BootsnAll Travel Community

Okay, folks, I've got some rather really dirty tricks but until nowadays, I'm trying to convince myself it's survival technics rather than dirty tricks...

I get by a lot by relying on sympathy votes from locals. Whenever I go to countries where English speaking is not very common, I've got the writing all over my face, "I'm so terribly sorry. I'm in your country and I can't even speak a word of your language and it's a damn shame. But can you please be so kind to help me out?" I actually had French people in Paris apologize to me for not being able to speak better English for me by being this way.

Being a female, I found out it works so much better to have a sad look on my face and act totally bummed out, rather than confronting locals and get into an argument, when thing are not going well. Who'd possibly be mean to a little lone female traveller who's in a total strange place not knowing anyone, looking clueless and frightened? (Well, it didn't work very well in Germany but...) This works extreamly well when you're trying to get your flight straightened, you see. Well, of course, you'd have to know who to pick but I'm always good at that. Then I always tell them how greatful I am for their help of course.

Instead of demanding, I always ask everythig in favor, and in a very nice way. If that doesn't work, well... Screw them! You'll never see them anyway. LOL

Nic

don't know where the hotspots are in a city and you want to party? Don't rely on the dorky travel guide recommendations, walk down into a busy party of town and ask the person with the cool haircut where the party is.

hang around the audio guide return desk and try to scavange an audio guide for free off a returning gallery/museum goer...

throw your travel guide out the window and ask people on the street for everything - you never know whats gonna happen next, it may also just suck

Just from day to day life I would imagine a tub of vaseline (not sure what it would be called outside the UK) is an essential bit of kit.

Many, many uses including lip balm and helping with that universal (it would seem) problem - sore feet.

For the latter I was advised many years ago that when my boots were rubbing (which they can do even with the best socks) to place a good dod of vaseline on the boot itself at the point where it is digging in to you. This lubes the boot up and also softens the material.

It has worked a treat every time. A dod (or two for really harsh boots) of vaseline later and the boot is sufficiently soft to never rub again.

As I have knobbly feet (no pics I'm afraid) I put vaseline in new boots as soon as I get them at the points I know they will rub - why wait for the pain.

KG

Tip one: having an almost bald head, when I don't watch it, I can get seriously burned. Although this won't cure the burn, by taking a AS HOT AS YOU CAN STAND IT shower you will open up your pours and release much of the heat aspect of your situation. It works.

Tip two: for Americans. Remember the name of the small town and province in Canada you are from when confronted by a very hostile AntiAmerican types. I'm from Great Paw Ontario. It's about 350K north of Ottawa. It's just a small town of about 650 people, but if you like curling, it's the place to be. (It doesn't truley exist, but they won't know that they won't know that, eh.)
I only had to used it once many years ago in a bar in Spain, but am pretty confident that I wouldn't have left on 2 feet had I admitted to these drunken communists where I am truly from.

Tip three: If you don't want to be bothered by touts and obvious hustlers, learn a phrase or two in an obscure language and use it with a blank look on your face. They usually give up on you and move to the next English speaker.

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I only had to used it once many years ago in a bar in Spain, but am pretty confident that I wouldn't have left on 2 feet had I admitted to these drunken communists where I am truly from.

I wouldn't admit being from Winter Park either

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Tip three: If you don't want to be bothered by touts and obvious hustlers, learn a phrase or two in an obscure language and use it with a blank look on your face. They usually give up on you and move to the next English speaker

I used this technique on the prostitutes in Madrid.

What language did you use on them? I'm a linguistics geek.

So how's Ybor city these days on a Friday? Still an eclectic group?

You've been on the board for a while. Many of us from the Sunshine state?

I just ignored the English they were throwing at me so when they asked me what I spoke they went through the list and I just kept saying no.

Occasionally I would say I spoke French just to hear the girls say something in French.

Back on the hiking socks point I find using a really thin pair with a thicker pair over reduces blisters.

One thing not to do. Don't carry washing powder over borders in Asia!

Walkabout says this:

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Get acquainted with a smell on your trip. For me, it was this really cool deoderant. Now, whenever I smell it at home (its hard to find), I have this memory orgasm of my traveling and experiences.

Try it with green tea bags, hand cream, anything. It sounds SO LAME but it is so cool.

Not lame at all. Proust wrote seven volumes about it, and IMO smell is the most powerful sense.
Great idea, Walkabout.

Another one from me: I make my own private guide book, on lokta paper (very light), cutting out just the parts I'm going to need, writing in poems I want to read on the trip, addresses of people I want to send cards to, maps, whatever. Then I can leave those heavy LP or Rough Guide books at home. Great lokta paper journals available from nepalesepaper.com

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Originally posted by Grannygold:
Walkabout says this:

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Get acquainted with a smell on your trip. For me, it was this really cool deoderant. Now, whenever I smell it at home (its hard to find), I have this memory orgasm of my traveling and experiences.

Try it with green tea bags, hand cream, anything. It sounds SO LAME but it is so cool.

Not lame at all. Proust wrote seven volumes about it, and IMO smell is the most powerful sense.
Great idea, Walkabout.

You can combine this tip with another tip on one of the boards about stopping your rucksack / travel pouch getting stinky.

One poster recommends taking a small bottle of essential oil with you and dropping a few spots of this onto your rucksack or travel pouch every so often to keep it smelling fresh.

I have chosen a rose scented one after inspiration from my granny. She lived in Kenya for years and had no idea why but the smell of roses always brings back vivid memeories for her.

Thought it was a common enough smell to come across in the UK occassionally but not so common that it is associated with other things.

KG

I feel like I hit the motherload of travel tips on this thread - Thanks!

I also live w/ Febreeze when traveling, I can go an extra day to two between sink washes.

I don't travel w/ essential oils, but if my back is getting funky, I pick up CHEAP scented wafers .. the kind you hang in your car ... and stick them in my bag. I had a customs agent comment on how 'pretty' my bag smelled after a month on the road.

I second the gold bond medicated powder and bottle of hand sanitizer - they are invaluable! Some other ideas:

*I always attach 5-10 safety pins to my bag. They come in really handy for pinning laundry to your pack to dry, making minor repairs, etc. I have never had any trouble carrying those on to a flight, either.

*Bring a collection of your favorite over-the-counter medicines, as most countries have similar products to those you might have at home, but with a language barrier and different drug regulations, sometimes I couldn't find what I needed (ex: Nyquil)

*When you have change due to you from a cab, etc.,(especially in developing countries) always get the change in your hand from the driver before you turn over your larger bill to them. Call me a cynic, but I've involuntarily paid too much several times. Sucker!!

*When it comes to getting into places you shouldn't be or without paying fees in places with a language barrier, there is no substitute for smiling, nodding your head, and saying "yes, yes, yes" a lot. While doing that, point to yourself and then point to where you want to go. Don't stop moving, and you're in!

*Memorizing the phrase "I don't speak English" in two mutually exclusive languages will prevent a lot of hassle from touts all over the world. I've found that Spanish and Russian are almost never spoken in the same place and work well for this.

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Originally posted by Bideshi:
*Memorizing the phrase "I don't speak English" in two mutually exclusive languages will prevent a lot of hassle from touts all over the world. I've found that Spanish and Russian are almost never spoken in the same place and work well for this.

Yep - my husband and I just repeat a couple of pharases we know in Gaelic, Latvia, Estonian and add in some gobbledygook. Complete nonsense but the touts soon find an easier target.

Just chucked out the hamd sanitiser tho as I haven't used it in 3 months. Maybe that says more about my personal hygene though...

KG

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Originally posted by AnCailin21:

I also put money in my bra when going out in a foreign country, which cuts down on the hassle (and danger) of carrying a purse.

Yes, have also tried this one - sadly only works with notes though so as soon as I'd bought my first round I was stuck for somewhere to put the coins I got for change! Bummer! The other major downside is having to either pop to the loo every time you want a beer or risk attracting a following a pervy lads as you try to fish for your last tenner while at the bar!

From now on I make a point of wearing trousers with pockets in - much much easier!

Capt. Steve had that same, exact problem.

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Originally posted by KPG:

quote:

Originally posted by Bideshi:
*Memorizing the phrase "I don't speak English" in two mutually exclusive languages will prevent a lot of hassle from touts all over the world. I've found that Spanish and Russian are almost never spoken in the same place and work well for this.

Yep - my husband and I just repeat a couple of pharases we know in Gaelic, Latvia, Estonian and add in some gobbledygook. Complete nonsense but the touts soon find an easier target.

Just chucked out the hamd sanitiser tho as I haven't used it in 3 months. Maybe that says more about my personal hygene though...

KG

That's why I've learned how to say a few phrases in Navajo. Trust me, hardly anyone outside of the US (or inside the US) can understand it.

Ya know, I was wondering recently... for the non-native English speakers, do any of you know or understand Pig Latin?

>Ya know, I was wondering recently... for the non-native >English speakers, do any of you know or understand Pig >Latin?

Esya!

From my month long trip, my utensil kit proved to be invaluable. I can buy a yogurt or salad from supermarkets and never have to worry about how I will eat them.

Nic

quote:

Originally posted by Llalewyn:

quote:

Originally posted by KPG:

quote:

Originally posted by Bideshi:
*Memorizing the phrase "I don't speak English" in two mutually exclusive languages will prevent a lot of hassle from touts all over the world. I've found that Spanish and Russian are almost never spoken in the same place and work well for this.

Yep - my husband and I just repeat a couple of pharases we know in Gaelic, Latvia, Estonian and add in some gobbledygook. Complete nonsense but the touts soon find an easier target.

Just chucked out the hamd sanitiser tho as I haven't used it in 3 months. Maybe that says more about my personal hygene though...

KG

That's why I've learned how to say a few phrases in Navajo. Trust me, hardly anyone outside of the US (or inside the US) can understand it.

Thihs works FANTASTICALLY in pushy cab driver/salesmen situations. Especially ones you can't just walk away from (ie, on the 10 hours train ride from Bucharest to Cluj in Romania). Co? Co? Nemluvim Anglicky. Ne. Promin. Nerozumim. And he was gone. This might actually be one of the most useful travel trics I've ever used, as I hate situations where there are 3000 cab drivers yelling at me when I just want to walk across the street for a pastry.

Also, I'm sure everybody already does this, but pick up and leave books as you go so you aren't ever carrying more than a couple.

Cliff bars are the miracle food. They fill you up, are full of vitamins and actually taste like food.