Steal Away With Steele

Traveling internationally is definitely an adventure; follow these tips to get the most out of your adventure.
1. Don’t drink the water.
Four hotel room walls are not the exclusive view you want to see on your trip. Drinking the water in some countries can make this a reality. Before you leave for a new country, conduct some research to determine if you can safely drink the water. Travelers are suggested not to drink the water in many Latin and South American countries. If you’re traveling to one of these countries, brush your teeth with bottled water and ask for your beverages with no ice. These two means of water consumption are easy to forget but can have dire consequences for your digestive system.
2. Pay attention to customs.
Traveling between countries is exhilarating but can quickly turn terrifying if you’re pulled aside in customs. All customs forms explicitly detail what can be brought in and what needs to be declared to a country. Customs officers are located at country entrances to answer questions. Airports have stream-lined the customs process so all patrons need to do is stay calm and pay attention while passing through customs. Panicking through customs can appear suspicious. Panic potentially makes your time in customs difficult.
3. Learn how to haggle.
Haggling is not always socially acceptable. Most open air markets and some taxi drivers can be bargained with for lower prices. At open-air art markets the asking price is typically doubled what the product is worth. Shopping around is the most crucial part of bargaining. Markets gauged toward tourists have several stalls with the same products. Keys to bargaining prices: pay cash, be patient, don’t show too much enthusiasm for a product, and don’t be afraid to walk away if the price is too high.
4. Eat local cuisine.
A traveler is someone who goes off-the-beaten-tourist-path to obtain more of an accurate understanding of the culture. Eating at the locals’ favorite restaurants enable you to savor local culture. Dining with locals can present you with opportunities for developing local contacts and learn new places to adventure.
5. Go to the local hang-out.
Every location has its own local hang-out, for example the Malecón in Havana. The Malecón is the sea wall where locals converge on nice evenings. Spending time on the Malecón enables travelers to meet locals and return home with unique stories because a night on the Malecón is never the same. Spending time with local people will make you return home feeling fulfilled.