How to Avoid Getting Scammed When Traveling

by Micheal Quinn

In Greece this week, undercover law enforcement officials are cracking down on eating places over-charging travelers; one American traveler stated on TripAdvisor that he was charged 830 euros for six beers and three salads at an eating place in Mykonos.

Scammed

Let’s face it—we’ve all fallen victim to the occasional scam as tourists. For example, I’ve agreed to pay more than necessary on cab rides and might pay a hefty price for a salad, too. When journeying remote places (or even in the country), you must continually study common scams at your vacation spot precisely so you gained’t fall into rackets played on tourists, as u/DonLemonNYE2019 recommended on a recent Reddit thread.

These scams aren’t usually obvious, unlawful acts like pickpocketing, either; it can be as simple as overcharging you for water or giving mixtapes freely in exchange for coins “donations” (a familiar New York hustle). Over the latest put-up, we amassed a few familiar scams from readers who visited towns worldwide. Here are a few noteworthy ones:

“Chicago: parking costs are insane, and my dear vacationers, if you aren’t using the city, do not hassle renting an automobile. Parking downtown for 2 hours without problems hits $50.” -ThePeeplesCourt. “I located this in Bulgaria lower back in 2010. However, I assume it’s the same for each USA vacation destination. It’s a bottled water scam where parents are reusing vintage water bottles they find in the trash, on the street, and so forth. And refilling with popular faucet water.” -AG74683.

“In Toronto, a female may tell people they are beautiful and offer a sticky label in exchange for a donation. She occasionally says it’s for charity, but from time to time, she doesn’t say where it’s going, but it usually goes in her pocket. The Toronto Sun did an editorial on The Sticker Lady exposing how she budgets her house in the suburbs and V.W. with the money she collects.” -Cc.

“In Shanghai, if you are on East Nanjing Street. And every person methods you to talk; it’s a rip-off. Please do not go anywhere for tea, look at an art show, or assist anyone in practicing their English. The tea will price masses in step with glass, the art will suck and be overpriced with a terrific guilt trip, and the ‘practice my English’ line will continuously lead the primary two matters cited.” -ulic14.

If you need to investigate a few familiar scams at your vacation spot, the perfect manner to do this is to type opinions on journey websites like TripAdvisor; if you plan to visit the Eiffel Tower, for instance, you should read via a number of its more vital reviews. (Some TripAdvisor individuals warn visitors of “pass the line” scams to get up the tower quicker.)

Otherwise, do an internet search on sites like Reddit to discover different scams you must avoid regarding expenses. These scams shouldn’t scare you away—it’s simply proper to understand what to anticipate when journeying a few traveler hot spots.

What If I Already Have a Valid B1/B2 Visitor Visa?

While the ESTA Travel Authorization is completed online with no interview, some Visas require a U.S. Embassy interview. The Visa system has separate tactics, which commonly require an appointment, a tour to a U.S. Embassy, an interview with a Consular Officer, processing time, and an application fee.

Suppose an overseas national already went to the U.S. Embassy and had a valid B1/B2 Visitor Visa pasted in their passport. In that case, getting an ESTA Travel Authorization isn’t always vital because the traveler might be coming in with a B1/B2 Visitor Visa and no longer through the Visa Waiver Program. Remember that an accredited ESTA Travel Authorization isn’t always a Visa.

Can I reapply for an ESTA Travel Authorization if it is denied?

However, you must wait at least ten days to reapply, and your circumstances should have been modified. Unless there is an alternative in a substantial fact, re-application will not change the result. Remember that applying for an ESTA Travel Authorization with fake information can cause an overseas national to be completely barred from ever getting into America. The ESTA system is designed to prevent individuals from changing and manipulating an ESTA access until they get approval.

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