Trips to Latin American countries can be amazing experiences. At the same time, they can provide you with a wonderful opportunity to practice your Spanish and learn a lot culturally. Here are a few handy travel tips to help you get the most out of your trip to Latin American and avoid potential problems. For a complete set of travel vocabulary (including: Rent-a-Car, Bank, Exchange Rate, Hotel, Shopping and Medical Emergencies), please look up section 12 of your complete Visual Link Spanish™ course; there are both interactive computer lessons as well as audio CD lessons for use in your car. If you perhaps do not have the complete course, click here for more info, or to purchase. Now, let’s move on to our travel tips:

1. Take every occasion you have to speak with the natives. Since you have been studying with our course, you have most likely learned great deal of Spanish up to this point. Speaking to native speakers is a very important step towards higher fluency and will help boost your level of Spanish like nothing else.
2. Try to put your money in a hidden pocket; under clothes is preferable. Money belts that go underneath the clothes are particularly ideal. In some areas, pickpockets can be a very common occurrence and this guideline could save you a lot of money! If you must carry a purse, be sure to keep both hands on it in all public places. Remember, money belts are really ideal to keep your money safe.
3. It is best not to wear expensive jewelry or watches; you may not come back with them. Relatively harmless pick pockets may possibly become somewhat aggressive if they see you have a nice watch or jewelry. Inexpensive jewelry can be a great solution to remedy the problem. When I went to live in Latin America, I bought an very inexpensive $10 Casio digital watch that lasted the entire two years I lived there. As you can well imagine, nobody really wanted to take a “$10 Casio”.
4. If you decide to drive or rent a car, be sure to carry money if you happen to be stopped by the police. In the United States, it is illegal to give police officers money to let you off, but in Latin America it is more or less expected. The amount to offer can vary region to region, but I would suggest carrying at least three ten-dollar bills.
5. Do not ever leave your luggage or valuables unattended. Keep track of your things because if you lose something, it is gone forever.
6. For the most part, most tourist locations are really very safe, but it you go off the beaten path, be sure to stay in well-lit areas at night.

  To learn more about speaking Spanish, please visit our website www.spanishprograms.com