Let’s get the bad news out of the way. The chances that you will be scammed on any one given trip is pretty high. Most often, it is a distraction to get to your valuables like the ‘sauce’ trick. Someone spills or squirts sauce on you and pretends to help you while an accomplice runs off with your money.
Or the switch and go. Taxi drivers quickly give you change in a pretense to be in a hurry, all the while short-changing you. It can happen in shops as well as when there is a long queue to check out. Be aware that foreign denominations might look alike in color and design. Don’t fall for the ‘broken meter’ or unscheduled stops to shop. They will charge you more and get a kick-back from shop owners. Do not get into unlicensed taxis. It could be the starting point of kidnapping (especially in Latin America).
If a tour is too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure tour operators are solid in reviews and recommendations. Fake cops are everywhere. Beware of threats to issue you a ticket, but settling for a bribe instead. It is a scam. Do not let your ID out of your hand. You might have to buy it back! When renting anything – jet ski, car, moped, kayak – take multiple photos. If not, you might be accused of, “you damaged it, you pay for it”.
Never open a bar tab. Pay only for your own drinks, irrespective of how ‘friendly’ the locals are. You can land up with a huge bar tab. Also, you are not going to find fine art at a souvenir stand. The carving might be labeled as handcrafted, but it is probably mass-produced elsewhere.
Now for the GOOD news!
There are five airlines around the world that actually drop their prices from time to time. Check out these airlines for the best sales offerings:
Southwest Airlines (USA and Caribbean)
Scoot (Far East and Australia)
AirAsia (Asia and Oceania)
Ryan Air (UK and Europe)
JetStar Airways (Australia, Southeast Asia and South Pacific)
Expect to pay for luggage (carry-on and checked), meals, drinks and any kind of luxury, such as extended leg space. But you can’t complain if you only pay $50 for a flight (AirAsia). It is well worth keeping an eye on these.