo ops, there’s usually a caveat. Plus, you can be sure that the animal was stolen from its family in the wild, trained using torturous techniques, and is not a happy camper.
Greedy Monkeys
In places like Bali and Costa Rica, monkeys (or rather, their captors) have good taste and love fine things. These brazen cute little primates have been trained to snatch your valuables before you can blink an eye and say “WTF?” Of course, some experienced locals will be happy to retrieve your loot for you –for a small(ish) price. Instead, find a staff member of some kind to help you out. Or better yet, keep your smaller goodies like sunglasses secured in your bag and away from any pesky mammals if you’re going somewhere with monkeys around.
Claire Martinez
I would just add that in a lot of countries, taxi drivers are just charging a lot more because you’re a tourist and they’re aware that you don’t know the prices there. So ask a local to book your taxi or someone that knows the country very well.
Sandra Walling
There was this kind cab driver, and I ask for his phone number so that I can easily contact him when I need I ride. He has been my driver for almost 2 years now 🙂
Mary Shirley
Those crazy CD bullies! It happened to me, one time. I threw his CD back to him! I was like, Dude, I don’t even know you!
Mira Kent
Haha! I love your come back to that dude! ?
Bernice Miles
You should always have phone records in case of emergencies. Aside from your phone contacts, you should have a phone book.
Cindy Simon
Oh, scammers! They’ll do anything just to have some easy money from people. Why don’t they just find a decent job!
Sharon Novak
Paris. This is a sad news to read that there are a lot of scammers in the city of love 🙁
Delores Mullen
I’m sad by those fake baby scams. You’re going to help that lady and yet they’ll be taking advantage of that kindness that you’ve shown.?
Ann Amos
I’ve never liked traveling alone. I can travel alone as long as the trip will be by a group. I prefer that than being alone, by myself, in a strange place I don’t know.
John Lineberger
I’m gonna share this with my girlfriend because she and her family loves to travel. It’s better to know about this and be careful than be sorry at a later time.
Donna Mack
Poor camels! Those Egyptians should be the one who’s TAKING CARE of them since they’re making use of them.