Life on the Road

Ah, travel. The open road, the exotic foods, the inevitable realization that you’ve just been scammed. Nothing screams “authentic cultural experience” like handing over way too much money to a con artist in a suit shop who just swore his cousin lives in your hometown.If you’re a new traveler, let me save you some time (and dignity). Here are 18 of the most common scams you’re going to encounter—and, more importantly, how to avoid getting played like a tourist-shaped violin.1. The Taxi Scam (A.K.A. “The Meter is Broken”)Oh, you thought taxis were a safe bet? Adorable. Either the driver claims

Ah, your first big trip. Excitement! Fear! An unshakable belief that you need to pack 17 pairs of socks!Before you launch into full-on panic mode and start Googling “Do I need a survival kit for Paris?” take a deep breath. You’re not the first person to leave home, and you probably won’t end up as a tragic backpacker horror story.But since you don’t know what you don’t know, let me, a seasoned traveler who has made every mistake in the book, save you some grief.1. Stop Being So ScaredYou’re not discovering a lost civilization. You’re going to places with running