Hi Johnny,

First, I have to point out that these tips did come from a 60 year-old woman, as the introduction to the post says. This was not meant to be a heavily researched article, nor is it even based on my own experience. It is, as it states in the introduction, a list that my Aunt, a travel agent of 30 years, would give to all of her clients. I was simply sharing it.

That being said, I do find that American money is very useful and always carry $100 in cash because many countries with weak or unstable currencies use it as their de facto currency and, in any event, it’s pretty much always the easiest money to change in the absence of bank machines and banks.

You’re right, the card scanner thing is old news and was never very widespread. But, like I said, I didn’t write this. I was simply sharing it.

I think that it would be a mistake to throw the baby out with the bathwater. You disagree with three out of fifteen tips — and two of your criticisms are, in my opinion, not exactly airtight. That means that much of the article is still useful. So, I would say that calling it terrible is a bit of an overstatement.

You also mention that this list is not suitable for backpackers. That does not make it bad for everyone. I have never claimed to only be writing backpackers.

That being said, I’m really glad that you enjoy the site and have been checking it out. As you can see from the above comments, you’re not the only person who took issue with this post. I may have to at least take out that thing about the tinfoil. It does seem a bit silly.

Cheers,
Matt

i’ve been on the road since 2006 through more than 60 countries and i’ve never come across this scanner malarky, and if it is widespread i still wouldn’t go to the trouble of covering everything with tinfoil! All the people i’ve traveled with, or met on the road, have never mentioned this

To be honest matt, these tips sound like something a 60 year old women would tell a North American couple going on holiday outside their continent for the first time, not for travelers/backpackers.

For a start – USD?? Mate, most countries don’t even have a tipping culture! As a traveler, who do u tip?! The woman serving u street food?! Also, in the 60+ countries i’ve been, if i handed someone a US dollar in 50+ of them, they’d look at me like a crackhead thinking “what am i gonna do with this?!”

Also, for travelers a backpack wins hands down, forget anything else.

Like i say mate, your site is great but this article is terrible :S

i’ve been on the road since 2006 through more than 60 countries and i’ve never come across this scanner malarky, and if it is widespread i still wouldn’t go to the trouble of covering everything with tinfoil! All the people i’ve traveled with, or met on the road, have never mentioned this

To be honest matt, these tips sound like something a 60 year old women would tell a North American couple going on holiday outside their continent for the first time, not for travelers/backpackers.

For a start – USD?? Mate, most countries don’t even have a tipping culture! As a traveler, who do u tip?! The woman serving u street food?! Also, in the 60+ countries i’ve been, if i handed someone a US dollar in 50+ of them, they’d look at me like a crackhead thinking “what am i gonna do with this?!”

Also, for travelers a backpack wins hands down, forget anything else.

Like i say mate, your site is great but this article is terrible :S

Your aunt may be a lovely lady but she is not an authoritative source and you should not repeat her copy without some basic checking.

The NBC link is dated 2006. If this ‘problem’ was real I think we would have heard more about it? Is this all the support for your claim you can muster? A light news item?

As you title this Professional Travel Tips you have a moral duty to do more than cut and paste surely.

As it is I shall not be wrapping my wallet and passport in tinfoil any time soon and in that I will be in tune with 99.9% of regular, sane, travellers.

I was not calling you a ‘stoner’ but rather casting doubt on your sources!

It is not down to me to support your claims about tin foil but for you to deliver evidence. That’s journalism.

As it is I remain unconvinced by your claims of super criminals scanning cards through back packs.

In my experience even official scanners, at train stations, in banks etc, have problems unless the card is presented ‘naked’ and close to them. The idea that some portable device could be more efficient through a backpack is at best doubtful at worst paranoid.

Show me your sources

N

By professional travel tips, I mean travel tips from a travel professional, which my Aunt is.

I did not need to check. I already knew of this scam when she sent me this post. It is fairly common knowledge among those who travel often.

I gave you the proof that you asked for, yet you still insist on complaining. I suggest that you find something better to do with your time.

You should read more carefully before you criticize.

First, this post was written by my Aunt, a career travel agent. She does not get information from “some stoner’s blog”.

Second, it did sound like you called me a stoner.

Third, I already posted the link to a report in my previous comment. Like I said, you should read more carefully.