[BadWolf]

I use to rent a nice 2 bedroom townhouse for about 300 bucks a month in Mexico. Have you thought about doing that instead? I can't say I've ever stayed in a hostel or wanted to. Prefer the privacy of my own home/room.

Also, in the 3rd world, you really shouldn't be carrying around expensive stuff like brand name clothing. You are sort of advertising to thieves that you have money. I always wear old jeans, hoodie, old cheap sneakers, fake stuff... if anything goes missing, I can replace it pretty easily or leave it behind without worry. I've only been robbed in Mexico twice and both times it was by the Puerto Vallarta PD, once at gun point and once while I had my back turned on the pier (for taking a leak in public).

Otherwise Mexicans are really nice people and have had nothing but good treatment from them.

[iknowexactly]

You were smart not to escalate with the criminal guy.

I've been pushed around by primitives ( not a racial insult, just an insult to bullies who harass tourists) in foreign countries, and as they were not really hurting me didn't really fight back.

Let's say you fight someone, smash their face and the cops get involved.
Do you really want to be explaining how you beat a local down when you can't even speak the language? What do you think it looks like to the cop, you babbling in a foreign language and him with his face half gone? WHo looks like the villain to the cop?

If your life is in danger it's another matter, but that's much rarer.

[InternationPlayboy]

(03-06-2013 12:59 AM)BadWolf Wrote:  

Also, in the 3rd world, you really shouldn't be carrying around expensive stuff like brand name clothing. You are sort of advertising to thieves that you have money. I always wear old jeans, hoodie, old cheap sneakers, fake stuff...

Through out my trip in South America I was wearing Gucci glasses, Express pants, $150 shirts, decent shoes, and a decently expensive watch with a small diamond in it. I was fine. Even when I got robbed I had my watch on and it was visible. Dude didn't even want it. I don't think a lot of the thieves in these 3rd world countries realize my glasses are worth $300. I was wearing the Guccis and watch in Centro in Medellin and had no problem (During the day of course, I wouldn't walk around in Centro period at night). I got some hungry glares from some mean looking dudes, but nothing ever happened. I would rather risk losing my $300 glasses than look like a slob (And by the way, not calling you a slob, just saying I have a way of dressing that a prefer). Obviously don't travel into shady areas. When I dress up in my nice shirts I only go into nice neighborhoods.

[scotian]

Hostels are easy targets for all kinds of riff-raff from both the inside and out, they typically have shitty security and are seen as easy targets.

I would advise against staying at any in the popular backpacker area of la candelaria in Bogota, those hostels get held up by armed thugs on a regular basis:

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news...eries.html

[jammer]

(03-05-2013 11:00 PM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  

One thing that now in retrospect set off an alarm and seems odd is that I had warned him, "word to the wise bro, I got a $200 pair of sunglasses ripped off out of my room, so watch your shit". Instead of saying oh thanks for the warning or oh that's fucked up, he was like "damn $200 dollars!" I didn't think of it at the time, but now I am realizing that he perked up and was probably thinking "damn I just hit the jackpot", because he probably had no idea how much they were worth.

2 questions

1. How did he have enough time in less than 3 minutes to know where your sunglasses are and take them? Why didn't he take anything else since you are assuming he didn't know they were expensive?


2. You probably shouldn't have told him that your sunglasses were stolen. If you liquored him up, maybe then he won't remember that he stole it from your room. Be like "I saw some people leave expensive shit around, I was thinking about boosting that shit." Then he tells you about the shit he stole from the hostel. If you are lucky, he won't realize it was your room and he will start talking about the sunglasses.

[Prophylaxis]

Shit luck man. Personally even if I knew it was that shady guy, I'd drop it.

I know the feeling. I lost about $2000 worth of luggage 2 weeks into my trip last year - hiking gear, designer clothes etc.

If you have travel insurance, file a police report, tell them cameras/laptops/phones were stolen as well. Milk them for everything. You'll feel better.

[germanico]

(03-05-2013 11:00 PM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  

he was like "damn $200 dollars!" I didn't think of it at the time, but now I am realizing that he perked up and was probably thinking "damn I just hit the jackpot",

He was probably thinking "damn, and I exchanged them for this 40oz corona"

(03-06-2013 01:37 AM)jammer Wrote:  

1. How did he have enough time in less than 3 minutes to know where your sunglasses are and take them? Why didn't he take anything else since you are assuming he didn't know they were expensive?

He just took the first thing he could find. He knew he had little time so he just grabbed something and dashed.

[michelin]

OG, wtf are you still doing in that hostel? I would have gotten the hell outta there by now.

Also, what are RVF members doing...in a DORM?

[Hencredible Casanova]

OG - If he's still there just confront his ass. Fuck that guy. He's already established he's beyond shady and evil so you might as well see what's up.

[Chaos]

I was in Vietnam a few months ago, That night I shared a hotel room with a mate I was traveling. However, we were out hunting and drinking and I had a bad night and I got tired so I called the night and went back to the hotel. I closed the door, crashed and fell a sleep on the spot, but I left the lights on because I was expecting him back within an hour. What I forgot was to lock the door.

He came back after 30min, this was 4 am. I left my Iphone to charge on the table and he had left his Ipad charge. Both were gone.
That means that someone came in to our room during these 30 min while I was sleeping and stole our stuff. It had to be someone who was staying inside the hotel because it was impossible for an outsider to get in during night time. Well, the hotel hadn't any cameras and the manager said he couldn't do a shit.

The theif got a unlocked Iphone 4 and a brand new unlocked Ipad, that's a decent christmas gift in a country like Vietnam.
Luckily my insurance covered everything. But what a stupid thing to forget to lock the door.

Lesson learned.

[OGNorCal707]

(03-06-2013 04:17 AM)michelin Wrote:  

OG, wtf are you still doing in that hostel? I would have gotten the hell outta there by now.

Also, what are RVF members doing...in a DORM?

Yeah I normally don't stay in hostels, but I'm not a rich man, I am traveling for 6 weeks throughout S. Mexico and sometimes I like to mix it up and get private rooms in hostels, to save some money and be in more of a social atmosphere.

Also, I am not staying in a dorm, I am staying in a private room, but it doesn't have a private bathroom, hence the reason why my shit got jacked when I left my room for 3 mins. to go to the bathroom.

The only upsides for me for staying in hostels are saving money, meeting chicks, and being in a social atmosphere. Michelin you are probably some baller with a high paying job making well into the 6-figures, but not everyone has paper like that.

After staying here I got 6 nights in Playa del Carmen in a $75 a night hotel room, which is really stretching my budget. In all I'm going to spend about $5,000 in 6 weeks of travel, which is going to take a hit to my savings.

Furthermore, I am a pretty intorverted guy and hostels make it easy for me to be social and meet people. When I stay at nicer hotels it's usually all, older people and couples, which doesn't exactly nurture a social atmosphere. Also it doesn't help being in Mexico with minimal Spanish, it's not really easy to make local friends when outside of here in Merida, almost every where I've been people speak jack shit for English.

Maybe this answered your questions, but I will say for sure, staying in a dorm is straight up bunk and I will never do it again. I may consider staying in hostels again, but they for sure have to be a private room with private bathroom, because I don't want to fuck with this communal toilet situation ever again. I didn't want to before staying here and was about to not book this room, solely on that premise, live and learn I suppose.

[pants]

That sucks..

It's just how it is. After traveling for a while you let your guard down.

My first week in indo I locked my stuff to the toilet. Now I got much money just laying around the room

[RenewalMan]

I once left my watch in the bathroom when I took a shower in a hostel in Israel. Someone turned it in to the front desk--a $350 seiko!

[InternationPlayboy]

(03-06-2013 04:57 PM)RenewalMan Wrote:  

I once left my watch in the bathroom when I took a shower in a hostel in Israel. Someone turned it in to the front desk--a $350 seiko!

When I was recently staying at a hostel in Lima, I left my phone in the bar area and someone turned it into the front desk. It was a POS $30 burner phone I was just using while traveling, but still, it was much appreciated. Had it been my iPhone, I doubt I would have seen it again.

[michelin]

Quote:

Michelin you are probably some baller with a high paying job making well into the 6-figures, but not everyone has paper like that.

Nope. If I really have to I stay in budget hostels, e.g. in scandinavia or other expensive regions, or simply when I know for sure there is no talent around and gaming is out of the question. I actually travel on low budget and often do the same as you do: private room/shared bathroom, but I always leave my stuff in my locked room. But you are right that even then shit can happen, no matter how cautious you are.

[MidWest]

(03-05-2013 02:47 PM)Alexander Wrote:  

For me it seems like that "Fuck Mexicans" would be a better title, there are some countries where that would not happen, regardless of whether foreigners were staying.

I haven't met many Mexicans, but the ones I have have been cheating bastards

Hey hey hey! Easy now. Dont peg all Mexican people in the same boat just because of some bad experiences you had.

[whosyourdaddy]

Whenever i stay in 3rd world countries, i always leave my luggage locked with a simple combination lock. It's usually enough to deter opportunism by the hotel maid or staff. I also travel with a lightweight chain and sometimes lock my bag to an immovable object, like a bed.

Additionally, if i was traveling in Latin America, i'd travel with really cheap looking, nondescript, slash-resistant luggage. You don't want your bag to stick out from the other bags when they load your luggage onto a bus.

[Screwston]

Lol at everyone saying fuck Mexico and Fuck Mexicans and it turns out to be an American black guy

[Garzero]

If can make you feel better, listen to this. Two weeks ago it was my first day in popular city in Poland, I go out for a walk with a girl from couchsurfing (she wasn't even that beautiful, stupid I am). We go in a cafe and sit at a table. I go to take a leak, and leave my wallet in the pocket of my jacket, on the chair. When I go to the bathroom I take note of this, but I think "this girl really doesn't look like a person who can steal something" (she had also 6/7 positive references on her cs profile, though all about hanging out and no one actually couchsurfing)
I go back to the table, we have a beer, a chat and, after she purposes with a strange smile on her face to pay her part, I decide to pay all the bill, not taking care of how much money I still had in the wallet.
When I go back to my hotel, I realize that were missing the equivalent of around 100$: the bitch took from my wallet a 50€ bill and a 100 polish zlt one.

[Pete]

That's why I don't stay at hostels.

Hotel or private apartment for me. May be more expensive. But hey, you get what you pay for.

[guerrilla]

Wait why do you bring 200 sunglasses on a backpacking hostel trip anyway? And why do you spend 200 on a pair of sunglasses? And why would a thief not take the case especially if the glasses were inside it and he would have to open it up first.

[WestCoast]

(03-06-2013 10:02 AM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  

(03-06-2013 04:17 AM)michelin Wrote:  

OG, wtf are you still doing in that hostel? I would have gotten the hell outta there by now.

Also, what are RVF members doing...in a DORM?

Yeah I normally don't stay in hostels, but I'm not a rich man, I am traveling for 6 weeks throughout S. Mexico and sometimes I like to mix it up and get private rooms in hostels, to save some money and be in more of a social atmosphere.

Also, I am not staying in a dorm, I am staying in a private room, but it doesn't have a private bathroom, hence the reason why my shit got jacked when I left my room for 3 mins. to go to the bathroom.

The only upsides for me for staying in hostels are saving money, meeting chicks, and being in a social atmosphere. Michelin you are probably some baller with a high paying job making well into the 6-figures, but not everyone has paper like that.

After staying here I got 6 nights in Playa del Carmen in a $75 a night hotel room, which is really stretching my budget. In all I'm going to spend about $5,000 in 6 weeks of travel, which is going to take a hit to my savings.

Furthermore, I am a pretty intorverted guy and hostels make it easy for me to be social and meet people. When I stay at nicer hotels it's usually all, older people and couples, which doesn't exactly nurture a social atmosphere. Also it doesn't help being in Mexico with minimal Spanish, it's not really easy to make local friends when outside of here in Merida, almost every where I've been people speak jack shit for English.

Maybe this answered your questions, but I will say for sure, staying in a dorm is straight up bunk and I will never do it again. I may consider staying in hostels again, but they for sure have to be a private room with private bathroom, because I don't want to fuck with this communal toilet situation ever again. I didn't want to before staying here and was about to not book this room, solely on that premise, live and learn I suppose.

Rent an apartment. you "just moved here" cheaper than hotels too.

[pants]

Cosigned.

I stayed in hostel for 6 days now.

80% are dudes.

Come girls come with their boyfriend.

Fat western girls.


Someone stole my PASSPORT

[w00t]

(03-30-2013 02:17 AM)pants Wrote:  

Cosigned.

I stayed in hostel for 6 days now.

80% are dudes.

Come girls come with their boyfriend.

Fat western girls.


Someone stole my PASSPORT

Ya I stayed for about 2 months in a hostel last year and in that time I met only one single chick. The rest were all there with their boyfriends. Met some coold dudes though.

[Jalouse]

(03-08-2013 09:39 PM)WestCoast Wrote:  

(03-06-2013 10:02 AM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  

(03-06-2013 04:17 AM)michelin Wrote:  

OG, wtf are you still doing in that hostel? I would have gotten the hell outta there by now.

Also, what are RVF members doing...in a DORM?

Yeah I normally don't stay in hostels, but I'm not a rich man, I am traveling for 6 weeks throughout S. Mexico and sometimes I like to mix it up and get private rooms in hostels, to save some money and be in more of a social atmosphere.

Also, I am not staying in a dorm, I am staying in a private room, but it doesn't have a private bathroom, hence the reason why my shit got jacked when I left my room for 3 mins. to go to the bathroom.

The only upsides for me for staying in hostels are saving money, meeting chicks, and being in a social atmosphere. Michelin you are probably some baller with a high paying job making well into the 6-figures, but not everyone has paper like that.

After staying here I got 6 nights in Playa del Carmen in a $75 a night hotel room, which is really stretching my budget. In all I'm going to spend about $5,000 in 6 weeks of travel, which is going to take a hit to my savings.

Furthermore, I am a pretty intorverted guy and hostels make it easy for me to be social and meet people. When I stay at nicer hotels it's usually all, older people and couples, which doesn't exactly nurture a social atmosphere. Also it doesn't help being in Mexico with minimal Spanish, it's not really easy to make local friends when outside of here in Merida, almost every where I've been people speak jack shit for English.

Maybe this answered your questions, but I will say for sure, staying in a dorm is straight up bunk and I will never do it again. I may consider staying in hostels again, but they for sure have to be a private room with private bathroom, because I don't want to fuck with this communal toilet situation ever again. I didn't want to before staying here and was about to not book this room, solely on that premise, live and learn I suppose.

Rent an apartment. you "just moved here" cheaper than hotels too.

The whole renting apartment doesn't make sense if you actually want to travel, some places can be fun for just a few days so you don't want to rent an apartment for a month.

If you want to move around hostels are a very easy way to do it and even staying in a private room will be out of a lot of people's budget unless you just want to do short trips.