Stay safe, stay informed

We often get asked how we know where to stay and what to do in a new city, and the answer is always the same. We read a lot before making decisions. We join Facebook groups, read reviews of people, places, and things, search for Q&As in blogs, and dive into the CIA world Factbook. Time and time again we affirm that all the hours put into this collection of information are helpful. Even in your hometown, knowing key facts and statistics is useful. For instance, did you know that in 2023, the Volkswagen Polo was among the most hijacked cars in South Africa? According to online data, the car was involved in approximately 14% of all vehicle hijacking incidents in South Africa. Despite this, guess what car we were given when we hired a car in Johannesburg (JHB) recently? The upside of the Volkswagen Polo which includes popularity, availability, and easy access to car parts, are the same reasons that it is a frequent target for car thieves. Having been held up at gunpoint a year ago in JHB, we weren’t keen on driving a car that says “pick me” to all wannabe car thieves so we swapped to a Suzuki. ​Here’s the rub ~ A foreigner coming to SA wouldn’t know this vital information if they didn’t do their homework. We can’t find any facts or stats on foreigners being hijacked in a VW Polo so the example is anecdotal yet it gets the point across:- Stay naive at your peril. No matter where you go and what you are doing, do the research first. For example:-

• We would have sat waiting for a bus for hours in Mauritius had we not read about the need to flag them down otherwise they zoom past.

• We would have stayed in a dodgy area in Kenya had we not read the reviews on the neighborhood.

• We would have been charged quadruple had we not found out that using Uber is the safest and a cost-effective way of managing taxi travel in Mumbai.

• We would have run into issues in Laos if we hadn’t read that you need US Dollars in cash for the VISA on arrival - this information was not on the official website.

Whether you’re traveling abroad or exploring closer to home, being well-informed can dramatically improve your experience and safety. Don't leave it to chance — take the time to read and prepare. Stay safe, stay informed, and enjoy every moment to the fullest! #Stayinformed #Nomadlife #DigitalNomad #readaboutit