There are a lot of great tourist destinations out there, many of which are great and many have a lot of potential scams to look out for so we hope that you avoid any travel scams that are out there and at Caribbean Cruise Line we are doing our part to educate tourists about potential scams. Taking advantage of tourists, unfamiliar with the local currency is an important scam Caribbean Cruise Line wants to warn you about.
Many scam artists will take advantage of the fact you are not completely familiar with the currency they use in the country you are visiting. A common version is known as the "slow count". In busy tourist hotspots dishonest cashiers will count your change out very slowly using confusing phrases or speaking rapidly to confuse you and will short change you. Also, often times confused and hurried tourist will sometimes just grab their change and take off only to find out later that they were cheated.
Whenever you do receive change always be sure to count it before leaving the premises. Also, try to avoid using large bills particularly with taxi drivers who are notorious for changing it for a counterfeit bill and then handing it back to you stating they cannot make change.
Also, as soon as you arrive at your travel destination, be sure to exchange your currency to that of the local economy. You may notice people on the street or in the airport offering excellent conversion rates, better than the hotel or local bureau. But this isn't the time to bargain hunt. Often these black market exchanges will leave you with a pile of fake money or a bunch of newspaper wedged between two actual pieces of money.
How do you avoid falling victim? Learn what the currency in the city you're visiting looks like. Count your change carefully. Exchange money at authorized centers only. Pay with small bills.
Caribbean Cruise Line is happy to provide this information and if you have any questions feel free to visit our website by going to http://caribbeanclblog.com .