If you’re not using the Internet to meet foreign women, then you are definitely missing out.  With a wealth of dating sites to choose from, and new sites popping up daily, there are literally thousands of potential women to pick from.  What ever your preference is you can find it online.  Have a thing for Asian women, Latin women, blond haired European women, dark skinned beauties?  No problem. The Internet is your portal to a cornucopia of options.  You can meet women from any country that you desire. 

In addition, thanks to social networking sites, you can find and talk to women abroad without spending a dime.  Myspace.com is a great example.  Myspace allows you to build a profile and browse people from any country you like for free.  Simply search for women in the country of your choice, find some that are appealing to you, shoot off some emails and away you go.  You will find most of the women to be very friendly and open to meeting American men.  Now, I will tell you that the response rate is a lot better on sites that are designed specifically for finding love than on social networking sites.  This is due to the fact that women who are on websites like Myspace tend to be there more for keeping in touch with their current friends than for meeting new ones.  With that being said, however, I have met some incredibly beautiful and friendly women on Myspace and I would encourage you to also use this resource in your search for Mrs. Right.  

In conjunction with the Internet, technology has also made it easier than ever for building relationships abroad.   Through the use of email, webcams, and instant messaging, you can communicate with these women without breaking the bank.   No longer do you need to spend huge sums of money on long distant phone calls.  Instant messaging services like Yahoo, Windows Live, and Skype allow you to chat or speak with anyone in the world for free.  And if you have a webcam, it makes the experience even better.  Webcams allow you to see and talk to people over the Internet in real time.  They make you feel like the person you are talking to is sitting directly in front of you.  If you don’t have a webcam yet, I would encourage you to buy one.  They are not too expensive (around $55 or so) and they make a significant difference.  By using a webcam you can fast forward the courtship stage and achieve greater success with women.

So, start meeting exotic women abroad today using the Internet and the resources I have already mentioned.  The perfect girl for you is out there somewhere. You just need to go find her. 

Best of luck in your quest.  

Your friend,

The Global Bachelor

All of this information sounds great in theory, but where do I start?  How do I find these women?  What websites should I use?  What do I say to girls?  What if I can’t speak the language? How do I attract women from overseas?  How do I build a profile that is attractive to women?  Don’t worry! All these questions and more will be answered in due time.  So, stay tuned!

Blend in with the locals

Tourists are frequent targets for muggers.  Therefore, do your best to blend in with your new surroundings.  Pay attention to how the locals act and dress.  For example, in Latin America it is not customary to wear shorts unless you’re at the beach or in a beach city. Yes, people do wear shorts in cities, but it is not as common as it is here in the U.S.   Thus, keep the shorts for appropriate activities.  Being a foreigner will draw enough attention to you as it is.  You don’t need to make yourself a walking billboard for thieves to target.

Don’t wear expensive watches or jewelry

Leave the Rolex and the bling at home guys.  Unless you’re looking for a gold digger or hoping to get robbed, there is absolutely no reason to bring these items with you when you travel.  Buy a cheap watch or use your cell phone for the time.  My feeling is the less stuff you have on you the better. Foreign women are already wooed by the fact that you are North American or European etc.   You don’t need to try and impress them with a fancy watch. If you insist on wearing the Rolex, then wear a long sleeved shirt or something to conceal it.

Keep valuables out of sight

Nice cameras and cell phones are commonly targeted by thieves. It is important to pay attention to who is observing you and only use your camera and phone when needed. You also might consider leaving that nice iPhone at home and opt to buy a cheap phone in the country that you are in. Unless you’re a professional photographer, leave that professional camera at home.  It would be wiser to use a camera that could fit in your pocket or jacket. 

Don’t talk about your finances

It is never a good idea to talk about how much money you have or make when you travel.  Be very wary of giving out this information and those who ask such questions.  Even if you are among people that seem trustworthy and can be considered friends, it is a good idea to keep this information private.  If people know you have money, you are much more of a target for being robbed or worse, kidnapped for ransom.  Kidnappings have been a big problem in many third world countries.  They are generally very well planned and are not random acts of violence.  Therefore, the problem with letting others know about your family’s wealth is that the wrong person could catch wind of it.  You never know who your so called friend is going to tell…intentionally or unintentionally. 

Be alert when walking the streets

You are most likely to get robbed while walking on or hanging out on a street.  Therefore, it is important to have an elevated awareness during these times.  Here are some good rules to follow:

• Avoid walking alone after dark. This can be hard to do if you are traveling alone and without friends, but try and minimize this as much as possible.  

• Use taxis from location to location.  (See my blog on Taking a Foreign Taxi for taxi advice).

• Walk with a purpose.  When walking the streets, behave confidently and act like you know where you’re going.  Don’t look lost or confused.  Instead, walk as if you are in a hurry to get somewhere.  This doesn’t mean sprinting or speed walking - unless necessary - but rather walking at a good pace.  The rational behind this is that the faster you walk the more effort it requires for a mugger to catch up with you.

• Walk along the sidewalk closest to the street. This is to help reduce a robber from jumping out and surprising you.  When it’s really late at night, and virtually no traffic on the street, I personally opt to walk in the street along the curb and avoid the sidewalk altogether.  Use your judgment on this and obviously be alert for passing cars.  Some people would warn against this, but for me, I feel safer in the street as it gives me more options for escape.  One pitfall of walking down some sidewalks is that you can become trapped in when cars and houses/buildings are on either side of you.  You have no where to run if attacked.    

• Don’t listen to music while walking. You will not be able to hear someone sneaking up behind you and muggers will think you are an easy target.  

• Never stop to answer a question at night.  A classic trick used by muggers is to distract you by asking a question like what the time is, and when you stop and look down at your watch or pull your cell phone out…Bang!  You are hit by surprise and before you know it the thieves have a knife on you and are stealing your stuff.  Instead of stopping, keep on walking.  If someone asks for the time, keep walking and tell them after you pass them. DO NOT STOP!  Though maybe rude, it is better to be safe than sorry.   

• Avoid dim lit streets and lifeless areas.  Stick to well lit areas and areas where people are congregated. 

• Know who is coming your way.  If some dodgy character is walking toward you, look for ways to avoid him.  Keep a watchful eye on him and try and cross the street before he gets near you.  If he starts to do the same, reverse back to your original path.  If continues to follow your motions… run! 

Keep your money in a safe place.

Don’t have all your money in your wallet.  While wearing a wallet is convenient it also makes it susceptible to pickpocket.   Always keep enough money safe for a cab ride back to your place.  If you get held up, at least you will be able to get home.  A good place to keep some money is in your shoe or sock. Also, it is a good idea to carry a decoy bundle of small notes.  The equivalent of US $10 should be sufficient.  Use this bundle to give to the assailants.  Lastly, be especially careful when withdrawing money from an ATM machine.  Keep a lookout for people watching you and following you after you have used an ATM. 

The more you know the better

In the end, there is no sure way to protect from theft.  However, the more you know and the more alert you are, the better you can protect yourself.

It is difficult to avoid taking a taxi when traveling abroad.  When you don’t know the layout of the land and not familiar with the area, it is just easier to get around town by taxi (at least in the beginning). And while the majority of the time it is a harmless experience, it can be at times dangerous…especially in certain countries.  It is also one of the primary places inexperienced travelers get ripped off.  Therefore, I thought it would be useful to give some tips and advice on taking a taxi so that you can ensure your safety and protect your pocket book. 

Call the taxi company directly

The safest way to get a taxi is to call a taxi company directly.  This is important because the taxi company keeps records of its activities and it makes it easier for the authorities to trace your steps if something happens to you.  If there is a language barrier, then ask to see if the hotel or restaurant where you are at can call one for you.  Depending on the country, the taxi company should tell you the number of the taxi that will be picking you up.  When the taxi arrives, compare the numbers for a match (this particularly pertains to Colombia).  If the numbers don’t match, wave the driver on and call for another cab.  Some cab drivers have been known to be associated with organized crime.  Therefore, a devious driver is less likely to commit a crime if he knows there is a record of his activity.

Find a taxi stand

If it’s not possible to call a taxi, then your next best bet is to find a taxi stand.  Taxi stands should be easily found on any major international city street, but in case you’re having difficulty finding one, try going to a hotel or tourist attraction.  Some taxi stands will give you receipts or destination slips with the identification number of the driver.  This is usually enough to prevent a taxi driver from ripping you off.

Don’t use unmarked taxis

If you decide to hail a cab from the street, make sure it’s an easily identifiable taxi.  In most major cities, taxis are easy to identify by their colors, markings, and vehicle models.  DO NOT take rides from unmarked cars unless you have arranged for travel through a reputable service. Unmarked taxis are not registered with the city and are more dangerous to use.  There are stories of travelers getting kidnapped by ‘fake’ taxi drivers.  Naive passengers get into ‘fake’ taxis and realize that there are no door handles and no way of getting out.  Not a fun situation. Therefore, always check to see if there are inside door handles before entering.  This is an important rule to follow for any vehicle.  Without easy access, you will not be able to get out if you’re in an accident.

When in doubt, sit in the back seat

Sitting in the front seat vs. the back seat really depends on your comfort level and which country you are in.  For example, in Mexico, it is common to sit in the front seat as it shows trust and familiarity.  However, by sitting in the front seat, you also make it easier for a driver to rob you.  One minute you could be chit chatting and the next you could be forking over your cash with a knife stuck to your belly.  Therefore, trust your gut instincts and sit where you feel the most comfortable.   If you have doubts about the driver, sit in the back. This way, it is easier to make a quick escape if you need to.  Personally, I sit in both the front and back seats of cabs.  It is a judgment call that I make on the spot.  However, at night, I generally use the back seat.

Don’t get overcharged

Some taxi drivers will try to overcharge you. You can avoid this situation by making sure the driver uses the meter or by agreeing on a price beforehand.

If you choose to use the meter, which sometimes can be less or more expensive than a negotiated fee, double check to see if it has been cleared and showing the minimum fare.  If the meter is not on and is not showing the minimum fare, do not continue until the driver has done so.  If he refuses to do so or says that it is broken, threaten to get out of the cab or set a price right then and there.  Do not be afraid to get out and take another taxi. 

When negotiating a fare first, ask a local or a waiter beforehand on what a cab fare should be.  Unfortunately, as a tourist, you will not have a lot of bargaining power unless you’re very familiar with the area or can speak the language.  But, in general, you can expect to pay something lower than initially quoted.

If you are looking for a bargain and know what the price should already be in advance, then you can fix a price in your mind and show the driver that you only have “x” amount of money in your wallet (put the rest of your money in a safe place like your sock or something).  If it is not too below the normal fee, the driver will usually accept the offer.  As a safety precaution this also helps to avoid being robbed by the driver himself as he knows that you don’t have any more money to take.

Also, be prepared to pay more during specific times, such as during rush hour, late at night or during unfavorable weather conditions. If a sudden lightening storm develops overhead and you desperately want to get home, expect to pay a lot more than normal. 

Pay with small bills

If possible, try to keep small bills on you to use for the taxi.  It’s amazing how many drivers don’t have change or aren’t willing to break large notes - sometimes not even the equivalent of $10 U.S.   So be aware of this and if you don’t have any small notes, ask the driver if he has change beforehand.  There is little chance he will let you get away with a free ride.

Lastly, make sure you exchange money while you are still in the taxicab.  That way, onlookers can’t see how much money you have and you can put your wallet safely away before heading out into pedestrian traffic.

Avoid taxi scams

A common ploy taxi drivers make is trying to convince you not to go to a certain place.  Instead, they will say the place you want to go to is either closed, or is not good, etc. and offer to take you to a better place with more beautiful women.  Don’t jump to these offers.  The majority of the time, the place he is trying to take you to is a massage parlor where he receives a commission (the place could be a rip-off or it might be great).  Therefore, insist the driver to take you to the place you want to go. If by chance the place you go to happens to be closed or the place is not that great, then you can follow his suggestion or go elsewhere.  It could be that the driver’s suggestion really is a good suggestion, so always take down the name of the place before exiting the cab.  Some of the best places I have gone to have been through taxi driver referrals - but I never rush into anything. 

Another thing to watch out for is sharing a cab with strangers. There have been known scams where a passenger will get in the cab with another unknown individual.  Usually the reasoning is to save money by splitting the fare.  But, the other passenger is a “fake” passenger carrying illegal drugs.  This contraband is then discovered by a “fake” cop.  I will let you use your imagination on what happens next.

Final thought

It is a good idea to keep your personal belongings and valuables close to you and not in the trunk.  There may be times when you need to make a quick exit and you don’t want to have to leave anything of great importance behind. 

Last of all, if you find a driver that you like, ask for his business card. It’s a good idea to get a business card from a few different drivers.  Put their numbers and names in your cell.  This way it will be like having your own private chuffers and over time you just may develop a friendship with them.