Travel Safety Can Be a Passport to Good Health
Just because it's a resort, doesn't mean precautions should be abandoned, experts note
Reader Comments
Travel
Travel is the one thing I refuse to give up, even in this economy. I have traveled to many countries across the world and do not find it that difficult to be safe. Common sense, as always, is the key. The only negatives I've had are getting upset stomach from,of all places, Hard Rock Cafe, in Cancun when my daughter wanted to go there. I never had problems in what , at the time, were eastern block countries, nor China, Egypt, South America, or anywhere in Asian countries such as Vietnam or Malaysia. As far as personal safety, only in London on the way down to the tube did I almost get pick pocketed. I noticed it happening and all it took was some harsh words to him and he fled. In Greece, my wallet had fallen out of my purse after I paid for a meal for dinner and I didn't notice until I got to the hotel. There was a substantial amt. of money as well as credit cards and my drivers license. Miraculously, I got it all back the next day from our waiter who waited to return it until the morning to the next manager. He said that the night restaurant manager never returns anything to anyone.
Travel hygiene
I'm an European. I travelled all over Europe since I was 6 yrs old and parts of the Mediterranean since I was 16.Egypt, Morocco Turkey, Israel, Mexico at 30.
While it is important to take some elementary precautions concerning drinks and prepared dishes (don't eat cold or lukewarm in Africa or Turkey unless you prepared it yourself, trust only sealed bottles), the normal human adult can support quite an amount of inevitable bacteria with minimal discomfort. At home too, you are in contact with them, just a different strain of bacteria: an African tourist in the US is likely to get the "revenge of Montezuma", just because he meets unknown beasties.
I would never go as far as cleaning my eating ustensils, even in upper Egypt, Tanger, Tunis or Istanbul.
When In Rome, I drink tap water, which I'd never do in Firenze: just a question of knowing where you can trust it. In countries like Greece or Portugal I will eat anything I like. (in NYC too!)
