Be in the know: Travel scams and how to avoid them

While not all people are out to con or fool you, it doesn't hurt to be wary of strangers. Tourists are especially susceptible to scams but you can avoid falling for them by being learning about them and being careful. Here are some of the most common scams and how you can keep yourself from getting fooled:

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Credit card scam

It could come as a call in the middle of the night in your hotel room. The person on the phone will ask you to confirm your payment details and give you a false credit card number. Never give out your credit card number on the phone, always do it in person when you can see what it's being used for. If there is really a mix up with your hotel paperwork, speak to the registration personnel face to face.

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Taxi scam

It's always such a hassle to fall in line for the taxi. If you're in a rush and don't want to be late, consider public transport or walking. If you don't know the way, stick to the taxi queue. Do not entertain any strangers offering to drive you around even if he looks like a decent person. Unless he has an official taxi number or company logo, be cautious. It's also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the right taxi rates so that drivers won't hike up the prices.
 

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Travel deal scam

This could be a phantom hotel room (or a room in a hotel that doesn't really exist) or a shabby inn posing as a five-star hotel. It's never advisable to go for too-good-to-be-true travel deals because they are rarely (if ever) legitimate. Book your flights, hotels and tours on reliable travel offices.

Hi, I'm Louis Habash and I'm a travel writer. Subscribe to my blog to read more travel stories and other related articles.

Travel hacks for the health conscious

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Traveling, for any reason (be it for business, leisure or if you're just looking for adventure), can put a stopper on your fitness routine. In business trips, you would often run on hectic schedules with no time for a proper meal. On the other hand, when you travel for pleasure, trying out the unique cuisine is inevitable and may push you to eat more.

So how can you maintain your figure while traveling? Here are a few easy solutions:

Plan your meals

If you're trying to lose weight, the best way to continue shedding those pounds even on your trip is to eat less frequently and count your calories. Watching what and how much you eat is important to maintain a healthy body. Include a cheat day so you don't feel like you've missed out on anything.

Start walking

Get into the habit of walking instead of using a car or public transport. It can help you burn more fats and also allow you to see sights you won't normally appreciate in a moving vehicle. You can travel at your own pace while getting a workout.

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Find time for a workout

It will be difficult and you might be too busy but if you really want to maintain or lose weight, you will find the time. Even just an hour in the hotel gym can make all the difference. A couple of push ups and core exercises in your hotel room also count.

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Hi, I am Louis Habash and I'm a freelance travel writer from L.A. Like my Facebook page to discover more travel hacks.

Family Travel May Not Be So Fun for the Parents

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Most adults think about travel in a very positive sense. Fewer think that way when they consider travelling as a family. It is important to take a number of factors into account to get the most out of family travel.

1.    You are creating memories. Your kids will always remember the trips you took and usually recall them positively, even if they were not so good for you or your spouse. Your children will remember the time when the family encountered a grizzly at Yellowstone and they will tell the story throughout their lifetimes. You will remember your enormous fear at seeing this mother grizzly and her babies and the panic you felt as you tried to stay calm and shepherd your family out of harm’s way.

2.    The trip is for the purpose of family enjoyment, not your enjoyment. If you travel alone, you can think only of yourself and satisfying your own needs. When you are with your family, it is not about you. It is about the family as its own unit. Even if you are not excited to visit the Magical Park that Defies the Laws of Gravity, it is a family experience that generates fun for the group.

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3.    This trip will not feel like a relaxing getaway. You may be on a budget so accommodations and food may be substandard. Your children are still children so you may have to address fights, tantrums, and car sickness. You may need to acquiesce to fast food when you so want to eat at a decent restaurant. Your sleep could be disturbed by a child in the middle of the night.

Family travel brings many benefits, but personal relaxation and enjoyment may not be among them. Focus instead on the new experiences for your children and the feelings you get from enjoying activities as a group.

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Louis Habash is writes about travel as a freelancer. He lives in Los Angeles. A lover of photography, hiking, water sports and nature, Louis Habash is able to combine these interests while travelling.

Travel to New Mexico to Watch the Good Friday Pilgrimage to Chimayo

As Easter approaches, many cultures celebrate the holiday in a variety of ways. In the US, parents hide Easter eggs for their young children to find. Stores carry all types of candy eggs, as well as baskets and shredded plastic that looks like grass. Families go to a relative’s house for an Easter dinner, as well as attend church.

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If you live in or travel to central New Mexico, you will notice another tradition. It is the pilgrimage to Chimayo on Good Friday. A longstanding tradition among the Catholics in this region, pilgrims walk the distance from their homes to the holy chapel in Chimayo, even if the trek is almost 90 miles and requires walking on the shoulder of a freeway. Often, people will walk through the night in order to get to the chapel on time. Newscasters remind drivers to be careful of these walkers who dot the sides of freeways as cars speed by at 80mph.

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The destination for these walkers, who are following a route laid by a Spanish conquistador, is El Santuario de Chimayo. A chapel that is over 200 years old, the Santuario is said to have healing powers for the sick. Prayers to the carved, wooden Jesus, as well as a handful of dirt from beneath the building have cured the incurable, according to local lore.

If you are planning a trip to this part of New Mexico, the time before Easter is a good one. Not only will you see these pilgrims, but you will experience perfect weather and you will have the opportunity to learn about the culture that pervades this part of the country.

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Louis Habash is a freelance travel writer, who lives in Los Angeles. Also a lover of photography, hiking, water sports and nature, Louis Habash is able to combine these interests with his travel vocation.