Bring bourbon – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Many countries have limited access to American-made Bourbon Whiskey, but people outside the U.S. love the stuff. With the American dollar at an all-time low, it’s a good idea to have something to barter with overseas.

Some Japanese will spend the equivalent of $40 for a handle of cheap whiskey that costs $20 or less in America. So, bring a few bottles of your favorite bourbon to your country of choice and bring back souvenirs for your whole family.

Alternatively, present a bottle to your host as a deep appreciation for inviting/hosting you.

[Photo: Flickr | Chris.Corwin]

Stay with missionaries when traveling – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

If you’re affiliated with a church group, contact the missionaries in the country you want to visit. Staying with them will offer you the opportunity to see life as it’s lived daily by “real” locals; provide a rent-free (or very inexpensive) place to live; and if you offer to help the missionaries with some projects (something as simple as babysitting to give them a day off), you will endear yourself to them forever.

Bonus: you won’t have to learn a foreign language, as you’ll have the missionaries as built-in translators wherever you go.

[Photo: Flickr | sanbeiji]

Trade souvenirs when traveling – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

That White Sox hat you’re wearing above your “I hiked the Grand Canyon” t-shirt may be a hot commodity in some countries. Many items we take for granted are both unique and highly sought-after in many foreign nations.

If you find something at a vendor’s stall you like, offer that vendor something of yours in exchange for that good. Maybe he’d like your hat, or that extra shirt in your bag. While you’re not allowed to bring a cache of items into a foreign country to sell, trading items you would normally have in your luggage is perfectly acceptable. No extra luggage room is needed — and you don’t need extra cash on hand, since you’re swapping goods.

It’s not icky to give someone the hat off your head! Trading souvenirs is fun; you get to interact with the locals; and you go home with souvenirs and a great story on how you acquired them.

[Photo: Flickr | Courtneysue75]

Go on a “Food Scavenger Hunt” – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Guidebooks are all well and good, but they rarely take you off the beaten path. Before arriving in an unfamiliar place, pick an unusual food to track down in your destination; it’s even better if you can find the same food in multiple countries.

Finding specific foods is a particularly great way to pound the local pavement. Look for an egg salad sandwich, rhubarb pie, or a Bud Light. If you find it easily, come up with something else to hunt down. You never know what else you’ll discover in the process — and it can help give aimless days some form.

Pro tip: do some research before arriving and select a food item unique to the local culture.

[Photo: Flickr | david55king]

Use a calculator as a bargaining tool – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Always carry a small calculator when you travel internationally. It will save the day when you are trying to figure out how much things cost in “real” money.

Moreover, since math is universal, it will cut across language barriers when haggling in markets — just type in what you want to pay, pass it to the seller, and let him enter his counter offer.

You’ll avoid struggling with the right word for the number, and you won’t end up paying cinquenta dolares ($50) instead of cinco dolares ($5) for that sombrero for Uncle George.

[Photo: Flickr | ken2754@Yokohama]