The 24 common scams and traps travellers fall for (and how to avoid them)
I paid $40 for something that should cost $4. Traps that await you in the world are many and varied – and even seasoned travellers like me can fall for them.
On a recent trip to Aswan in southern Egypt, I paid $40 for 250 grams of fresh dates.
As I was wandering through the souk, I lingered at a stall piled with glistening mini-pyramids of dates and soon the stallholder sauntered across. “Where are you from?” he asked, and after the friendly, non-salesman overture we chatted and eventually got down to business. He led me to the back of the shop. “These dates come from my own farm,” he said, giving me a sample.
He ladled out a couple of scoopfuls, weighed them and handed them over. “How much?” I asked, and without batting an eyelid, he replied: “1200 Egyptian pounds”. Without a word of protest I handed it over.
It gets worse because I did the mental computation: 1200 Egyptian pounds equals close to $40. The real price would probably have been about $4. As I walked away, the full realisation dawned on me. How could I be so dumb?
“Were you under a spell?” an accomplished traveller friend asked when I told him the story. I should have gone back and argued, but the thought of admitting my stupidity was too humiliating.
Anyway, I convinced myself that by this time he’d probably closed shop for the day and was sitting in a cafe, puffing on a sheesha and thanking Allah for sending a fool his way.
No matter how much you’ve travelled, and how street-savvy you might be, experience doesn’t guarantee immunity. Traps that await you in the world are many and varied. Here’s Traveller ’s guide to some of the worst – and how to avoid them.
The fake visa website
The lowdown Many countries now offer online e-visas or visa waivers, and that’s a win for travellers. E-visas are quick to process and convenient for the applicant, but e-visa applications have created a business opportunity for scammers, who create fake websites that look like the real deal but which whack on a hefty administration fee. It’s also slower than applying through official channels, and once past the paywall, you’ve given your credit card details to an agency set up to fleece you.
The solution Look for an e-visa application website with “gov” or “go” in the title, that’s the official government site. Read more here.
The tour guide commission rort
The lowdown At the end of your day tour, your guide ushers you into a shop. Lights and air-conditioning come on, shop assistants spring into action, there might be an offer of coffee or tea. Your guide will get a cut of anything you buy, and the merchant inflates the price to cover that cost. The base figure is 10 per cent, but it can run to three times that figure. It may sound like a scam, but most tour guides are paid a pittance. Only by supplementing their income with commission fees can a tour guide earn enough to make a living.
The solution Know that you might end up paying more when your guide introduces you. At the end of the day, it is your decision to buy.
The dodgy airport currency exchange
The lowdown Exchange your Aussie dollars for US dollars, euros or South African rands at an airport terminal and you’ll pay more than you need to. The operators of these facilities know you might be anxious to get some local currency, and that can jack up the price. Don’t be fooled by facilities offering “commission-free” exchanges. In any cash exchange, the crucial question is: How much local currency am I getting for my Australian dollars?
The solution Check the true conversion rate on the xe.com website or download the xe.com app. You can also pre-order foreign currency at a decent rate through Australia Post.
The taken-for-a-ride taxi trauma
The lowdown You’re taking a taxi from the airport to your hotel, but the driver hasn’t turned on the meter. You might insist, but the driver fobs you off. When you get to your destination, you realise you could have taken a limo with a motorcycle escort for less. Ask the driver how much the fare will be before you set off. If he indicates a working meter, it’s probably above board. If not, negotiate.
The solution Rideshare apps such as Uber that tell you the fare when you book are now common through much of the world. Research what works best at your destination.
The dynamic currency conversion
The lowdown When you’re paying by card overseas, a merchant, waiter or hotelier might ask if you’d like to make the transaction in Australian dollars. Paying in Aussie dollars might sound like a great idea, but you’re electing to pay at the Dynamic Currency Conversion rate, which adds a fee, generally of 3 to 5 per cent, on top of the conversion. The same applies to ATM withdrawals. You might see a message asking if you’d like to make the conversion in your home currency. If so, decline.
The solution Always opt to pay in local currency.
Hotel and hire-car pre-authorisations
The lowdown Check into a hotel or hire a car and you’ll be asked to hand over a card to cover the pre-authorisation. Nothing will be charged to your card, but it puts a block on the available funds you have on that card. It’s important to use a credit card for the pre-authorisation. Use a debit card and some of your available funds will be frozen. When you check out of the hotel or return your hire car, the pre-authorisation will be cancelled, but it might take up to two weeks before your financial institution clears the transaction and unblocks the funds.
The solution Some travellers suggest a small minibar item or a meal charged to your hotel bill will see the blocked funds returned to your account more quickly.
Not getting the connecting time between flights right
The lowdown If you’re transferring from one flight to another, an hour might be enough, but in some cases, 21⁄2 hours would be cutting it fine. Airlines and travel agents use a metric known as minimum connecting time (MCT), but travellers making their own bookings need to work this out for themselves.
The solution The time to get between the arrival and departure gates or even change terminals and whether you need to collect checked baggage off the incoming flight and check it in for the next flight are just some of the factors to consider. Read more here.
Packing lithium batteries in your checked flight baggage
The lowdown Since they’re a fire hazard, anything with a lithium battery, including power banks and camera batteries, must be carried onboard in hand luggage and stored in the cabin rather than in checked luggage. Checked baggage is screened for lithium batteries, and if one is found in yours, you’ll have to make a trip to the baggage-handling area to locate and remove it.
The solution Don’t forget to remove items with lithium batteries from your luggage, though AirTags and similar tracking devices are OK. Several airlines have started banning the use of power banks during flights. Read more on that here.
The airport duty-free booze bust
The lowdown If you buy duty-free alcohol at an airport in Europe or anywhere else with an intermediate stop before your final flight to Australia, you’re going to part company with your booze before you re-board your aircraft. Australian government regulations require that all passengers on inbound flights submit to a final gate inspection before boarding the aircraft and any liquids, aerosols or gels in containers over 100 millilitres will be confiscated. Even if they’re sealed in a tamper-evident plastic bag with purchase documentation attached, they’re not flying.
The solution Buy your duty-free alcohol at the last stop before your final destination, on board the aircraft on the last leg or at the duty-free shop at your destination.
Falling for airport duty-free ‘bargains’
The lowdown In most cases, buying duty-free electronics, bags or clothing at airports saves the Value Added Tax, or the GST in the case of Australia. Caution is required. Airport retail space is expensive, and those glittering objects might not be such a bargain.
The solution Before you shell out for that Apple product or the Prada sunglasses, make sure it really is cheaper than back home. The duty-free concession for goods imported to Australia is limited to $900, though if the goods have been used while you’re away, an extra allowance might apply.
The overweight carry-on impost
The lowdown Most airlines restrict carry-ons to a maximum weight of seven to nine kilograms, and some enforce it rigorously. Turn up for a Jetstar flight with a bag weighing more than seven kilograms and you could be looking at a $75 fee. Beware of flying with carry-ons on European low-cost carriers, where the size limit for bags is often smaller than aboard other airlines.
The solution Nearly all carriers let you bring one extra small item aboard, if it fits under the seat in front, and this doesn’t usually have a weight limit. A soft, squishable bag that can adapt to tight quarters is perfect.
Embarking on a long layover without checking lounge options
The lowdown If your layover stretches beyond a couple of hours, find a lounge. For those not flying at the pointy end of the aircraft, pay-per-use lounges are a blessing, an oasis of calm amid the hustle of airport life. Most major airports offer a decent selection, and while you can often walk in and pay, scout the options ahead of time. A decent lounge will offer showers (non-negotiable after a long-haul flight), plus a spread of snacks, drinks, decent coffee and quiet corners to rest or work.
The solution Lounge standards vary wildly, check reviews on Loungereview.com or Tripadvisor. Read more here.
Not realising you have an invalid expiry date on your passport
The lowdown Most countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your date of departure, but there are exceptions. New Zealand requires only three months, as do France, Austria, Switzerland and French Polynesia, but airline check-in staff don’t always get the memo. If they think your passport isn’t valid because it expires in less than six months, you’re not getting on board.
The solution If you’re travelling with a passport with fewer than six months’ validity and the country you’re visiting allows that, go to the official immigration website of your destination, download the entry requirements and bring a printout to the check-in desk.
Not arriving early enough for that simply-can’t-miss-it event
The lowdown In a world where flight cancellations and delays are part of the travel landscape, flying in just hours before a big event is asking for trouble. This applies especially to weddings, cruise departures, group tours or anything else you absolutely can’t miss.
The solution Arriving a day or two early gives you time to shake off the jet lag, find your feet and explore a little. If your bag is delayed you’ve time in hand to reunite.
Falling for the Booking.com email scam
The lowdown You’ve booked your hotel through Booking.com and a couple of days before check-in, an email lands in your inbox asking you to confirm your credit card details. Fail to confirm, and your reservation will be cancelled. It looks official – Booking.com logo, reservation details, the lot. You don’t want to lose the room, so you click through and do as you’re told, but you’ve just fallen for a phishing scam, a slick attempt to separate you from your money by handing over your card details.
The solution Never click on links in unsolicited emails asking you to verify a transaction. If in doubt, go straight to the source. Log into your Booking.com account directly or call the hotel. Read more about this scam here.
The petrol station surcharge
The lowdown Fuel stations across much of Europe are often unattended. It’s just you, the pump and a central terminal that asks for your card before you touch the nozzle. Along with the fuel charge, the system may slap a temporary lock on a chunk of your funds, a pre-authorisation, and it can be as much as €100 ($175). If you’ve paid with a debit card, that money is effectively out-of-reach, and could stay that way for a week or two.
The solution Pay with cash or use a credit instead of a debit card.
To prepay or not to prepay
The lowdown Some hotels will give you a better rate if you prepay, but it’s usually on a non-refundable basis, and that should inspire caution. Some also ask for a deposit, but make sure it’s refundable. If the hotel won’t accept a booking without a deposit, you might use an online travel agency such as Booking.com or Expedia that allows you to book with no deposit and cancel at short notice with no penalty, but check the conditions.
The solution Don’t be seduced by a non-refundable rate.
Failing to select your airline seat
The lowdown Do you enjoy sitting in a middle seat in the aircraft, squished in between strangers? Probably not, and there’s no reason to be there. Especially not for long-legged flyers. Seat selection takes a couple of minutes, you can usually do it when you book, and if you have to pay extra, don’t be a cheapskate.
The solution If seat booking isn’t available when you book, it will usually happen 24 or 48 hours pre-flight, and you should get an email notifying you when online check-in becomes available. If you’re in doubt about where to sit, take a look at SeatMaps.
My plane arrives at London Gatwick but my connecting flight leaves from Heathrow
The lowdown Along with many other European cities, London has three major airports, and the fastest transfer between Gatwick and Heathrow by public transport takes an hour. On top of that, you have to collect your baggage and check in for your connecting flight. Getting caught is one of the pitfalls for the DIY traveller.
The solution If your trip is complicated, if it’s somewhere you’re not familiar with, let a travel agent handle your bookings.
FIVE MORE TRAPS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
You really want me to eat that?
Fermented soybeans in Japan, chicken feet in China, snails in France. Eating what the locals eat is one of the great joys of travel. If you want to understand a culture, there is no better place to start than the dinner table. Stick to KFC and McDonald’s if it makes you feel safe, but it’s not going to open the doors of experience.
That’s the third time we’ve driven past our hotel
Want to sap every ounce of pleasure from your travels? Try driving in any large continental European city. Not only will you be driving on the right, chances are you will be caught up in traffic snarls and medieval laneways. Leave your car at your hotel or park on the edge of the city and use local transport.
My flight arrives early morning but my hotel check-in time is 3pm
Many flights from Australia to Europe arrive around dawn. You’ll probably be in need of a shower and a lie down, but if your hotel room is booked for that night, check-in most likely won’t be until mid-afternoon. Instead, book the room for the night before (an extra expense but worth it), or plan a stopover and take a connecting flight that arrives later in the day.
The not-so-fine fine print
Fall over on wet cobblestones and break a bone after a big night out in Bad Kissingen and your insurance claim might be denied on the grounds you were intoxicated. The product disclosure statement that comes with your travel insurance policy is dull as a wet Sunday afternoon, but it’s an essential read. Pay special attention to the exclusions.
It’s not even 5pm and it’s pitch black
That’s because you’re in London and it’s winter. On the shortest days around Christmas, twilight starts before 4pm. It’s also cold and rains a lot. Therefore, you’re going to be spending most of your time in museums, theatres and galleries, and is this the holiday you had in mind? Plan your itinerary with an eye on the weather or choose a warmer time.