Urban Travel Legends You Should Believe
The Washington Post’s Joe Brancatelli attempts to debunk several travel myths such as Rule 240, and what information is stored on your hotel key card. The article offers background and an explanation of why dressing nicely won’t get you upgraded to first class, for example. Rather than toss each legend aside, I’d recommend believing each one and making them work to your advantage.
Urban Legend #1: Invoking Rule 240
- Why It’s Legend: “There is no Rule 240, at least not anymore. Rule 240 was shorthand for an old Civil Aeronautics Board regulation that required airlines to immediately place you on another flight, regardless of the fare you originally paid or the carrier you originally booked.”
- Why You Should Believe It: Although Rule 240 is no longer a federal law, some of the older US carries still respect it. If your flight is canceled you may be able to get a new flight fast by invoking this rule with airline staff.
- Sometimes due to weather or otherwise you won’t be able to get a flight no matter what rule you invoke. Also, if your airline doesn’t adhere to the old Rule 240 call the airline (instead of waiting in line) and explain your situation. Be tough, but polite, to get a new flight as fast as possible.
Police Can Search Your Cell Phone If You Get Pulled Over
Beware if you are pulled over for a traffic violation police have the authority to search your cell phone and any other electronic device you may have in your vehicle.
Your text messages, call histories, browsing history, downloaded emails and photos. In a recent academic paper, South Texas Assistant Professor Adam Gershowitz explains that because many traffic violations are arrestable offenses, just as a cop could search your pockets for drugs, said cop can also search your pockets for a smartphone and go through all its contents.
Your best bet is not to keep these devices in sight if you see the flashing lights in your rear view mirror.
[photo by: KB35]
The Auckland Skywalk
[via Jaunted]
How Americans Can Blend In Abroad
Americans often have a difficult time being treated fairly while they travel overseas for various reasons which I won’t get into here (feel free to add some in the comments). Americans can make their trips run smoother and a touch more authentic by blending in more with the crowd and avoiding stereotypes.
- Dress Like The Locals – Do an image search of the place you’re visiting using Google, Wikipedia, or Flickr and take notice of what the locals are wearing. Don’t take for granted that in most of the world jeans are not the pants of choice, or that shorts will get you stares – even in the summer.
- Speak Half As Loud As Normal – Americans culturally speak at a higher volume than almost all other people in industrialized nations (the Brits and Germans are high up on the list too). Try to keep your conversations at barely above a whisper, don’t shout out across rooms or lobbies, and don’t exaggerate your speech to those whose first language was not English.
