Page 26 September 2013 Travel Smart, Be Prepared By Kaley Kalil For most of us, travel is a wonderful way to see the world, enjoy new experiences and open our eyes to different lifestyles and ways of thinking. We try to be kind and courteous to the locals of the destinations we visit and hopefully make some new friends along the way, maybe even show people around the world how awesome Americans are. Unfortunately, though, it can be all too easy to find yourself being taken advantage of while away from home, especially when traveling internationally. Here are a couple of tips on how to stay safe while away from our cozy Arcadia. Always Play Defense When traveling for extended periods of time on public transportation, such as a bus or a train, keep a particularly close eye on your belongings. Especially if you plan on taking a nap or simply can’t keep your eyelids open, hold your bag in your lap with all pockets facing into your body and wrap your arms through any straps and around it. If you don’t, you could find yourself picking up a significantly lighter backpack with a big hole cut out in the bottom like I did while on a bus in Mindo, Ecuador – and it was snugly between my feet the whole time. Keep your passport, credit cards and cash separate from your luggage as an extra precaution; it could save you from finding yourself in a potentially dangerous, definitely stressful situation of waking up on a train in the south of France without ID or a euro to your name. (No, this did not happen to me. But, it did happen to three of my friends while we were studying abroad in Spain.) I prefer to wear a travel neck pouch and tuck it under my blouse – out of sight and out of mind, not to mention out of reach. By thinking defensively while in crowded places, potential thieves will see you are not an easy target and quite possibly move on to the next unfortunate and weary traveler who didn’t take the time to read this article or spend the $8.39 on Amazon to buy a travel neck pouch. Ask questions Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Find out what restaurant menu items cost before you order. If you notice charges on your hotel bill you didn’t agree to, inquire about what they’re for and ask why they weren’t disclosed to you at check-in. You’ll be surprised at how quickly many of these fees are dropped upon your mere mentioning of them. And if not, at least you won’t spend the next two days stewing over the fact that you didn’t do anything about it. One appointment. Expert doctors. Convenient services. 4350 E. Camelback Rd., Ste F100 Phoenix, AZ 85018 602.955.8700 • FPSAZ.com Because caring for your health has always been our passion, we’ve made the following services conveniently available in our office. • Excellent care for all ages • Same day appointments • On-site clinical laboratory and X-rays • Dermatology and Optometry services • Botox and Obagi skin care now available Celebrating 43 years of family care Mark A. Wyse, M.D. Ira H. Ungar, M.D. Karin O’Clair, D.O. Allan Goldman, D.O. David Francyk, D.O. T.E. McCauley, M.D. Kate Montgomery, FNP Heidi Ungar, D.O. Optometrist David Anderson, O.D. Certified Dermatologist Andrew J. Racette, D.O. Charles Levison, M.D. Walk-ins welcome. M-F 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to noon. Open late on Monday and Wednesday until 7 p.m. and Thursday until 8 p.m. Certified in DOT Physicals “Every home tells a story—discover yours” . An Arcadia Resident ROC #257705, #247691 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Licensed | Bonded | Insured | BBB A+ Rating | Green Builder STEVEN DITTER Phone 602.708.0877 | Email Steven97@cox.net www.remodelexpertsaz.com E X P E R T S ® REMODEL