When OK isn’t Good Enough

Paris is a beautiful city with lots of culture and history. Yet, there are a few things to be aware of while roaming the streets. First of all, keep all of your belongings extremely close. Paris has many pickpockets wandering around looking for careless tourists. Please remember to not let yourself look vulnerable and out of place. If a local French person is talking to you and asking you many questions, be aware! He or she could be trying to keep your attention while his or her friend is stealing your wallet without you even noticing.

Another thing to watch out for are the drivers. Paris is a large city with constant traffic, and I’m pretty sure the pedestrians don’t have the right-of-way. I can’t even count how many times I was almost hit by a French driver with road rage.

Besides the beauty the country of Croatia holds, another big shocker that will grab your attention is the mannerisms of the workers. When eating at a restaurant or shopping at a store, don’t expect an employee to greet you as you enter or ask you for help. They seem to be irritated when bothered at work (even though their job is to help you). Also, be prepared to hear some words you wouldn’t dare say in front of your mother. Waiters and waitresses are paid with a much higher pay than in America, therefore they don’t rely on tips. So if the service isn’t up to your standards, don’t worry about leaving a tip because it’s not a custom.

Another feature that is different from America is you are not allowed to drive under ANY influence of alcohol. Since there were so many automobile accidents in the past, Croatia completely outlawed driving under any amount of alcohol. But don’t worry if you had a few drinks, decided to drive, and get pulled over. The cops there are pretty lenient if you have money to spare. In almost any situation, you are able to pay your way out of trouble, so keep a few cunas (Croatian currency) in your pocket at all times!

Las Vegas is a wonderful vacation place with lots of entertainment that everyone in the family can enjoy. Unfortunately, it has its downfalls like every other place in the world. This first thing I want to warn you about is the large amount of advertisements for “adult” entertainment. There are billboards, signs, posters, fliers, etc. covering the city. If you plan on bringing children with you to Las Vegas, I suggest you don’t walk around the city and get a cab instead. The streets are flooded with “adult” fliers on the ground.

Also, if you’re a female and plan to go out to the clubs at night, make sure you have at least one other person with you at all times. I went out to Pure with just one other female friend and it was not enjoyable at all. We were constantly hounded by men (definitely not the type any woman would want to be hounded by) forcing us to make it an early night.

The last threat the city of Vegas brings is the addiction to gambling! Don’t spend more than a few hours a day at the gaming tables. If that’s the only reason why you went to Vegas and that’s all you plan on doing, keep track of your betting. Don’t forget you have to have some way of getting back home!

Outside the safe city of Atlantis, the Bahamas is full of cheap clothing and souvenir shops, and exotic restaurants. The shops were great, and I found many wonderful gifts for friends, family, and myself. There was just one problem. Right outside Atlantis, are the slums of the island. Do not walk around the shops alone and always keep your personals close by. The locals are very sneaky, and crime is pretty common right in that area because the locals know there are many American tourists coming from Atlantis. But, when you do go to a restaurant or a store, the waiters and employees treat you like royalty. They know you are from the U.S. and automatically assume you’re a billionaire and tip really well. Just be aware of your surroundings like you would in any large city, and don’t forget to enjoy royalty!

South Africa has many wonderful things to offer the world, but like everywhere else, it has its downfalls as well. Crime is extremely prevalent in this country. The main advice I can give you is to be aware of your surroundings. Never, never leave anything unattended, or it is guaranteed to be stolen. Also, be very careful at red lights. There are usually a lot of people walking along the side of the street looking for drivers with their windows rolled down ready to try to sell them something or rob them of their car. Another hint I can give you is always count your change after you purchase something. Locals look for tourists and purposely give them less change because they know tourists won’t think to check it. Also, keep your receipts so you can keep track of the prices so you can double, or even triple check your change or return faulty products. Besides the high rate of crime, South Africa is a beautiful, life-changing place that I think everyone should visit.