Travellers are always targets for robbers, be it a pickpocket, or a break in at your accommodation. I have laid out some tips here to limit the risk of you becoming a victim. Do not flash the cash, this is the most common and ignored advice and applies especially if you are travelling to a poorer country.

Only carry the amount of money you need

Think about the money you carry. I have seen people in the Gambia open there wallets or purse and you see well over £100 sitting there in a country with an average wage of under £20 a week, 2 months’ salary in your wallet is a strong pull. Only take what you need.

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My email inbox has gone crazy since the collapse of tour operator, Goldtrail. Again, like XL, and the glut of other collapses, there are many questions left unanswered. A number of consumers have asked why less than 24 hours before Goldtrail collapsed, were they still accepting bookings.

CAA predictions not much help to consumers

Read the travel industry press, and like me, you will be outraged to read that and some agencies stopped taking Goldtrail bookings months ago. According to Travel Weekly, only this month, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) predicted “the collapse of a tour operator to the Eastern Med later this year”.

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I have just heard that Turkish specialist tour operator, Goldtrail have gone into administration. This is not good news, at what will be the busiest time of the year for the company. Goldtrail also traded as Goldtrail Holidays, Goldtrail Travel and Sunmar, held ATOL licence 4684.

Thousands stranded abroad

So those holidaymakers who are stranded abroad will receive assistance. There are no more outbound Goldtrail flights, so if you were due to travel with them you need to check with the travel agent because your tickets will no longer be valid. More information can be found on the ATOL website.

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Over the years I have written (ranted) about most types of holidays, other than cruises. I do like the idea of sailing to different destinations, and some of the cruise ships are pretty impressive, but, the fact that I travel solo a lot means cruise holidays are out of my budget.

Lack of cruise rants

It is single person supplements that make a cruise holiday impossible for me. I receive a lot of complaints from consumers, but I can’t remember the last time one that was cruise related. I was wondering what issues consumers have with cruises.

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A few weeks back, Andy Jarosz wrote a post about a restaurant that does not provide customers with tap water, and I suspect that is because too many people were asking for water, and not paying for drinks. Then today, I watched a video rant to hotels about them charging $4 for a bottle of water.

Water for profit

Travel to any popular tourist hotspot and you will find that the modest bottle of water doubles in price. At the end of the day we live in a world where people in many countries have to travel for miles for water, we do take it for granted.

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