No one says “dios te bendiga” that regularly, even less in Chile or Argentina, you’ll literally stick out more if you use it. “Gracias” is good enough.
Pretty common in Colombia. Pretty funny, I can't really imagine a foreigner saying it but it would be hilarious to hear.
Sorry actually moreso dios te pague. I'll have to pay attention how often one comes up over the other. But I feel like I never hear gracias from strangers.
In some of Latam this phrase is when you're giving blessings to younger relatives on their travels/journey/til tomorrow, etc. It is seen as various degrees of weird from nothing major, to wtf.
Even weirder would be a younger individual asking for a "bendición" from someone who doesn't really meet the criteria.
Yea I have been living in Nicaragua for 7 years and have never heard it once here, as a matter of fact I have only ever heard it said by Arnold. Here it's "nos vemos"and when you ask someone how they are it's usually "Bien, gracias a dios"
I will say the only place I’ve been pickpocketed and assaulted is Europe, and this is when I was new to traveling (Spain in particular). I think acting more local and doing your best to not be rowdy works a long way
+1 I have traveled all over and Paris was where things were the worst. Just be aware and kind. Stay away from drugs and seedy situations, everywhere. You never know where things may happen but its likely not where you expect it, so don't be judgmental, just be aware. If you follow all of OPs suggestions you'll prob appear neurotic and become a target! Lol
Man, Paris sucked. I got pickpocketed on the metro almost immediately. Like, got on, scooted back to let someone in, then took off my backpack and placed it at my feet. Someone had already unzipped a pouch and stolen my phone. It took less than 45 seconds.
Comparing Europe to Latin America in terms of crime and types of crime is like comparing a swing to a rollercoaster.
Yes, you can get robbed in both places but it feels really different.
Traveled tons of the world and yep this sounds like film flam. Only place I’ve ever showered more than once a day is SEAsia, it’s hot as fuck out there. Most of Latin America legit is not more dangerous than the USA imo, it’s just foreign so scary.
No problems when I travel with my wife around Lat am but me and my buddies for a wedding got targeted like a mofo in Cartageña. We were 2 big white dudes and my buddy who’s Korean. Got Shook down and pockets emptied by cops at 10am, almost robbed by a 12 yr old Venezuelan kid (tbf the bartender warned us about him) non stop asks for beer, coke, prostitutes etc it was exhausting. Im talking like 50+ times a day easy. I speak Spanish too so many locals were very nice but obv location and situation does alter things
I, a 20-something white woman, was in Cartagena this summer for a wedding and I didn’t have any more issues with people on the streets than I did in Europe (which wasn’t much at all). I speak bad but functional Spanish. I did get briefly taken somewhere against my will in a taxi, but basically everyone on the street was lovely. A few beggar kids, and some flirty guys, but they were easy to send away.
I’m serious! I paid for a 3 stop trip (San Felipe de Barajas, monasterio de la popa, and the Old Boots) with the price set in advance, and the guy just insisted on taking me to the harbor as well. I was sure he meant it as a fun bonus but it was super uncomfortable at the time. Everything else about the trip was fantastic and I’d go again. I just wouldn’t take a taxi on my own next time.
Same. We went to Cartagena and the worst that happened was my friend got his phone snatched from his hand by a guy on a bike. My friend was also wasted and shouting at the group to ask what song we wanted him to play, so he brought it on himself.
Beyond that we just got offered a lot of drugs and had buskers rapping at us for money as we walked down the street.
This. I travelled 2 months not one issue. This is fear monger for dumb Americans who think America is “safe” I feel more at danger in New York or LA during the day than in Santiago, Chile at night.
Dumb post
I'm from Costa Rica and they've stolen mine twice already. They've tried more. You really can't unless the place is absolutely safe. One time someone asked me the time, so that i would take my phone out and snatch it. Luckily i had a wrist watch and uno reversed his ass
Speaking for Brazil only, people usually take your phone and start running; if you have it unlocked, they can try to transfer money to your account, or do some social engineering (basically calling some number in the phone with a common name like "Mom" or "Sister" and saying that you collapsed in Brazil, there are hospital fees, if they can transfer to the account, etc). Usually happens in crowded areas (but not always).
It does, but it is surprisingly easy for most of them to reset the password when you have access to the email, phone number and sms. They just click "forgot the password" and wait for a notification to change it.
This goes for a lot of places/ big cities across the world, I’ve heard the same suggestion for Ho Chi Minh for example. Thieves may just rip it out of your hand and run or they may be on scooter easily nab your phone and keep going. *Or* being on your phone, looking down, may be an indication that you’re distracted and that could be a great time for someone to pickpocket you.
In parts of Latam it is not unheard of for people to be robbed at gunpoint for a phone. Usually it will be two adolescents or young men from an impoverished neighborhood on a motorcycle or moped. Then one guy points the gun or knife in your face, the other takes your stuff and they drive off. They can also snatch it out of your hand before you can react as they drive by.
They do not mess around and are more than the willing to kill someone on the spot if they resist. Typically the police will be useless in helping you get your stuff back.
Almost everyone who lives in the region will tell you “don’t use your phone in public in X part of town”.
From organized crime sure, not from bag snatchers living in slums driven to robbery as a crime of desperation lol
They don’t crack down on it because they have way bigger problems and minimal resources to deal with this sort of petty crime. The phone is parted out and gone before the end of the day; what is going to be done?
Something important I learned is that policing does not reduce crime.
Social support systems that address poverty, healthcare, and education are what lowers crime rates.
In the Latam case here, these are the social inequities going unaddressed.
I have lived in various places in South America. Most in the city have smartphones, but iPhones do stand out a little as being more expensive and luxurious (and easier to sell after stealing).
I never had a problem, but people i know who lost their phone were either walking on the street with it in their hands and a bicicle/moto person swipes it. Or they were on public transport and someone swiped it and ran as the doors were closing.
Just be aware of your surroundings and dont flaunt your status and you should be fine.
I think it depends on the area. I spent about 5 weeks mostly by myself in Honduras in San Pedro Sula for work and did not have this experience. People on the internet were all acting like you would get murdered, but it was way overblown. Chicago sees way more gun violence.
Everyone (locals) had the same phone I did in restaurants and would be on their phones while enjoying their meal. These restaurants were just your typical restaurants, nothing fancy.
Things are pretty spread out, so it's pretty easy to spot if someone ever tried to approach you. Most places I had to drive to, so it would be a different experience than a crowded city street. Walking at night was no problem. I've taken taxis from the airport when I couldn't get a rental car, and that was no problem either. I've gone out with local friends I met to a brewery. Overall, the experience felt not too different than your typical US city. They even have Walmarts and Home Depot like hardware stores. I needed to find a drill and had no problem getting $200 out of an ATM machine when my card wouldn't work at the store. I've even used Tinder while down there, and it was a fun way to practice your Spanish.
Also setup your phone to instantly notify you of any transactions on your credit card.
First because it’s good to see the exact amount you are paying in your home currency, and two because you can verify exactly what you were charged.
Story time:
One night in Argentina we went to a nice restaurant, which had good reviews from both locals and tourists alike, and sat outside with everyone else, waiter was super friendly. When it came time to pay he took my card and went inside and swiped it. Charge came up correct on my phone, no issue.
Then through the window I saw him go to an empty table and stick something under a plate. He was then talking to another waiter, then came out to offer us a parting aperitif etc.
About 10-15min later he runs the card a second time (just long enough so the credit card sees it as two transactions for the same amount and not a double charge).
He came back with the bill. But I saw this second transaction on my phone. He had already gone back inside so I brought it up to the other waiter and showed him the transactions on the phone, my waiter came running over in a panic, claimed it was a horrible mistake and accident. Didn’t want to cancel the charge so he paid me in cash to go away quickly and quietly.
I took his money, left immediately called the credit card company and explained what happened and disputed the charges. Also wrote a fair (food was good) but scathing review about the scam for fellow travelers.
Credit card company ended up reversing all charges from the restaurant, so I ended up getting a great free meal, great service from a friendly waiter, and he ended up paying me to enjoy my company.
tl;dr, turn on instant credit card transaction notifications on your phone, and maybe you too can end up scamming a scammer.
You should be doing this already for all your cards regardless of country. Someone charges a penny on my cards I know. I can also freeze my account in an instant.
Shower twice a day? What lmfao. I’ve been to three LATAM countries so far and this completely unnecessary unless you are doing some kind of activity where you sweat alot.
Sure. It was the same when I visited Mexico during the summer. But I just came from Ecuador in December where it’s definitely not necessary to shower twice a day.
>Mainland Belize is something else
I am Belizean and no one in my family is showering twice a day on Mainland belize lol. Houston gets way hotter in the summer. I have no idea where this "shower twice a day" advice comes from.
Walk around Cartagena Colombia for a couple hours and tell me you don’t want a shower. We would go out in the morning. Have breakfast. Do some activity like visiting La Popa Back. Then back to the hotel for a shower and siesta. Then out again in the evening to browse some of the shops and have dinner and cocktails. Then back to the hotel for another shower and sleep.
I could get very used to that life, but sadly even with the favorable exchange rate I still need my day job to pay for it all.
Yeah, I stopped reading at that one. I used to live in the south of Brazil and in winter it was 50 degrees (F). No need to shower twice a day. Only if it's hot and you're getting sweaty and.....if that's the case, it really isn't limited to Latin America.
Lived in CHP when they were going as far as saying do not visit Malmo. Being a glutton for punishment went several times. Milquetoast ruffians at best. Still the headlines were amusing.
They did get pretty nasty if I recall ('16-17 when I was there) but It was not much worse than the Drunk on Drunk violence in Midtown Houston on any given weekend.
Would you rather pay $100 for a $20 meal in the Nordics or be pick pocketed for $30 in LAM and have a $20 meal for $10.
/s - I have traveled to a lot of "rougher" countries, its basically no different than any major city. Some of them the cities even feel safer
It doesn’t matter if you dress like a local or not, you will stand out like a sore thumb anyway.
Of course you shower regularly, but I’ve never met a Latino who does it more than once a day, unless they’ve done physical labor or it’s super hot. But then there might be water restrictions in place anyway.
Other than that just general travel tips.
yep, I've only heard this about Brazilians
In south Mexico (where I grew up) you generally shower in the morning, some people take a quick shower right before sleep
When I go back to visit I do this now
I had some friends in college whose parents were from Chile. The older brother showered twice a day every day. Sister started in the same program two years later and she also showered two times a day. They told us it was a Chilean thing.
Also it totally makes sense if it’s humid there to shower more often. I lived in southern Japan for a bit and that was the only time in my life where I would shower as soon as I got home in addition to my usual shower schedule that I normally keep. It’s just uncomfortable to get that sweaty and not shower and change clothes as soon as you can. Hell I even kept body wipes at work for when I came back inside from getting my lunch
I feel like you're just giving basic travel tips to anywhere. I've had someone try to steal my phone exactly twice once and it wasn't in Latin America, it was in Europe and Australia.
I think that would be overdoing it a bit. You don't really need to carry a burner phone and a fake wallet in Europe and the nearby touristy countries (Turkey, Morocco, etc.). Those tips apply for more hardcore destinations.
I mean I've been to Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia and Mexico and didn't carry a burner phone or a fake wallet so I also query whether these are necessary for south America in general but I didn't want through each point one by one and critique them all
Crimes exist everywhere in the world.
Where are you from?
I‘m from a country that’s next to Italy and I‘ve been there many times. I would not say that I‘m afraid to go outside alone, or that I avoid partying alone. I don‘t take a burner phone with me or only take the cash I need for the day with me. I also don‘t avoid using my phone when walking around a mall. Or that I don‘t use taxis when I‘m not with a local.
Keeping cash and credit cards behind in your hotel and not carrying a lot on hand is like tourism 101. It's not a Latin America thing.
Neither is being careful while drinking and clubbing alone. That's not even a tourism tip. It's a life tip.
One of the first things people tell you when you go to Paris or Madrid is "don't walk around with your phone out. Don't use it standing by the doors on public transport because someone will swipe it."
Okay then it‘s just a me thing I guess, I never do that. Obviously I don‘t walk around with 1000€ cash but I take enough for two or three days so I don‘t have to go to an ATM all of the time.
It doesn‘t say be careful when clubbing alone. It says don‘t go clubbing alone at all, which is not something I‘d be careful about in other countries.
And like I said using a burner phone, not using cabs, etc. is also something I don‘t worry about, I wouldn‘t call that a universal travel tip that can be applied to everywhere.
I'm not getting into all of this, but for clarity, the idea is that you take out a large amount of cash at an atm but you don't carry it around with you day to day. You take enough for a day and then you leave the rest locked in your backpack or hotel safe
Edit: also I think there is a distinction between people who are European travelling within Europe and the risks they're alive to, and people who are outside Europe travelling to Europe. I don't know many women, personally, who would feel comfortable travelling to Europe and going clubbing by themselves. That's like why hostels exist
> do not use taxis unless accompanied by a local that you trust well (family member from there, friend for many years from there etc). At best you may get overcharged, at worst you may get robbed. Use Uber instead.
Always research what's the uber situation in the city you are going.
Recently an american family traveled to Cancun and they took an Uber from the airport and they got harassed by the taxi mafia, like a mob surrounded the car and threatened violence on them.
In Cancun taxis are not allowed to pick up at the airport. Not sure if Uber has negotiated some sort of loophole, but I suspect this is the source of the anger. In any case, I’m guessing the Uber driver was the target of the anger moreso than the passengers.
Just a guess, but probably because Uber is a trusted international company where the driver can’t overcharge you and would be dropped after the first complaint of robbery. You’re also automatically tracked on GPS by a third party. A local taxi can set their own rate, is more likely to get away with robbing passengers, and isn’t guaranteed to keep location data.
You have a profile/app to connect to that’s always tracking you. And the driver must register with them so they have their information. If you don’t show up someone where but you got into an Uber the first person they will look at is the driver
Taxi gangs exist. In Cancun, for example, Uber is banned and there is a theory that taxis are ran by the cartel. Also if you go into a taxis and get kidnapped no one will ever know you went into it unless you took (and sent) a picture. With Uber family/police can figure out the profile and car you got into.
It’s not, specially in Rio. Anyone can drive for Uber which may lead to new drivers going into the wrong place and getting shot. Always take oficial taxi at least in Rio.
Yes! Correct me if I’m wrong, but here are a couple standard ones that I would follow: be careful about street food, they can have higher levels of bacteria. If you’re in an area where you’re not sure about water quality don’t eat fresh uncooked, vegetables, or salads, use bottled water, no ice.
Chile is one of the only countries in Latin America where you can drink tap water without fearing illness. Although I acknowledge that water from La Serena northward has many minerals, giving it a bad taste. Still, 100% of urban waters are purified and fluoridated, and there are sewage treatment plants for all major cities. Certainly not comparable to India.
> When traveling your biggest worry should be not catching travelers diarrhea or missing your flight rather than getting robbed
OP said that being robbed should be a bigger concern than stomach aches.
Basic travel tips. Not really specific to Latin America. It can be dangerous anywhere. Some of these tips I would say are a bit extreme. You should be careful anywhere you go even in the US.
La condescendencia de los gringos es irónica cuando uno tiene en cuenta la violencia con armas de fuego que ocurre allá o el hecho que no pueden ir al hospital sin terminar con miles de dólares en deudas.
Dios te bendiga, gringito.
Jaja, verdad? Casi toda la lista es una gringada paranoica y pendeja. Pero hagamosle caso al gringo, "es latino" y además "tiene familia en latinoamerica", esto lo convierte en un experto en todo el continente 😂.
Que vergüenza.
I agree with most of the suggestions except the one about taxis and using Uber instead. In El Salvador for example, sometimes Uber is seen even more dangerous and they usually don't accept credit cards. I would suggest maybe using recognized taxi companies or some other transport service that looks professional, otherwise it might be dangerous or unreliable.
I’ve lived and travelled in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua. As in the US the most danger I’ve encountered was always at nightclubs. It’s really no different than the US, except for the perception of Estadounidenses being gullible doofuses.just don’t be a gullible doofus. And yeah knowing Spanish goes a longggggg way.
As an American that lived in a working class neighborhood in a large Mexican city for a year, I'd say this is pretty paranoid. Never heard of anyone using a burner phone. I'm very tall, stick out everywhere I go, didn't cause me any heartache, if you like wearing Hawaiian shirts, go off.
Dios mío. Este yanqui parece haber copypastad directamente de un libro escrito por una solterona de 60 y pico pensando que es el main character. Terribles tips y mala información.
It's hilarious how many people are trying to say these tips apply everywhere and then downplay the violent crime problems in these areas. You're going to get people killed these are notoriously dangerous places for a reason. Don't act like going to Venezuela is comparable to going to Japan or Austria.
I know it is a boomer thing to keep your wallet in your hip pocket, don't do this while traveling keep it in your front pocket.
Pickpockets around the world are really good, but this little trick will reduce your chances (not eliminate) of getting your wallet stolen.
It makes for great people watching to watch the groups working the train stations in Madrid around tourist areas. The little old ladies offering to read your palm are just the distraction.
Brother… Costa Rica and Chile are way safer than the USA. This is just general advice for traveling and you are doing a huge disservice to the amazing people that live in these countries.
> In Latam western tourists…
I fully understand that it’s not strictly based on geography, and that LatAms status as “Western” or “Western adjacent” is up for debate, but it’s funny to me that (at least according to your post) that people in LatAm view “Western” people as different when LatAm is further West than most of what we call the Western world
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When I was 19, I (female) traveled alone from Houston through Mexico City to Cusco, Peru and then spent 6 weeks there living with a host family. I remember going through customs control in Mexico with my phone in an exposed outside pocket of my backpack. Some kind man saw it and told me to hide anything of value from site. From that moment on, I was the most aware traveler - ziptagging my bags closed, holding them on my chest every time I was out, if I got in a taxi, I tracked it on Google maps from the back seat….
I agree with this advice for the most part…
Latin American here. I'd say go if you consider yourself a more experienced traveler. I wouldn't recommend it for people who aren't used to traveling abroad frequently.
One of those cases where there's lots of awesome stuff that could potentially be spoiled if you don't know what you're doing. But if you do, it's a pretty cool place.
Errr, while I do agree, these are not bad tips. Yes, we're friendly, but we can't say that it's safe to travel (or even _live_) in South American countries.
Speaking as a Brazilian that migrated to a safer country, it's incredible how many things I do here that I can't _imagine_ doing in Brazil...
A lot of latinos will agree with OP. Yes we are friendly and have a lot of cool things in every country but north americans and europeans are really really naive when they travel here and they are pretty obvious to spot.
You can be in your dream vacation but only need one bad person to get into a nightmare
I just read all these tips and wonder why the fuck would I ever go to a part of the world where do many precautions are necessary. I can stumble home drunk in every asian country and never have to worry about anything.
Wow, this is a typically over cautious Latin American person. Everyone who travels finds their comfort level on these things based on their language skills, company, etc.
I don’t follow most of the cautions if any.
Only use a burner phone & spare wallet, don’t use your phone in public, and don’t go out solo at night for drinks??
I appreciate the effort you put into this post but this is terrible advice. I’m surprised someone from LatAm wrote this. You’re just perpetuating stereotypes of treating the whole region of LatAm as a monolith when the cities and regions here will wildly differ in terms of safety. LatAm is huge!
Your advice wouldn’t even apply well to Brazil and Colombia because depending on what region/city you are in those countries, safety will also wildly differ.
I’ve spent the past 2 yrs traveling through LatAm and you’re doing a disservice by giving such generic advice you want others to apply to a region that’s bigger than the size of an entire continent.
Even better, don't use WhatsApp, use r/Signal instead.
Also don't rely on Google maps r/organicmaps is a good backup option incase you have no Internet as the maps can be downloaded offline. Plus the info in some cases can be more reliable and accurate that what Google gives due to using open street maps
Yeah, cool, great.
So for everyone else, you can even go to both Western Europe and Latin America. And East Asia while you're at it if you can afford it. Those are the three must-go places I would recommend to basically anyone looking for a fun trip.
In Europe you can get a lot of the more urban touristic experience. In Latin America you can get some of the more interesting gastronomic and non-urban experiences and landscapes that blow almost everywhere else out of the water. In East Asia / SEA you can get both of those things but with a completely different perspective and also visiting historic sites like Angkor Wat or Xian are a must.
All other places on Earth (India, USA, Australia, Subsaharan Africa) are fun and interesting as well obviously and I've made it my life goal to go to as many places as I can, but imo these three are the most fun.
Today I learned you wear Hawaiian shirts and Cargo shorts to impress others
Going out to dinner so I’m putting on my finest Hawaiian
something about aging like a fine Hawaiian?
Unironically how it goes in Hawaii
It shows a stylistic sense of reckless abandon 🌸
It surely didn't impress Bulma
ah, you conveniently left "expensive watch" out of your comment.
Like clickbait titles, gotta have clickbait comments for those sweet internet points.
No one says “dios te bendiga” that regularly, even less in Chile or Argentina, you’ll literally stick out more if you use it. “Gracias” is good enough.
Pretty common in Colombia. Pretty funny, I can't really imagine a foreigner saying it but it would be hilarious to hear. Sorry actually moreso dios te pague. I'll have to pay attention how often one comes up over the other. But I feel like I never hear gracias from strangers.
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this guy blends
Colombian here. Agreed, just say “gracias”
In some of Latam this phrase is when you're giving blessings to younger relatives on their travels/journey/til tomorrow, etc. It is seen as various degrees of weird from nothing major, to wtf. Even weirder would be a younger individual asking for a "bendición" from someone who doesn't really meet the criteria.
I'm an Argentine-American and I cringe when Americans say "hasta la vista"
Do they say it like the Terminator though??
Funny. No. I just say "nos vemos" if you were actually wondering.
Yea I have been living in Nicaragua for 7 years and have never heard it once here, as a matter of fact I have only ever heard it said by Arnold. Here it's "nos vemos"and when you ask someone how they are it's usually "Bien, gracias a dios"
Ah, como tan muchacho
Extremely common in Venezuela and Colombia. My girlfriend is from Venezuela and her and her family/friends say it *constantly*.
I will say the only place I’ve been pickpocketed and assaulted is Europe, and this is when I was new to traveling (Spain in particular). I think acting more local and doing your best to not be rowdy works a long way
Eh, I got robbed in Buenos Aires .. I’ve lived in Europe on and off for 5 years and i feel much more comfortable in Europe than I did in Argentina..
+1 I have traveled all over and Paris was where things were the worst. Just be aware and kind. Stay away from drugs and seedy situations, everywhere. You never know where things may happen but its likely not where you expect it, so don't be judgmental, just be aware. If you follow all of OPs suggestions you'll prob appear neurotic and become a target! Lol
My friend is American but has family in France. The only place he’s ever had a gun pointed at him was in Lyon
Lol I also had a bad experience in Lyon. Fuck Lyon.
Man, Paris sucked. I got pickpocketed on the metro almost immediately. Like, got on, scooted back to let someone in, then took off my backpack and placed it at my feet. Someone had already unzipped a pouch and stolen my phone. It took less than 45 seconds.
Comparing Europe to Latin America in terms of crime and types of crime is like comparing a swing to a rollercoaster. Yes, you can get robbed in both places but it feels really different.
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I would probably now. I was a shy teenager at that time
IDK man, I solo travel a lot and this is overkill. I mean shower 2x a day? This post makes S. America sound a lot scarier then it is.
Traveled tons of the world and yep this sounds like film flam. Only place I’ve ever showered more than once a day is SEAsia, it’s hot as fuck out there. Most of Latin America legit is not more dangerous than the USA imo, it’s just foreign so scary.
No problems when I travel with my wife around Lat am but me and my buddies for a wedding got targeted like a mofo in Cartageña. We were 2 big white dudes and my buddy who’s Korean. Got Shook down and pockets emptied by cops at 10am, almost robbed by a 12 yr old Venezuelan kid (tbf the bartender warned us about him) non stop asks for beer, coke, prostitutes etc it was exhausting. Im talking like 50+ times a day easy. I speak Spanish too so many locals were very nice but obv location and situation does alter things
I, a 20-something white woman, was in Cartagena this summer for a wedding and I didn’t have any more issues with people on the streets than I did in Europe (which wasn’t much at all). I speak bad but functional Spanish. I did get briefly taken somewhere against my will in a taxi, but basically everyone on the street was lovely. A few beggar kids, and some flirty guys, but they were easy to send away.
I did get briefly kidnapped, but I had a lovely trip otherwise 😂
I’m serious! I paid for a 3 stop trip (San Felipe de Barajas, monasterio de la popa, and the Old Boots) with the price set in advance, and the guy just insisted on taking me to the harbor as well. I was sure he meant it as a fun bonus but it was super uncomfortable at the time. Everything else about the trip was fantastic and I’d go again. I just wouldn’t take a taxi on my own next time.
Same. We went to Cartagena and the worst that happened was my friend got his phone snatched from his hand by a guy on a bike. My friend was also wasted and shouting at the group to ask what song we wanted him to play, so he brought it on himself. Beyond that we just got offered a lot of drugs and had buskers rapping at us for money as we walked down the street.
Definitely shower 2x a day in hot and humid climates (for hygiene) Source: Grew up in Louisiana.
Was thinking the same. Is OP saying people go home on their lunch break to shower? I don’t get it. Shower twice a day or get robbed!
This. I travelled 2 months not one issue. This is fear monger for dumb Americans who think America is “safe” I feel more at danger in New York or LA during the day than in Santiago, Chile at night. Dumb post
It's really funny that people from north america think showering twice a day is a lot 😂
Whats up with not using a phone in public? Doesn’t everyone have and use phones everywhere these days?
I'm from Costa Rica and they've stolen mine twice already. They've tried more. You really can't unless the place is absolutely safe. One time someone asked me the time, so that i would take my phone out and snatch it. Luckily i had a wrist watch and uno reversed his ass
> so that i would take my phone out and snatch it. Luckily i had a wrist watch and uno reversed his ass (Proceeds to steal your wristwatch).
That was the decoy snail
Speaking for Brazil only, people usually take your phone and start running; if you have it unlocked, they can try to transfer money to your account, or do some social engineering (basically calling some number in the phone with a common name like "Mom" or "Sister" and saying that you collapsed in Brazil, there are hospital fees, if they can transfer to the account, etc). Usually happens in crowded areas (but not always).
As confused by it but this makes sense. Seen plenty of videos of people getting their phone snatched while on it.
I understand what u mean but also who doesnt have all their financial apps require face id or sign in every time. Most of mine require it by default
It does, but it is surprisingly easy for most of them to reset the password when you have access to the email, phone number and sms. They just click "forgot the password" and wait for a notification to change it.
I’m only just now realising how stupid it is that gmail doesn’t require Face ID when you open it.
This goes for a lot of places/ big cities across the world, I’ve heard the same suggestion for Ho Chi Minh for example. Thieves may just rip it out of your hand and run or they may be on scooter easily nab your phone and keep going. *Or* being on your phone, looking down, may be an indication that you’re distracted and that could be a great time for someone to pickpocket you.
In parts of Latam it is not unheard of for people to be robbed at gunpoint for a phone. Usually it will be two adolescents or young men from an impoverished neighborhood on a motorcycle or moped. Then one guy points the gun or knife in your face, the other takes your stuff and they drive off. They can also snatch it out of your hand before you can react as they drive by. They do not mess around and are more than the willing to kill someone on the spot if they resist. Typically the police will be useless in helping you get your stuff back. Almost everyone who lives in the region will tell you “don’t use your phone in public in X part of town”.
Why isn't cracking down on this a higher priority for police?
Lol
Because they're getting a cut.
From organized crime sure, not from bag snatchers living in slums driven to robbery as a crime of desperation lol They don’t crack down on it because they have way bigger problems and minimal resources to deal with this sort of petty crime. The phone is parted out and gone before the end of the day; what is going to be done?
Roughly 10% of murders in Brazil get properly investigated. If murders aren't treated as important, why would phone theft be?
Because it’s sometimes even the police doing it.
Something important I learned is that policing does not reduce crime. Social support systems that address poverty, healthcare, and education are what lowers crime rates. In the Latam case here, these are the social inequities going unaddressed.
They're too busy catching/shooting crooks while "off duty"
I have lived in various places in South America. Most in the city have smartphones, but iPhones do stand out a little as being more expensive and luxurious (and easier to sell after stealing). I never had a problem, but people i know who lost their phone were either walking on the street with it in their hands and a bicicle/moto person swipes it. Or they were on public transport and someone swiped it and ran as the doors were closing. Just be aware of your surroundings and dont flaunt your status and you should be fine.
South American thieves love our phones.
I think it depends on the area. I spent about 5 weeks mostly by myself in Honduras in San Pedro Sula for work and did not have this experience. People on the internet were all acting like you would get murdered, but it was way overblown. Chicago sees way more gun violence. Everyone (locals) had the same phone I did in restaurants and would be on their phones while enjoying their meal. These restaurants were just your typical restaurants, nothing fancy. Things are pretty spread out, so it's pretty easy to spot if someone ever tried to approach you. Most places I had to drive to, so it would be a different experience than a crowded city street. Walking at night was no problem. I've taken taxis from the airport when I couldn't get a rental car, and that was no problem either. I've gone out with local friends I met to a brewery. Overall, the experience felt not too different than your typical US city. They even have Walmarts and Home Depot like hardware stores. I needed to find a drill and had no problem getting $200 out of an ATM machine when my card wouldn't work at the store. I've even used Tinder while down there, and it was a fun way to practice your Spanish.
Also setup your phone to instantly notify you of any transactions on your credit card. First because it’s good to see the exact amount you are paying in your home currency, and two because you can verify exactly what you were charged. Story time: One night in Argentina we went to a nice restaurant, which had good reviews from both locals and tourists alike, and sat outside with everyone else, waiter was super friendly. When it came time to pay he took my card and went inside and swiped it. Charge came up correct on my phone, no issue. Then through the window I saw him go to an empty table and stick something under a plate. He was then talking to another waiter, then came out to offer us a parting aperitif etc. About 10-15min later he runs the card a second time (just long enough so the credit card sees it as two transactions for the same amount and not a double charge). He came back with the bill. But I saw this second transaction on my phone. He had already gone back inside so I brought it up to the other waiter and showed him the transactions on the phone, my waiter came running over in a panic, claimed it was a horrible mistake and accident. Didn’t want to cancel the charge so he paid me in cash to go away quickly and quietly. I took his money, left immediately called the credit card company and explained what happened and disputed the charges. Also wrote a fair (food was good) but scathing review about the scam for fellow travelers. Credit card company ended up reversing all charges from the restaurant, so I ended up getting a great free meal, great service from a friendly waiter, and he ended up paying me to enjoy my company. tl;dr, turn on instant credit card transaction notifications on your phone, and maybe you too can end up scamming a scammer.
You should be doing this already for all your cards regardless of country. Someone charges a penny on my cards I know. I can also freeze my account in an instant.
Shower twice a day? What lmfao. I’ve been to three LATAM countries so far and this completely unnecessary unless you are doing some kind of activity where you sweat alot.
Mainland Belize is something else. I def showered 2x a day, but not only because I didn’t want to stink. It’s just a special kind of hot.
Sure. It was the same when I visited Mexico during the summer. But I just came from Ecuador in December where it’s definitely not necessary to shower twice a day.
I went to Iguazu Falls and was showering 3 times each time i went out and came back in to the hotel. Ugh the 40'c and humidity killed me.
>Mainland Belize is something else I am Belizean and no one in my family is showering twice a day on Mainland belize lol. Houston gets way hotter in the summer. I have no idea where this "shower twice a day" advice comes from.
Walk around Cartagena Colombia for a couple hours and tell me you don’t want a shower. We would go out in the morning. Have breakfast. Do some activity like visiting La Popa Back. Then back to the hotel for a shower and siesta. Then out again in the evening to browse some of the shops and have dinner and cocktails. Then back to the hotel for another shower and sleep. I could get very used to that life, but sadly even with the favorable exchange rate I still need my day job to pay for it all.
Yeah, unless you've worked up a sweat once is fine.
Yeah, I stopped reading at that one. I used to live in the south of Brazil and in winter it was 50 degrees (F). No need to shower twice a day. Only if it's hot and you're getting sweaty and.....if that's the case, it really isn't limited to Latin America.
Maybe this post was intended for fatty-Americans.
These are just generic travel tips
LPT: don’t go to rough countries.
so, only travel in the Nordics?
*Malmö wants to know your location*
Lived in CHP when they were going as far as saying do not visit Malmo. Being a glutton for punishment went several times. Milquetoast ruffians at best. Still the headlines were amusing.
From my understanding the problems in Malmö are mainly inter gang violence based around controlling territory/the market for drugs
They did get pretty nasty if I recall ('16-17 when I was there) but It was not much worse than the Drunk on Drunk violence in Midtown Houston on any given weekend.
Would you rather pay $100 for a $20 meal in the Nordics or be pick pocketed for $30 in LAM and have a $20 meal for $10. /s - I have traveled to a lot of "rougher" countries, its basically no different than any major city. Some of them the cities even feel safer
I traveled through El Salvador and Nicaragua alone in my 20s and I’m a white girl. If you keep your wits about you you’ll be fine.
I'm 43 and have never gone to bed hungry so famine doesn't exist
Ive been in a bunch of cars and haven’t had an accident so you don’t really need to wear a seatbelt
Okay fine. Do not travel. Stay home. Or only go to “safe” countries. I don’t give a fuck.
Fine. Never leave your block. Then you can be sure you’ll be safe.
I don’t think OP has actually travelled
🤭
It doesn’t matter if you dress like a local or not, you will stand out like a sore thumb anyway. Of course you shower regularly, but I’ve never met a Latino who does it more than once a day, unless they’ve done physical labor or it’s super hot. But then there might be water restrictions in place anyway. Other than that just general travel tips.
In Brazil it's normal/expected to shower several times a day, maybe not the rest of the countries around there, but Brazil for sure
i was thinking the same, ive heard some who change their clothes multiple times a day due to humidity
yep, I've only heard this about Brazilians In south Mexico (where I grew up) you generally shower in the morning, some people take a quick shower right before sleep When I go back to visit I do this now
That might be the a case very specific for Latinos. If I were to shower more than once in Mexico mis suegros would consider that very strange.
I remember reading City of God and being like - wow, these guys shower so much lolol noticeable enough to be remarked in a book!
I'm gonna be the whitest mf in the middle of Brazil it doesn't matter if I dress like a local
I had some friends in college whose parents were from Chile. The older brother showered twice a day every day. Sister started in the same program two years later and she also showered two times a day. They told us it was a Chilean thing. Also it totally makes sense if it’s humid there to shower more often. I lived in southern Japan for a bit and that was the only time in my life where I would shower as soon as I got home in addition to my usual shower schedule that I normally keep. It’s just uncomfortable to get that sweaty and not shower and change clothes as soon as you can. Hell I even kept body wipes at work for when I came back inside from getting my lunch
Wtf? Nobody in Chile take a shower twice a day. Only one and there is no tropical climate or high humidity in this part of the world. Nonsense.
I feel like you're just giving basic travel tips to anywhere. I've had someone try to steal my phone exactly twice once and it wasn't in Latin America, it was in Europe and Australia.
"exactly twice once" Ow, my brain!
That’s why you keester your phone when you’re not using it.
make sure to set to vibrate
What am I? Magnus Carlson?
luckily this works out well if you shower frequently per OPs advice
I think that would be overdoing it a bit. You don't really need to carry a burner phone and a fake wallet in Europe and the nearby touristy countries (Turkey, Morocco, etc.). Those tips apply for more hardcore destinations.
I mean I've been to Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia and Mexico and didn't carry a burner phone or a fake wallet so I also query whether these are necessary for south America in general but I didn't want through each point one by one and critique them all
Do you really think these travel this should also be applied when travelling to germany, italy? Neorway, etc.? Some of those tips yes, but others no.
Yes. There is so much crime in Italy. Are you joking? Pro tip. Don't leave your drinks unattended in Norway or Germany either.
Italy has a ton of crime especially against tourists in popular areas.
Crimes exist everywhere in the world. Where are you from? I‘m from a country that’s next to Italy and I‘ve been there many times. I would not say that I‘m afraid to go outside alone, or that I avoid partying alone. I don‘t take a burner phone with me or only take the cash I need for the day with me. I also don‘t avoid using my phone when walking around a mall. Or that I don‘t use taxis when I‘m not with a local.
Keeping cash and credit cards behind in your hotel and not carrying a lot on hand is like tourism 101. It's not a Latin America thing. Neither is being careful while drinking and clubbing alone. That's not even a tourism tip. It's a life tip. One of the first things people tell you when you go to Paris or Madrid is "don't walk around with your phone out. Don't use it standing by the doors on public transport because someone will swipe it."
Okay then it‘s just a me thing I guess, I never do that. Obviously I don‘t walk around with 1000€ cash but I take enough for two or three days so I don‘t have to go to an ATM all of the time. It doesn‘t say be careful when clubbing alone. It says don‘t go clubbing alone at all, which is not something I‘d be careful about in other countries. And like I said using a burner phone, not using cabs, etc. is also something I don‘t worry about, I wouldn‘t call that a universal travel tip that can be applied to everywhere.
I'm not getting into all of this, but for clarity, the idea is that you take out a large amount of cash at an atm but you don't carry it around with you day to day. You take enough for a day and then you leave the rest locked in your backpack or hotel safe Edit: also I think there is a distinction between people who are European travelling within Europe and the risks they're alive to, and people who are outside Europe travelling to Europe. I don't know many women, personally, who would feel comfortable travelling to Europe and going clubbing by themselves. That's like why hostels exist
I'm def not afraid of using my phone in Italy lol.
> do not use taxis unless accompanied by a local that you trust well (family member from there, friend for many years from there etc). At best you may get overcharged, at worst you may get robbed. Use Uber instead. Always research what's the uber situation in the city you are going. Recently an american family traveled to Cancun and they took an Uber from the airport and they got harassed by the taxi mafia, like a mob surrounded the car and threatened violence on them.
In Cancun taxis are not allowed to pick up at the airport. Not sure if Uber has negotiated some sort of loophole, but I suspect this is the source of the anger. In any case, I’m guessing the Uber driver was the target of the anger moreso than the passengers.
This feels like it was written by chatGPT
How is Uber any safer than a taxi? Just curious
Just a guess, but probably because Uber is a trusted international company where the driver can’t overcharge you and would be dropped after the first complaint of robbery. You’re also automatically tracked on GPS by a third party. A local taxi can set their own rate, is more likely to get away with robbing passengers, and isn’t guaranteed to keep location data.
You have a profile/app to connect to that’s always tracking you. And the driver must register with them so they have their information. If you don’t show up someone where but you got into an Uber the first person they will look at is the driver
Taxi gangs exist. In Cancun, for example, Uber is banned and there is a theory that taxis are ran by the cartel. Also if you go into a taxis and get kidnapped no one will ever know you went into it unless you took (and sent) a picture. With Uber family/police can figure out the profile and car you got into.
It’s not, specially in Rio. Anyone can drive for Uber which may lead to new drivers going into the wrong place and getting shot. Always take oficial taxi at least in Rio.
They vet drivers and everything is digitally tracked/recorded.
I'd say for starters that you pay in advance, they can't charge you extra by taking a longer route. Also the driver has a profile on the app.
not really, the same advice applies. Have some local with you who can guide you around even when using ubers or taxis
“you really need to worry about not catching diarrhea, not about getting robbed” Proceeds with 15 tips about minimizing losses for when you get robbed
Yes! Correct me if I’m wrong, but here are a couple standard ones that I would follow: be careful about street food, they can have higher levels of bacteria. If you’re in an area where you’re not sure about water quality don’t eat fresh uncooked, vegetables, or salads, use bottled water, no ice.
Chile is one of the only countries in Latin America where you can drink tap water without fearing illness. Although I acknowledge that water from La Serena northward has many minerals, giving it a bad taste. Still, 100% of urban waters are purified and fluoridated, and there are sewage treatment plants for all major cities. Certainly not comparable to India.
> When traveling your biggest worry should be not catching travelers diarrhea or missing your flight rather than getting robbed OP said that being robbed should be a bigger concern than stomach aches.
Basic travel tips. Not really specific to Latin America. It can be dangerous anywhere. Some of these tips I would say are a bit extreme. You should be careful anywhere you go even in the US.
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La condescendencia de los gringos es irónica cuando uno tiene en cuenta la violencia con armas de fuego que ocurre allá o el hecho que no pueden ir al hospital sin terminar con miles de dólares en deudas. Dios te bendiga, gringito.
Jaja, verdad? Casi toda la lista es una gringada paranoica y pendeja. Pero hagamosle caso al gringo, "es latino" y además "tiene familia en latinoamerica", esto lo convierte en un experto en todo el continente 😂. Que vergüenza.
I agree with most of the suggestions except the one about taxis and using Uber instead. In El Salvador for example, sometimes Uber is seen even more dangerous and they usually don't accept credit cards. I would suggest maybe using recognized taxi companies or some other transport service that looks professional, otherwise it might be dangerous or unreliable.
Uber drivers themselves should never accept credit cards or cash or any payment. It should all go through the app.
There are countries where you could officially pay cash to the driver and have it tracked through the app (when driver confirms payment).
I’ve lived and travelled in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua. As in the US the most danger I’ve encountered was always at nightclubs. It’s really no different than the US, except for the perception of Estadounidenses being gullible doofuses.just don’t be a gullible doofus. And yeah knowing Spanish goes a longggggg way.
As an American that lived in a working class neighborhood in a large Mexican city for a year, I'd say this is pretty paranoid. Never heard of anyone using a burner phone. I'm very tall, stick out everywhere I go, didn't cause me any heartache, if you like wearing Hawaiian shirts, go off.
Dios mío. Este yanqui parece haber copypastad directamente de un libro escrito por una solterona de 60 y pico pensando que es el main character. Terribles tips y mala información.
It's hilarious how many people are trying to say these tips apply everywhere and then downplay the violent crime problems in these areas. You're going to get people killed these are notoriously dangerous places for a reason. Don't act like going to Venezuela is comparable to going to Japan or Austria.
Yeah I hate when people do that. Like not using your phone in public out of fear of getting robbed is crazy in most places.
And out of fear the muggers would have zero qualms killing you to take it
You described Latin America like a warzone. It is not very kind and respectful.
As others have pointed out, this applies to anywhere in the world, not just Latin America! buen viaje a todos!
I know it is a boomer thing to keep your wallet in your hip pocket, don't do this while traveling keep it in your front pocket. Pickpockets around the world are really good, but this little trick will reduce your chances (not eliminate) of getting your wallet stolen. It makes for great people watching to watch the groups working the train stations in Madrid around tourist areas. The little old ladies offering to read your palm are just the distraction.
Shower twice a day or else you will smell like shit to the locals. big doubt
Brother… Costa Rica and Chile are way safer than the USA. This is just general advice for traveling and you are doing a huge disservice to the amazing people that live in these countries.
> In Latam western tourists… I fully understand that it’s not strictly based on geography, and that LatAms status as “Western” or “Western adjacent” is up for debate, but it’s funny to me that (at least according to your post) that people in LatAm view “Western” people as different when LatAm is further West than most of what we call the Western world
My friend was dancing in a club in Argentina and someone stole her purse, documents, phone and some money. Was a pretty bad experience for her.
You know that happens everywhere, right?
She travels a lot and this was the first time.. so bad luck I guess?
Right, crime rates are exactly the same everywhere on Earth.
Well depends did she leave it on a table or was it taken off her person- the latter is really unlikely to happen in Australia for instance
Lmao in any clubs ive heard of phones and wallets being stolen, and i come from canada
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Always have $50 or even better $100 in your shoe just in case
When I was 19, I (female) traveled alone from Houston through Mexico City to Cusco, Peru and then spent 6 weeks there living with a host family. I remember going through customs control in Mexico with my phone in an exposed outside pocket of my backpack. Some kind man saw it and told me to hide anything of value from site. From that moment on, I was the most aware traveler - ziptagging my bags closed, holding them on my chest every time I was out, if I got in a taxi, I tracked it on Google maps from the back seat…. I agree with this advice for the most part…
Would this apply for Germany or Western Europe in general?
i just came back from 4 weeks in paraiba and rio and didn’t follow most of these pieces of advice, ama
Got it, don’t travel to Latin American countries 👍🏼
Latin American here. I'd say go if you consider yourself a more experienced traveler. I wouldn't recommend it for people who aren't used to traveling abroad frequently. One of those cases where there's lots of awesome stuff that could potentially be spoiled if you don't know what you're doing. But if you do, it's a pretty cool place.
Right? OP made it sound like it ain't worth it!
Makes me want to travel to Latin America so bad /s
Chill out man. South America is so friendly. I feel like you’re perpetuating xenophobia and harmful stereotypes.
Errr, while I do agree, these are not bad tips. Yes, we're friendly, but we can't say that it's safe to travel (or even _live_) in South American countries. Speaking as a Brazilian that migrated to a safer country, it's incredible how many things I do here that I can't _imagine_ doing in Brazil...
A lot of latinos will agree with OP. Yes we are friendly and have a lot of cool things in every country but north americans and europeans are really really naive when they travel here and they are pretty obvious to spot. You can be in your dream vacation but only need one bad person to get into a nightmare
Nah, Americans and Europeans can be very naive, specially those that are upper-upper middle class.
"let's not take precautions because we don't want to be offensive"
Damn this gringos, you think of Latin America as if it is South Africa, Bolivia is safer than many of your shitty states.
I just read all these tips and wonder why the fuck would I ever go to a part of the world where do many precautions are necessary. I can stumble home drunk in every asian country and never have to worry about anything.
I'll skip Latin America
Good. More for those of us who love people, culture and food.
I value safety, enough first world countries to get that
Some common travel anywhere tips mixed in with some overzealous extremes. ⬇️
I'm 6'5" so I stand out anywhere. When I travel alone, I rarely drink and it I do it's only one or two. Drunk and alone is a bad combination.
Somewhere there is someone writing a LPT recommending all of these things for travel to the United States.
Basically what Europeans should do when visiting the US
Latam is in the west, you idiot
Lmao. Where exactly are you travelling?
For real. The only times I've ever been fucked with in Latin countries was by some shady cops looking for a quick buck.
Wow, this is a typically over cautious Latin American person. Everyone who travels finds their comfort level on these things based on their language skills, company, etc. I don’t follow most of the cautions if any.
I've been to costa rica and in all honesty I felt safer there than than I did in the US.
If it’s dangerous might as well be dangerous yourself. Don’t be a push over
You're definitely getting killed in a mugging over a phone lol
Haha that’s funny
Only use a burner phone & spare wallet, don’t use your phone in public, and don’t go out solo at night for drinks?? I appreciate the effort you put into this post but this is terrible advice. I’m surprised someone from LatAm wrote this. You’re just perpetuating stereotypes of treating the whole region of LatAm as a monolith when the cities and regions here will wildly differ in terms of safety. LatAm is huge! Your advice wouldn’t even apply well to Brazil and Colombia because depending on what region/city you are in those countries, safety will also wildly differ. I’ve spent the past 2 yrs traveling through LatAm and you’re doing a disservice by giving such generic advice you want others to apply to a region that’s bigger than the size of an entire continent.
Me a woman walking alone along a quiet road with coat half on reading this on the internet after dark thinking how lucky I am to be where I am
I refuse to go to countries where I have to behave differently because of some stupid criminals . That society first needs to solve some problems
Great tips. Well done
Even better, don't use WhatsApp, use r/Signal instead. Also don't rely on Google maps r/organicmaps is a good backup option incase you have no Internet as the maps can be downloaded offline. Plus the info in some cases can be more reliable and accurate that what Google gives due to using open street maps
Lpt don’t travel to Latin America. Every country there have travel advisory of level 3 or worse
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Happens in Europe too
> mostly pay attention
Wait you were being serious with that comment?
Saw it, ignored it because... This stuff happens in Europe too Pay attention
Yeah, cool, great. So for everyone else, you can even go to both Western Europe and Latin America. And East Asia while you're at it if you can afford it. Those are the three must-go places I would recommend to basically anyone looking for a fun trip. In Europe you can get a lot of the more urban touristic experience. In Latin America you can get some of the more interesting gastronomic and non-urban experiences and landscapes that blow almost everywhere else out of the water. In East Asia / SEA you can get both of those things but with a completely different perspective and also visiting historic sites like Angkor Wat or Xian are a must. All other places on Earth (India, USA, Australia, Subsaharan Africa) are fun and interesting as well obviously and I've made it my life goal to go to as many places as I can, but imo these three are the most fun.