10 tips for traveling to a developing country

10 tips for traveling to a developing country

I've been lucky enough to experience a decent cross section of the world - rich and poor - and all the charms it has to offer.

From the pristine streets of Berlin to the dusty streets of Delhi, from the clockwork subway in Austria to the shaky network of Dallas in Tanzania speeding along at breakneck speeds, and from 5-star luxury in the Maldives to a cockroach-infested Cambodian dormitory - they all have their appeal and if I'm being honest.

I enjoyed my travels through the latter destinations more than the former. Traveling through a developing country can be captivating yet terrifying, breathtaking yet prosaic, tender yet heartbreaking, exciting yet frustrating.

For Western Europeans like me, it is unavoidable that traveling through a developing country is different than what you are used to.

I must try to avoid generalizations, but you will rarely find clockwork timetables, clean running water, reliable electricity, ATMs, 4G or wireless broadband, ambulances, cappuccinos, escalators, night buses - the list goes on.

Traveling to a developing country can be tough, but as Kia says in their recent post, it also offers immense rewards. Here's my advice on how to travel safely and sensitively through an evolving destination.

1. Take change and local currency with you

Whether tips, baksheesh or donations, you can never have enough change in local currency. In some countries, like Egypt, it is practically part of the national psyche. Credit cards are usually not accepted in smaller establishments, especially not by hotel concierges or restaurant employees.

2. Stay alert

A “rich” westerner will stand out more in Nairobi than in Northampton. A few years ago I was in the Kenyan capital and struck up a conversation with a local on the street. I thought he was just being curious and friendly, but after a few minutes I noticed he kept looking over my shoulder at someone or something else.

I was unsure, so I tightened my backpack straps and leaned against a wall so my backpack wasn't exposed. Within seconds, he stopped the conversation mid-sentence and marched away. Pay attention to these nonverbal cues.

3. …but be open

My friend said to me after visiting India for the first time, "Pete, it hit me like a wall. I never expected that." A few breaths later he told me he couldn't wait to go back. He hadn't expected the level of poverty he encountered, but he also hadn't expected to enjoy the trip so much.

My point is that you will almost certainly be shocked by some of the things you see - whether it is poverty or something else - but equally you will also almost certainly be pleasantly surprised by something wonderful and graceful.

4. Be compassionate

Remember where you are and that you are a guest. Try to forget your first world problems and remember that it's the experience and the people that count. The very fact that you are vacationing there means that your life is incomparable to those around you.

To this day, I regret hitting a local tuk-tuk driver in Jaipur, India in 2008. I was tired and had been on a bumpy bus all day and just wanted to get to my hotel. I wasn't in the mood to haggle and lost my temper with the man.

In reality, the amount we were haggling over was loose change to me, but to him it might have been a meal for his family.

5. Walk

Buses and trains don't run on time, if at all. Likewise, there may well be no subway or tram system to whiz around the city. You know what? That's okay. Stroll.

You'll see more, meet more people, and probably get to know a culture better on foot than in an antisocial underground system where people don't even make eye contact, let alone talk to each other. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to get around.

6. SPEAK

I think it's fair to say that people in developing countries are less used to visitors. This comes with a certain level of mistrust or caution. The best way to dispel such suspicions is to talk.

Ask locals about their families and their lives; Tell them about your family and your life. No matter where you are in the world, people generally have the same wants and needs. You and them are never that different.

7. Be prepared to bribe

In 2009, I drove to a small town in Morocco in the early evening. As I entered the city, a local police officer waved me to the side of the road. I was getting out of my rental car when he walked up to me and pulled something that looked like a calculator out of his pocket and punched in two numbers before holding it out for me to see.

"You're driving too fast. Fifty dirhams, sir!"

I looked at the calculator – it said “88”.

Eighty-eight, which I don't know, but looking at the car I was driving, I'm not sure it could reach 88 miles - or even kilometers - per hour. I thought about protesting, but 50 dirhams was worth less than three pounds. I paid and then got some useful tips about the hotels in the city. He even led me there as I followed him at a safe and steady pace.

8. Don't put a camera in their face

We all want to document our travels. We want to look back and remember the people, places and landscapes we have seen, but be considerate and think carefully about what you do. Consider cultural sensitivities and limitations.

Think about how you would feel if tourists shoved a camera in your face while you were out and about going about your daily life. Always ask if you can photograph someone or something. Most of the time you get the answer you want.

9. DO NOT GIVE MONEY TO CHILDREN OR MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN

It's heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking, when a young, obviously malnourished child comes towards you with his dusty hand outstretched. However, most travel guides and international organizations advise against giving money to children or mothers with children, as this often perpetuates the problem.

If you want to help, there are almost always local charities and organizations that accept donations and ensure that the money you give goes to those who need it most.

10. DON’T FORGET THE BASICS

Yellow fever, malaria, polio, hepatitis and typhoid are real threats and should be taken seriously. Visit your practice between 4 and 8 weeks before departure to ensure you have enough time to receive the vaccinations you need.

Check the FCO website for visa information and alerts around your destination (although bear in mind they can be over-cautious). Drink bottled water and only eat fruits that can be peeled.

Also, take out travel insurance! Kia (and my mother) have punished me in the past for not purchasing travel insurance while abroad. In general, I am fundamentally skeptical about insurance.

But in retrospect, I was stupid. There were many times where things could have gone wrong and I could have gotten into real trouble. From now on I will take out insurance, especially for our upcoming trip.

If anything, it provides a measure of peace of mind – at least for Kia and my mother!

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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