With the holiday season coming up, we need to be aware of the dangers out there. As parents of young children planning a family holiday, this is especially true- but those of us with grown up children must also be vigilant. Traveling on one’s own, or with friends, is a wonderful experience for all young adults, and should be encouraged as often as possible- as long as the importance of smart travel is understood.
The Philippines, for instance, is an amazing country, dotted with beautiful beaches and exciting cities- but it’s also one that many travelers feel is unsafe, mostly due to reports of crimes and attacks on tourists. Recently making headlines, for example, was the violent rape of two Japanese tourists in Cebu City by South Korean men, in an act that brings to mind the mistreatment of the Japanese comfort women. The Koreans were charged with rape, as The Sunstar Cebu reports:
Rape complaints were filed Monday against two Korean nationals who allegedly raped two Japanese women last Saturday dawn, then left them to pay for the motel room bill. (Source)
The answer is not to avoid travel altogether, but to travel smart. Here are some tips to impart to your children.
- Stay in a wholesome location. Before booking a room at a hotel, motel, or inn, do a bit of research; read reviews on TripAdvisor, and find out how the location is.
- Know who to trust. Listen to your instincts; if someone seems shady, even if they’re supposed to be trustworthy- such as a worker at your hotel, or your driver- stay away.
- Have important numbers with you. A little notebook in your bag or pocket with a list of emergency numbers is a good idea in case you lose your mobile phone.
- Don’t get drunk. By all means, enjoy a few drinks at a local watering hole, but don’t get so drunk you lose control of yourself or your belongings. Not a wise thing to do in a foreign country.
Originally posted on October 28, 2014 @ 11:19 am
