35 Signs That You're a New or Short-Term Traveler
Loja, Ecuador

Bahahahahaha spot on list.

I currently do number 5 and 20, but I have done 23, 24, 25, and 30.

The lack of common sense in the average gringo amazes me. Seeing no. 11 is very common. The other day i heard the sob story of a guy who put all three of his credit cards in a jacket and lost it in the carnival parade. Without lonely planet and ATMs, many more would die

A hair dryer? Really???

I have two issues with your list:

I don't see anything wrong with using a wallet, as long as you keep it in your front pocket and rest a thumb in each pocket in crowded areas. It sure is better then wearing a money belt.

I wish more people wore jeans. Just because you are traveling does not mean you need to look like a slob wearing the gringo backpacker outfit.

Whatcha got in that "Constanza wallet" that you need while traveling other than cash, anonymous?

As a "New" traveler that might unintentionally commit one of the 35 "signs" in my upcoming and first trip to Ecuador, I'd love more explanation and your suggestions!

What's the deal with bluejeans? Only worn in the US? Many of your photos show people in jeans. What do you like to wear when traveling? (Cargo pants, slacks?)

And… what do you use for your money and credit cards if you don't use a wallet? (just wad your bills in your pockets??)

Any suggestions for best securing personal items (passport, credit cards, etc.?)

Great blog, by the way!

Howdy,

In my eyes jeans are general a travel no-no because they take forever and a day to dry when wet, and they're heavy to carry around in your pack.

I have just a single pair of shorts and pants with me, and they're made out of rip-stop blend of polyester and cotton with a button fly. The brand is TRU-SPEC, and it's what many of the freelance mercs in Iraq are wearing (ordered from brigadeqm.com). Highly recommended.

There are two schools of thought regarding passport protection: Keep it on your person, or in your room/pack. I think it best to vary where you keep things, depending on the type of environment you're in, but as a default, I consider the likelihood that I'll be mugged by aggressors or get my documents wet much greater than a bandit grabbing them out of my pack.

Keep your windows shut and locked when you leave the room (mind that people with poles with hooks on them can easily grab things through bars), always try and select rooms where you can use your own padlock on your door (not the hotel or hostel's room keys or lock), and always keep your bag chained to something immoveable when you leave it unattended (to prevent quick grabs).

As for carrying money around: I carry what I need for the day, plus a US$20 bill wrapped around my driver's license that's tucked into a hidden pocket that's actually sewn into the inside of my shorts/pants. I also have this same pocket in my swimsuit (photo).

I keep just the bills in my front pocket, with a bandana on top of it to keep causal pickpockets from snagging my notes. I think a wallet just adds bulk, and makes it easier to people to see where/how you keep your money.

Hey Craig. I love your site and have been reading it for a while now preparing for a 12 + month journey south of the border to Central and South America. I was looking at the pants you recommended above and was wondering how long it takes the cotton\poly blend to dry. If you wash them at night are they usually dry by morning?

Of course the humidity and location your pants are drying is going vary drastically, but it's safe to say that those pants will dry faster than anything else your fellow travelers will be wearing. And even if they're a little damp, just put 'em on and let your body heat go the last mile.

Happy travels!

Hi Craig,

While I mostly liked reading your list, it does make it sound as if you are somehow better than short-term or newer travelers. More experienced, absolutely, but not any better of a person. Remember, you were once a new traveler, too. I could have done with a little less snark.

That being said, I can usually see how much someone travels by how they treat the locals. Some tourists treat them as if they're on display in a zoo. This is especially common in countries where there is ceremonial dress. I've seen tourists blatantly walk within 2 feet of gussied-up children just to get a photo, without any regard for context or manners. That's what zooms are for… or maybe just take a mental picture.

My biggest disagreement is the jeans. I only brought jeans and I brought several pairs. Why? They fit well, they look damn good (I brought only my favorite, well fitting ones) and everyone wears them, at least in South America. Khakis scream gringo down here.
Maybe for you, but I am not going to wash my clothes in the sink. I never worry about how to dry my jeans because I use the local lavanderia. Locals here take their clothes to the cleaners and tourists can too! Sure, it costs more but you choose how you want to spend your time. To be a 'true savvy traveler' you don't have to wash clothes in sinks.

@Jess,

Your 2wk annual vacations are not the same as Craig's 4yr lifetime on the road. Locals work for a living and I assume you do too, so can afford the luxury of the local lavanderia. Craig spends his life traveling, and so must make certain concessions we might otherwise think absurd. Craig isn't interested in looking "damn good," just seeing the world, and Beliz looks the same from designer blue jeans or ripstop khakis.

Generally I don't travel with a laptop, but am contemplating bringing one on my next trip since I'll be couchsurfing.

Why not Apple?

Apple laptops and on-the-road maintenance don't mesh well. Resolving the inevitable hardware or software issues are best done with systems in use by the majority, not the minority. Carrying around an expensive, flashy MacBook is certainly in line with folks traveling for shorter periods of time who aren't as concerned with the ruggedness and maintenance of living on the road with a laptop.

Congrats on the CouchSurfing — a fantastic way to travel.

It's a good/funny list. Some things on the list I've been forced into because of lack of options but I agree with almost everything on the list, these are the only comments I had:

- I had a wallet and money belt at start of trip, used the belt once and just got annoyed with it, used the wallet for months until I realized everything in it was not needed on a daily basis except money and debit/visa cards. I now put my money and 2 cards in the plastic passport cover that my passport is in and then put that in my front pocket of my pants 99% of the time. I use my debit card often as I take out enough money for only 3-4 days when I am near ATM's as it costs me nothing to take out money at ATM's and I don't like carrying $100 around with me.

- As for clogging the toilet with toilet paper, I do throw my TP in the toilet as I find that bin disgusting but I make sure to flush often as to not clog the thing.

- The jeans argument is big on travel forums and such, I personally like jeans and wear them all the time. If I want to wash them I get them washed (Rs. 10 in India) or I do them myself and wear shorts for a few days. It's not that hard and allows me to be as comfy as I am at home and blend in just fine as everyone wears jeans.

- I don't understand the clothespins reference as I have never found myself wishing I had one.