Your Questions About Travel
Joseph asks…
Do you think the US Secretary of State should issue a TRAVEL ADVISORY for the Netherland Antilles Islands?
Are you will to write a letter to the Secretary of State Condolezza Rice, requesting a TRAVEL ADVISORY be issued for the Netherland Antilles Islands, especially since Amy Lynn Bradley (missing since 1998) and Natalee Ann Holloway (missing since 2005) have not been found? What other suggestion do you have for the families to assist the families in locating their daughters? Do you think the United States of America should “BOYCOTT” the Netherland Antilles and the Kingdom of the Netherlands? Would you be willing to participate in a Boycott Demonstration in Washington DC at the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ Embassy?
The Expert answers:
Why should anybody care?
Seriously… Two women – out of millions – have disappeared? Who cares?!
Chris asks…
Is there any travel advisory for foreigners visiting India nowadays?
My boss from Germany is visiting me next week, Has there been any advisory issued for foreigners?
The Expert answers:
None that I am aware of though due to Swine Flue they are taking extra screening precautions to be sure nobody who is running a high temp or showing certain other symptoms get in without being cleared by docs. Probably the same as most places now I guess.
Daniel asks…
Is it still just and good to abide by the discouraging “TRAVEL ADVISORY” regarding Nepal?
So many countries have discouraged their citizens regarding “TRAVEL IN NEPAL”. It might have been just and beneficial to the travellers and the travel-host country in the past when there was not peaceful situation in Nepal. But, its been almost two years that Nepal has overcome its arm-conflict and it is very peaceful now. So, in my opinion we should not not think more about Nepal and traveling around it.
The Expert answers:
Well, if there are still travel advisories issued, then there must be some intelligence that proves the area may still not be safe for citizens of that nation to travel there. An advisory is just that, advice. If you’re truly itching to go to Nepal, and feel you know you’ll be safe, then make plans to do so, but most importantly, make sure you inform your embassy. Inform the embassy of your trip’s schedule, where you’ll go, what you’ll do, a person to contact in case of emergency, etc. Informing them helps to protect you, just in case something does happen.
We won’t always know every reason why a government issues a travel advisory for countries (some of it may be top secret), but logging your trip with the embassy there is a great idea if you are determined to go there.
John asks…
Do you think the gov. should issue a travel advisory when travelling to Mexico?
I heard on the news that this couple was in a hit and run. It left the woman dead and the man with serious injury in the hospital. How safe do you feel when travelling to mexico? And do you think this thing happens far to often to tourists travelling to mexico? And do you wonder if this was a setup? And do you trust the mexico police to do a proper investigation on this matter? And is it worth putting your life on the line for a vacation to mexico because you save a few dollars? Come people I want to know how you feel, give me your voice!
The Expert answers:
The US Government does issue travel adviories about Mexico when they believe there is a problem. Usually a border town with abnormally high drug wars going on. They issued one concerning traveling to Oaxaca since the protestors closed down the city center. So yes they do issue travel warnings. Now you are asking about a travel warning because of a hit and run accident? I don’t see how one accident reported by the US media would be cause for alarm. While it is sad and unfortunate, it is not a reason to deter anyone from traveling.
Take a look around you in the USA. How many hit and run accidents with deaths do you hear about each year? How many gang drive by shootings do you read about in the newspapers? How many child abductions do you hear about each month? How many Amber Alerts do you see scroll across the TV screen?
My point is, that no place on the face of the earth is safe. Or that every place is as safe as you make it. Believe me the sky is not falling no matter how hard the media trys to paint that picture.
Mexico is a wonderful place. I found out from my Mexican friends that if someone is bad and will take advantage of me, my friends are not safe from that person either.
I was staying in Mexico in a hotel I have stayed many times in the past and many times since. This one day about 15 rooms were broken into and the wall safes were robbed. This guy only went for the cash, credit cards, and traveler’s checks. Not the cameras, lap tops, or other things. Of the 15 or so rooms that were broken into only two belonged to American’s, the rest were Mexican tourists.
In order to report the crime we had to go to the Mexican Police Station. After we gave the affidavit they came to investigate. Their CSI people dusted for prints and photographed the crime scenes.
Now about the money I lost. Traveler’s checks were replaced within 24 hours. My cash that was lost, I was able to prove about 90% of it. I filed a claim with the hotel, and their insurance company reimbursed me. But I was lucky since I kept records of the withdrawal and could provide hard copy evidence to them. Yes it was work, but worth it.
Then there are the times in the USA when my truck was stolen, my house was burglarized, I was robbed at gun point at an ATM, my truck was broken into and the stereo stolen. You want more of the bad that occurs here in the USA?
My point is this. Bad things happen everywhere. And GOOD THINGS HAPPEN EVERYWHERE.
I have one friend. He and I could do everything the same in traveling and he would have problems, see all the bad, and have something to complain about.
I would not see problems but challenges and opportunites. I would see the good and while there is always something to complain about, I look at it as more of an adventure.
Really the choice is your’s? Are you a negative looking person? Or are you a positive looking person? If you are the least bit negative, do not travel unless you take pride in being able to complain and gripe about things. Otherwise if you are positive get up and go. Take everything with a grain of salt. Life happens, nothing is risk free, and when it is your turn, it is your turn no matter how peaceful or violent it is.
Good luck and enjoy!
William asks…
European travel advisory … should I be worried about Austria and could this ruin my wedding?
We’re leaving for Salzburg next week to have our wedding ceremony and honeymoon. Is there any danger in Austria and could this travel warning ruin our plans?
The Expert answers:
No, don’t be worried. The US Department of State issued a travel advisory because a terror plot was recently uncovered & stopped, but the warning is actually so general it’s worthless:
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_europe.html
In any event, the capital cities of European countries with large Muslim populations (especially London & Paris) are the areas of concern and not Salzburg.
All you need to do to be safe in Salzburg is use the same very basic common sense needed in every city in the world. It’s also a lovely city and your choice of location is a good one.
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