Myths About Asia Travel

While Asia may seem out of reach to first-time travelers, nothing could be further from the truth! If you've been putting off a trip to Asia, here are a few popular myths debunked about Asia travel.

Myth: I Need to Learn the Language Before I Can Visit.

The Truth: 

Wrong! You'll find varying degrees of English spoken almost everywhere that you go in Asia -- especially in any tourist area. Unless you intend to explore remote regions where few tourists go, the language barrier will certainly not be a problem. 

While learning a few basics of the local language will certainly enhance your trip, get a few smiles, and maybe even land you better prices, studying before your trip is not a necessity.

Unless you have a local teach you to properly pronounce the tones in languages such as Mandarin Chinese or Thai, phrase books are of little use. If you're still worried about communicating, consider bringing aPoint It dictionary with thousands of small thumbnails that you can point to when you need something

Myth: Street Food is Not Safe

The Truth: 

Street food in Asia is typically cheap, delicious, convenient, and a fun cultural experience. Eating at the street carts is no more dangerous than in restaurants. In fact, eating at an open cart allows you to meet the cook and see the level of cleanliness; no one knows what horrors lurk behind the kitchen curtain in restaurants!

Whether eating street food or in restaurants, you can lower your risk of getting sick by eating at places with a high turnover of customers -- particularly local residents. A busy place often means that fresh ingredients are purchased more frequently

 Myth: Asia Travel is Dangerous

The Truth: 

No matter where you visit in the world, a little common sense goes a long way. You probably wouldn't walk alone down a dark alley at 4 a.m. in many cities at home, so don't do it while abroad. As with anywhere else, petty theft does happen, but vigilance and not providing temptation by leaving valuables in the open will ensure that you do not become a victim.

A 2010 census listed Asia far behind North America and Europe for homicide. There were only 3.1 intentional homicides in Asia for every 100,000 people as opposed to 4.7 in the US and Canada.

A good idea anyway, purchasing budget travel insurance for your trip will give you some peace of mind and protection for your valuables