I once told a homeless person I don’t have cash, just cards. He had the balls to tell me to go to an atm to get him money!

@mcbowl58

6 жыл бұрын

TheBigA I would of told him to go get a job

@ItsGroundhogDay

6 жыл бұрын

Odds are he wasn't even homeless. Some beggars make a better than average living (tax free).

@luisroman2144

6 жыл бұрын

Not That Guy yeah it's a ring of people who beg get cash live good lives it's all mostly lies don't trust that ever

@psmith85channel5

6 жыл бұрын

They actually do have an iPhone 'square' attachment and app now to accept credit card payment, made specifically for beggars

@MarkBH70

6 жыл бұрын

Homeless? I'm happy to help--but if someone doesn't like the "help," that's their problem.

Stay out of the hood.

@jarenong

6 жыл бұрын

boys from da hood

@nobodyanonymous5141

6 жыл бұрын

Yo Yo is this b8 m8?

@xxxhoodooxxx

6 жыл бұрын

Kasper Duyck Are you drunk, or an 8 year old with horrible parents?

@BillGreenAZ

6 жыл бұрын

+Nobody Anonymous Crime rates in America outside "the hood" are comparable with European crime rates. For those who don't know what "the hood" means, it means areas of large cities with minority populations.

@m.w.6526

6 жыл бұрын

True

Adding a little more to #3, especially for Europeans, if you see a lot of graffiti (or tagging), you're in a bad neighborhood. It's not like many European cities where graffiti is everywhere and often times doesn't present a problem. In the US it's a clear warning to stay out.

@sparkplug1018

6 жыл бұрын

Yep, graffiti is the first sign your heading some place bad. Also just the general condition of things, bad areas tend to just look dirty. Also asking the hotel is a great idea, but also asking a local isn't a bad idea either, ill happily tell you places to avoid.

@SoloTravelerOffTheBeatenPath

6 жыл бұрын

So apparently the entire city of LA is a bad neighborhood then..

@edweiser63

6 жыл бұрын

yeah, pretty much.

@NodDisciple1

6 жыл бұрын

Yup, that's how gangs mark their territory, and if it's x'ed out...it's worse. That means a war is probably going down over turf.

@gannon3816

6 жыл бұрын

That is so wrong. There's graffiti everywhere here on the East Coast. Even the nicest parts of town have graffiti in certain spots.

Love that Mark is secure enough to give the negatives about the U.S. I point this out because if you ever go to a popular travel forum and ask about crimes or scams in a specific city, the many _so-called_ *_"destination experts"_* always jump on and say 1) there are no scams or crime in their city; 2) don't believe what American media say about their country; 3) if anything should go wrong it's always the trourists' fault; 4) specifically point out that crime is likely higher in your country than theirs; 5) finally some will simply say *_"just keep your wits about yourself"_* which I get but its not really any help Seriously? No scams in Budapest? No crime in Manilla? It's very odd. Thanks for the honest good, bad and ugly. 👍

@woltersworld

6 жыл бұрын

+Tosh T thanks Tosh. I get a lot of these replies on my videos whenever I bring up any safety or negative issue. But travelers and tourists need to know these things. Thank you for the support.

@psmith85channel5

6 жыл бұрын

In my experience the dangerous parts of America are far more dangerous than the dangerous parts of the large majority of other countries (which are often not actually dangerous). (At the same time the vast majority of areas of America are not dangerous at all.) But then untravelled Americans (who have seen too many Taken-like films and TV shows) will often act like traveling to any foreign country other than Canada or Switzerland is a risky undertaking. So there's a good reason for the defensiveness and downplaying.

@pottingsoil

6 жыл бұрын

Demographics.

@jocelynwolters293

6 жыл бұрын

Tosh T , thank you.

@NodDisciple1

6 жыл бұрын

+psmith85 Long story short, know where you are going and stay out of the rough parts of a town.

I'm always being asked by foreigners visiting my state, "Aren't you worried about shootings? Aren't you afraid of rattlesnakes? What about mountain lions?" I'm not talking about people hiking in the back country, either; just people visiting the touristy parts of town. No, there's never been a report of mountain lions killing anyone on the pedestrian mall. You should do a series of videos about things you really DON'T need to worry about when traveling!

@sparkplug1018

6 жыл бұрын

Living in Miami I've encountered more then a few people like this, I suppose they hear Florida and Alligator and assume they're everywhere. Never really bothers me though, and everyone usually gets a good laugh about it.

@mrreymundo5383

6 жыл бұрын

Quicksand turns out not to be nearly the issue you would think from movies. :-)

@rrider3946

6 жыл бұрын

Tell them if you are in a city you don't have to worry about Mountain Lions but watch out for cougars especially if there is a lot of alcohol in the area.

@jessicaely2521

5 жыл бұрын

@@rrider3946 omg you made me choke. Sorry for the late reply but it was hilarious.

@kristenheuer5676

5 жыл бұрын

@@rrider3946 hahaha

I had to laugh a little about not leaving ANYTHING of value in your car. My husband used to park on the street in Hyde Park and one time his car got broken into. What did they steal? A pack of gum and a Snickers bar!

@woltersworld

6 жыл бұрын

+Sara01977 hey. Snickers are awesome. It might have been me after a few pints ;) jk

@borga6566

4 жыл бұрын

Hyde Park? Idaho? :D

@christinewatson1989

3 жыл бұрын

Yep. I parked on a quiet residential street in Seattle and someone broke into my car and took a bag of actual trash, one glove, and a book about reptiles because that's all that was in there.

@Sara01977

3 жыл бұрын

@@christinewatson1989 people are strange!

@MikaelaKMajorHistory

Жыл бұрын

When I lived in Fredericksburg VA, some of the car theft was a bit of change, some cookies, and best of all, an entire pan of turnovers 😂

The US has amazing national parks. Go see them. A city, a city, is, is a city. Once you've checked out the major city in the area you are visiting you really don't need to see any more US cities. We have vast open area that is gorgeous and mostly available to the public. Visit our national parks, plan a camping road trip, and experience the vast wilderness the US has to offer.

@mats7492

6 жыл бұрын

have to disagree.. west coast for example is completely different than west coast

@zzz6valvoline

6 жыл бұрын

I dunno dude. SF is way different from LA, and way different from NY or SLC or NO. National parks are great but I wouldn't say our cities are all the same.

@MajorMlgNoob

6 жыл бұрын

MrJrod899 ok dumbass

@jgdooley2003

5 жыл бұрын

Alexandre Dumas....?

@011angelfire

5 жыл бұрын

Uh no. American cities each have their own culture and life, and each neighborhood within those cities are different. Most of them are pretty international, but If you’re a foreigner, especially if your English is not that great, just don’t go too far outside the metro area (50 miles or so.) especially if you’re in the South or rural North, aka Appalachia. Trust me on that one.

one pro tip, and I'm sure it isn't just us aussie that might be likely to do this if you're pulled over by the police, dont jump out the car and meet them, (something I do, and have done in many other countries as well) as they aren't used to forward behaviour (without it being someone with untoward intentions) i was in my case introduced to the rental car with force very quickly (and once the cultural difference was sorted out, they were very professional and polite)

@philipmcniel4908

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, they were just being safe--they have to be "on guard" at routine traffic stops here, because that's also how they occasionally catch drug or other armed traffickers.

@mrreymundo5383

6 жыл бұрын

I love they way you used the phrase "I was in my case introduced to the rental car with force". Clever. And yeah, you don't want hop out of the car and head for them. They are only human, and they've seen the same dashcam vids we have all seen of some thug jumping out of their car and heading for the cop car with gun blazing. It's always on their minds. You just have to be as non-threatening as possible and keep your hands visible!

@joseherrera8489

6 жыл бұрын

Also, move very slowly and tell them exactly what you are doing. If they ask for anything and you reach out to grab it without telling them, you are very, very likely to get shot.

@doughhead9422

6 жыл бұрын

Jose Herrera I wouldn't say you are likely to get shot, but it might make them nervous. They don't know if you are going to pull a gun or something. It's just best to be aware with what you do with your hands, and make sure you aren't doing anything that can be misconstrued. Be friendly like you would anyone else and things will be fine. Don't be nervous, there is no reason to be.

@masonmunkey6136

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, just roll down the window and keep your hands on the wheel

I live in Chicago, third largest and one of the most dangerous cities in the US and I've never had any trouble. My tip is that most crimes and criminals are concentrated into small parts of big cities. For example the north side and downtown Chicago are pretty safe but the south side is where all the crime happens that give us a bad rep. So if you are visiting a big citiy just do your research on where the rough parts are and you'll be fine.

@joseherrera8489

6 жыл бұрын

@coolguy3100: That's what I always say. The crime is concentrated in certain areas and if you are not a gangbanger, you pretty much have nothing to worry about. Yes, there is the Southside, but Westside is also bad. And let's not forget Rogers and Humboldt Park (Northside neighborhoods).

@icebergslim8926

6 жыл бұрын

Philip McNiel the bears will never win but we still root for em lol

@ML-ir5vo

5 жыл бұрын

My town (40k people) is often regarded as the "stab capital of the UK" and Glasgow is called the "stab city of Europe". The reality is, a lot of violence comes from gang warfare or getting in with the wrong people. We had three people stabbed in just over a week last month (which in itself is an oddity) but all of them were linked to dick waving. One guy saying he was going to beat someone up and then the other guy stabs them. Innocent attacks rarely happen, yet people go into a frenzy over it.

@jessicaely2521

5 жыл бұрын

Basically there's a correct side of the train tracks and the wrong side of the train tracks. In Florida the places east of the train tracks are good areas. The areas just west of the train tracks are bad areas.

@yeet-vm7ql

4 жыл бұрын

You live in the suburbs then lmao

This guy is great.

@notmybirthplace

6 жыл бұрын

I love him too! So useful!

@romeonijsse2359

6 жыл бұрын

Exactly

@sarahphillips295

5 жыл бұрын

He is and so is Jocelyn and their boys are too cute for words. I love this channel. #teamwolters

@wc6046

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you Nicolle

@obadaodeh1625

3 жыл бұрын

I love his spirit, he obviously doing it with huge passion, and hes inspirational.

I think you should do one with more rural dangers. I saw the bovine skulls in the beginning and I thought you were going to talk about the dangers of being caught without water in a rural Southwestern USA desert in the summer, for instance. Many Americans stay around more civilized areas, but I imagine there are a lot of tourists who go hiking here, and that they might not realize just how secluded our wild places are and how far away help might be.

@philipmcniel4908

6 жыл бұрын

p.s. As for the specific desert danger I mentioned, when you're traveling through the American Southwest (for example Arizona, New Mexico, parts of Texas), there are some VERY hot, dry, rural areas where you really should carry a few liters of water in your car just in case it breaks down and you're stuck for awhile in 40-degree-Celsius heat, or maybe even need to walk a kilometer or two to get help. The USA is a very diverse place. You might encounter -40 C in North or South Dakota in the winter, or 40 C in Arizona in the summer. Many places are more moderate, but when you visit a specific part of the US, make sure you know what kind of climate it has--we have MANY different climates in different parts of the US!

@donbeck8835

6 жыл бұрын

Philip McNiel THIS. Far too many people assume all the US climate is all like SoCal because of what they see in movies. But they don’t realize how cold or hot some places really get.

One more thing about rental cars... I always take 'before' photos from all sides. I do not want to end up paying for damage a previous renter did!

@jocelynwolters293

6 жыл бұрын

Peter Rafeiner great tip! We do that also.

#8 When getting pulled over in the US by the police, NEVER EXIT THE VEHICLE unless directed by the police officer. In many countries its quite common to exit your vehicle to go and talk to the police officer after getting pulled over. This can get you killed in the US. Stay in your car unless otherwise instructed by the police officer, put on the blinker, roll the window down, keep both your hands on the wheel where the officer can see them, be polite, respectful and follow his instructions with no sudden movements. #9 Avoid physical confrontations with people. USA is a heavily armed nation. People have guns.

I know some Europeans who won't come to the US because all they see in the European news is bad things like shootings. We probably need some better PR. Thanks for helping with this! Chris

@woltersworld

6 жыл бұрын

+Shadowdog500 that's actually one of the things we would like to do. Give more honest travel advice to help people make better decisions.

@jgw5491

6 жыл бұрын

Like Trump.

@davidlazarus67

6 жыл бұрын

Shadowdog500 I am planning a trip to New York and other places for later trips. Actual shootings are still not a major risk for tourists unless it is some evening event. I might try and see a football game while there and the security is pretty intense and in the past when I saw a college game there was absolutely no trouble. So that is not a risk. As I am not a big drinker drink related troubles are also not an issue. it is all about assessing risk and for my trip it is no more dangerous than Europe even with public transportation in New York.

@jonnieinbangkok

6 жыл бұрын

Shadowdog500 Funny....many Americans feel the same way about Europe.

@davidlazarus67

6 жыл бұрын

Jonnie Bangkok I am not worried about terrorism in Europe at all. I am off to London twice next month and do not expect any trouble at all. The risks are very low even in London. I would think that air pollution is responsible for more deaths in London than terrorism this year or any year. So I am not worried about crime in New York even in some of the rougher areas. Crime has been falling in America for years.

never get off at the MLK exit in any city.

@64bitmad42

6 жыл бұрын

meatman66 sounds racist but it is true.

@samuellubell4557

6 жыл бұрын

In New York it’s safe.

@jewando1

6 жыл бұрын

Wherever there's a Martin Luther King st or Ave or Blvd there's some violence going down

@deropol05

6 жыл бұрын

meatman66 you nailed it !

@ittdust

6 жыл бұрын

or a Rosa Parks Ave

I loved that photo of your son properly buckled in car seat. Too many parents don't properly buckle their kids.

@jumpman366

6 жыл бұрын

Austyn Kersey you’re weird as hell

@misswhitegrape0225

6 жыл бұрын

At least my youtube name isn't "Yo Yo"

The thing is, on the news you never see items like these: "This morning, Mr Smith drove to work. He got stuck in the usual traffic jam. He finished the report he'd been working on, chatted with his colleagues, had a BLT sandwich for lunch and browsed Facebook when nobody was looking. He drove home again and had dinner." This is what happens to the overwhelming majority of people in the USA or anywhere else in the world, but it isn't "news". No, on the news we see the excesses. So I wouldn't think of the USA as unsafe, although there are obviously neighbourhoods to avoid, but that's the case everywhere. But stealing medication? So what do you do when you're on insulin? That needs to be kept in a fridge.

@jessicaely2521

5 жыл бұрын

People generally wouldn't steal that. It's your prescription painkillers, muscle relaxers, and some antidepressants.

@matthewhamlin392

5 жыл бұрын

Im not sure they would steal insulin. I don't know if my diabetic family members lied to me but they told me it can kill a non diabetic. Even if it isn't true, I will always have a mindset of it being true. Yes i know im extremely late. I found this video today.

@mynamehasspacesinit8687

5 жыл бұрын

Also, stations usually only cover certain news stories, so long as it boosts ratings, viewership, or pushes their views to the watcher. Do people know that pandas are no longer (officially) endangered?

@shalomhobbitess7509

4 жыл бұрын

There are packs you can get for insulin so you don't need to keep it in a fridge while traveling (useful for hiking the wilderness and the like). And it will keep for a few days at room temperature; back when my son used the little bottled stuff, he'd keep the current bottle at room temp because he went through it fast enough it was not an issue. But it stayed chilled until then.

Why do I watch these videos on America I fucking live here 😂

@woltersworld

6 жыл бұрын

+SteAmpUNkEd15 because it's fun to see ourselves from the other side.

@mr.gingus9094

6 жыл бұрын

Wolters World Yeah makes sense

Pretty much every airport will have multiple public transport options at least to the centre of town - why spend a ton of money on taxis? Do you research before you go.

@christina.p2003

6 жыл бұрын

It depends which city you are flying into. Sure, the very big cities have public transportation, but public transportation does not exist in many, many places in the US. Or if it does exist, there might not be a route to/from an airport. Or if there is a route, it might not run frequently. Sometimes larger hotels have shuttles to/from the airport.

@byvoid

6 жыл бұрын

In the US even airports do not have any public transportation in many cities.

@alexsinclair2012

6 жыл бұрын

Woah, Never expected to find you here bud! Love your channel.. Keep up the great work with educational/humorous content.

@mickeyg7219

6 жыл бұрын

Uber and Lyft are better alternatives to taxi, the route is planned by computer (usually the shortest route) and the price is transparent. Many countries made Uber and Lyft illegal, but in the U.S., it's part of many people's life.

@Kevbot6000

6 жыл бұрын

Car rentals from the airport are a lot more expensive than ones from the city. I remember a rental in the airport at Portland, Oregon cost $400 and one in downtown was $250.

Tip number 7: we drive on the right side of the road here in the US

@Marylandbrony

6 жыл бұрын

Laken Angel We fought a whole war not to drive on that side of the road!

@billbradley4878

6 жыл бұрын

Most people in the rest of the world drive on the same side of the road as we do, it is pretty much the Brits and former British colonies that do not for the most part.

@joejarrell2578

6 жыл бұрын

How do i know which is the right side?

@joejarrell2578

6 жыл бұрын

Dennis Fluttershy I got it now lol

@caroline_catbridges_kitty5384

6 жыл бұрын

No it’s the left side of the road😂

well, ive seen homeless people with i-phones though.. they might have credit-card readers now...

@jessicaely2521

5 жыл бұрын

The government gives homeless and poor people phones for free. They are generally refurbished phones and most phones are smart phones now a days.

I would also add weather to your list of safety tips. Always a good idea to pack appropriate clothes, as there is a lot of variation in weather conditions.

@jumpman366

6 жыл бұрын

Mark Steffke that’s anywhere dude....

@HammerBro87

6 жыл бұрын

True, but it is worth mentioning.

@darthkillerhog

3 жыл бұрын

@@jumpman366 Hes specifically talking about the US where weather conditions are considerably different considering we have multiple climates unlike other countries. Considering we have a EF5 tornado from clear skies and have hail 9it of no where. Etc the list goes on

I was seriously shocked to hear about medicines being stolen at hotels!!! I'd never even consider putting medicines in the safe. Wow...

Your passion really shows and makes the videos on this channel great

Don't use 50$ bills, change those to smaller bills. Got scammed twice in florida

@DavidEarly

6 жыл бұрын

Tapio Tuimala Most places won't take bills larger than $20 anyway, so having smaller bills is a good idea anyway

@junicstr13

5 жыл бұрын

But that’s Florida... sooo...

@happycook6737

3 жыл бұрын

We prefer to pay with a credit card in the USA.

The sad part of beggars in the US is that 90% of the time they aren’t homeless. These people make a lot of money pan handling. If they are homeless chances are have some sort of mental illness. In the US people can’t be held against their will, even the mentally ill (unless they are caught committing a serious crime). I would just walk by, make no eye contact, and 99.9% of the time you will be fine.

The rules in the US are the same as in any unfamiliar developed country. Don't leave stuff to be stolen, don't go into places that your gut tells you are bad, don't do things that your gut tells you are risky...

Mark I feel like you forgot the most important safety tip - stay out of bad neighborhoods. A lot of people make assumptions that the tourist sites are not in bad areas but that's not always true. It's not just Detroit and Cleveland, even touristy cities like LA and Orlando have places you do not want to be. I live in Orlando and even some major international tourist attractions are in bad areas. Florida Mall is literally in the hood (I remember once my sister in law told me she was going to Florida Mall and I made a joke not to go because her car might get jacked...and while she was there someone cut out and stole the headlight right off her car while it was parked in the malls parking lot. I felt really bad). Many people from the UK go to Florida Mall with their rental cars. Millennia Mall is near the Orange County Jail (I had a friend that stayed at the "Days Inn Millennia Mall," which had decent reviews on tripadvisor, but was right next to the jail with all of the bail bonds places haha). Just think about the fact that LAX is literally right next to Inglewood, a very high crime area. The famous "L" train in Chicago will take you to places you can literally get killed (south/west side). Also keep in mind pro sports stadiums are usually built in neighborhoods where tax breaks and cheap land are available ... AKA bad neighborhoods. If you plan on doing pro-sports events and want to stay in a hotel near the stadium make sure it's one that's in the downtown district. There are wide variations even in the same city. Take Chicago for example, staying near Soldier Field or Wrigley Field would be safe. You definitely do not want to stay anywhere near the United Center or US Cellular Field.

Love this guy. He seems so friendly!

And before you leave the car rental place and sign papers, CHECK THE CAR for scratches, broken headlights, mirrors, almost empty tanks, tires, horn, etc. I would pay in cash everytime i could.

@jocelynwolters293

6 жыл бұрын

GLADYMAR Rodriguez we take pix of the car from all angles on our phones so if they complain you have proof with a time and date on it!!

@deropol05

6 жыл бұрын

BrowniePrincess if I may add to your sound advice......Always buy the BEST insurance they have ! That way even a total loss is payed for. Best wishes.

This is so important to me thanks Mark!!! I see on TV all the time about how scary Americas are. It made me apprehensive about travelling there but I trust your advice, thank you!!

You videos are awesome! Thanks for putting out great content.

I'm an Airline brat & love to travel. This is a serious "DON'T" while traveling anywhere: DON'T wear your expensive jewelry. Leave it at home. Stay safe & have fun!😙

One piece of advice I have is make sure you turn on the text alerts that will alert you each time you use your credit card. It shows me how much I paid and where the purchase came from. It's a fantastic feature that I'm sure all major credit card companies have.

Great video love your channel your tips help

@woltersworld

6 жыл бұрын

+Pogboom thank you

Did a "rural" tour of the US (north). Great people, very helpful and nice. It was fun to tell a girl at McD at 11pm in the smallest town we where from Sweden across the globe :)

@redcomic619

Жыл бұрын

Don’t try that in the rural south or Appalachia

Great tips. The most shocking thing when I was traveling in US is homeless people. There are SO many homeless at a certain neighborhood at big city. Super scary when they look mentally ill or aggressive. My tip is be careful where you take out money. Nowadays we don't have to carry all the cash we need for the whole trip. There are some really sketchy ATM with really high service charge. I know it's common to use credit card everywhere. But the way the shop process credit card is risky (not very secure) and the exchange rate is super high compare with withdrawing cash from ATM wth service charge. So make sure go to a legit branch of a bank to get money and not the one at a bodega/small grocery shop

@luisroman2144

6 жыл бұрын

ronnnnie they are not really homeless a lot of them lie to get easy money that's why they are aggressive

@b.chuchlucious5471

5 жыл бұрын

Don't give them anything or if you must, give them a water bottle or sandwich.

@staceycalder3233

4 жыл бұрын

I live in the United States and I ask the homeless what made them homeless some times you can help them get back on there feet and I like to tell them where they can eat and where they can sleep

Also, keep your opinions mostly to yourself. There's obvious stuff like not talking about politics, but also little stuff like sports teams. I'm not saying someone's going to beat you up over sports, almost all the time people will respect your opinion. However, sometimes you will run into the occasional drunk man or druggy, but the worst they can do is yell at you. I went to L.A. recently and I saw some guy who seemed to be randomly yelling at people. So, overall just respect people's opinions and they'll respect yours and don't talk about controversial topics.

@mats7492

6 жыл бұрын

mental illness is a big problem in the us.. as a european, this was most striking to me.. a lot of sick people running around

@SeverityOne

6 жыл бұрын

While this is about the USA, sports teams is definitely an issue to avoid whilst in Europe. "Oh, you're from Glasgow? Yeah, I support Celtic, too" and then it turns out he's a Rangers fan, or something of the sort.

@trueoskar

6 жыл бұрын

Oh, trust me, they can do a LOT worse than just "yell at you"...

@billbradley4878

6 жыл бұрын

It is a big problem, we had an asylum system decades ago but it was wildly inhumane and we shut it down, we did not however have a back-up plan and our homeless population exploded. We really do not take care of the extremely mentally ill very well here at all. Part of it is that in the US it is very hard to commit someone to treatment involuntarily, and part of it is obviously our poor medical coverage of people in general.

@doughhead9422

6 жыл бұрын

The biggest thing to avoid is politics, unless you are certain the person has the same opinion as you.

Your videos are always of a really good quality

Dude I like your information. You're fair like saying the negative and the positive. I love that man . Keep up.

@woltersworld

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Nadar. I try to be positive, but realistic

When we went to Thailand earlier this year we used a company called Hoppa for our airport/hotel transfers. Probably worked out a little more than taxis, but being able to book and pay for it in advance and not have to worry about getting ripped off by taxis, especially for the firs time in a strange land, was well worth it. And it worked perfectly, all the drivers were there on the dot as per our booking.

Avoiding American Crime 101: Stay away from insurance companies, large banks, and any Government building.

@seanman1231

4 жыл бұрын

Daniel Lilly LOL

Thank you, Mark, for those words of wisdom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the advice.

I've never had many problems in the USA as an American for 47 years. When I lived in Richmond, Virginia, downtown, there was a lot of theft. I felt uncomfortable about theft in Savannah, Georgia, USA, too, being there four days. Besides that I've had my wallet stolen once in 47 years (in Richmond it was stolen once too). When I grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, we had our house broken into and our cars stolen--only once in my lifetime. I'd advise to be careful in downtown areas in small cities here, and downtown areas and "bad" areas in large cities. If you're in a "safe" place--most are quite safe--on vacation, there should be no problems.

@miniena7774

6 жыл бұрын

JimmyTheRustled Who said the robbers were black? So edgy.

@glerisballabani8106

6 жыл бұрын

Yes but you forgot that you are an American, not a foreing tourist. You know the US much better than someone from another country.

@dirkdiggler8959

6 жыл бұрын

Aquarian Christianity honestly I feel you man, but it just sounds like your living in shitty places, stay where the rich white people are lol

@matts5247

6 жыл бұрын

Most people in cities in the US go there whole life without having their car or wallet stolen. I haven’t or have heard anyone I know ever even mention that happening living in Atlanta, GA - Richmond, VA - Columbus, OH, and Austin, TX. The theft that is more likely to happen is credit card or identity theft. Or people stealing out of unlocked cars. Lock your car. Get travel Insrance problem solved.

@zachraess2582

6 жыл бұрын

David Chenault thankfully nothing bad ever happened to me in the city, but I only go there like once a month.

Wolters only mentioned NYC New Orleans and Chicago because they are common tourist destinations, but there are hundreds of cities in the US (including pretty much every major city you've heard of) that have neighborhoods that are comparably dangerous to the 'bad' parts of those three cities. At the same time, literally well over 99.9% of the land area of the US is a highly safe place to be. And even that

@jumpman366

6 жыл бұрын

psmith85 yeah because he’s going to list hundreds of cities for your remedial ass

@psmith85channel5

6 жыл бұрын

You didn't get the tone; need to work on your reading comprehension

Love your videos! I feature it on my safety group for women on Facebook all the time. Keep up the awesome work and would love more safety videos!

As always, an awesome video!

Should mention if you see a protest stay out of it go around if possible. Protests while usually peaceful can get very ugly if certain groups decide to show up. You may be curious about what's going on but trust me you're better off keeping to your own business.

@SoloTravelerOffTheBeatenPath

6 жыл бұрын

Like those Antifa assholes? They will punch anyone who disagrees with them.

@joseherrera8489

6 жыл бұрын

or the alt-righter that will run you over in their cars.

@LittleLulubee

6 жыл бұрын

Jose- Antifa and BLM have caused way more damage and injury than alt-righters

@joseherrera8489

6 жыл бұрын

you mean that guy in Charlottesville didn't run over a crowd in his car? That's fake news right?

@LittleLulubee

6 жыл бұрын

That really happened. But there are tons more incidents of alt-left people attacking innocent people in various ways. Sometimes causing injury or death.

The beggars in the states are also great story tellers. They’re gonna tell you their wife just broke her leg and they don’t have the money or their daughter is in need of medicine. They will Guilt you HARD.

"You can't replace you okay" love it

As someone who lives in the US and frequently travels around the US, the credit card scamming is REAL!!! I have had a waitress at a restaurant in Panama City Beach, Florida literally double her tip(which was a generous 35% anyway) on the receipt and I had NO IDEA until I checked my bank account. I called the restaurant and I had to bring my copy of the receipt up there and they made the waitress apologize to me.

Great video! , even i had two bad experiences, i love visiting USA. Great country and 99% great people,(just like everywhere).

@jessicaely2521

5 жыл бұрын

In 1929 very sad. This is when the Great Depression happened.

*Watches this while living in the US*

This is really helpful thanks

I know this Vid is like 5yrs old, but as someone who is visiting the US for the first time (with wife - ive been before) really enjoying your content on things like this (also dos' / dont dos), might seem obvious but its enlightening to hear it from Americans point of view rather than a 'grumpy' x-visitor. Thanks..

In Montréal, Québec, taxi faresfrom the airport to downtown are a fixed amount. We also have a bus service.

@areuswhite9670

6 жыл бұрын

It's that way in Vancouver too. It's a fixed amount from the airport or ferry into down town. Montreal and Vancouver are Canadian cities though... Not the third world USA.

@SoloTravelerOffTheBeatenPath

6 жыл бұрын

The USA is far from third-world. Canada is literally having a massive influx of third-world immigrants, due to Trudeau's idiotic policies.

@areuswhite9670

6 жыл бұрын

+polifatts - The USA rides the edge between first world and third world. Canada sees the USA the way the USA sees Mexico. The USA is Canada's mexico. You're right, Trudeau is a joke and is ignoring our strong immigration system, and it's pissing us off. Still, the USA is an international laughingstock, and has been for a long time.

@SoloTravelerOffTheBeatenPath

6 жыл бұрын

Areus White lol, you have to be joking. The USA has the 12th highest standard of living in the entire world. Just because we have small pockets of ghetto areas in the inner cities does not make us even close to Third World. Most of the USA is very upscale and wealthy by world standards. I have family from Europe, and they are always amazed when they come here by how huge the houses are and the nice cars everyone drives.

@areuswhite9670

6 жыл бұрын

+polifatts - Mexico also has great regions, some of which I vacation in. The USA rides the edge between first world and third world. Take from that what you wish. The USA is an international laughingstock, you must know this.

Been to USA twice and felt quite safe, the people were friendly and helpful. Only thing I wasn't keen on was how intimidating the police we saw were, and how serious they take tipping.

@AlbaRecoil

6 жыл бұрын

Paradoxical Nightmare We did to start with but honestly it didn't sit well with us so we ended up just going to fast food places the last few days. I don't mind tipping for exceptional service but not every time. We felt we were getting hounded while we ate so that didn't help.

@donbeck8835

6 жыл бұрын

Americans take tipping seriously because places have this shitty, horrible, shitty thing called “tipped minimum wage” where they make far less than normal minimum wage plus whatever tips they get

@psmith85channel5

5 жыл бұрын

+AlbaRecoil 'didn't sit well' if you looked into it at all you would know the reason you must tip is because the wait staff do not get paid a wage, at all. The tips are their wage, and trust me, they're not getting rich. You simply have to account for a tip when eating out in the US, not optional. I agree it's a dumb system compared to just including tip in the price, but it's the way it is; kind of dumb to eat at McDonalds in 'protest' just because you failed to learn the customs of a country.

@jessicaely2521

5 жыл бұрын

The government tax waitresses on their tips and what they make an hour. The government thinks everyone tips at least 15%. If you stiff them on tips your making it so they may not be able to feed themselves or their children. Dress themselves or their children. Put a roof over their head and children's head. The federal government didn't always do this. It used to be based on the honor system, but people didn't claim their tips. When the government didn't take taxes out of tips things were much more relaxed Also waitresses don't get paid a liveable wage. Yes I agree it's stupid, but it's the way it is. All you can do is suck it up. The sad thing is you probably missed out on a lot of pretty good food for this protest.

@davidvernersson193

5 жыл бұрын

@@psmith85channel5 why is it dumb to avoid a system thats broken and feels stressful? the McD in the us actually tastes fine compared to europe

love the video quality!

i had a nice experience in new york with a taxi. The taxi driver said he was waiting to pick up his cousins ​​from the airport and had some time. he drove us around a little and showed us different places where we absolutely have to go. great bars too. At the end he said it was fun (about 45 minutes) and he doesn't want to take any money for it. we wanted to pay, but he didn't take any money for it.

@KHBogWitch

Жыл бұрын

What a great story! I love things like this. I had a nice experience in New Orleans during Mardi Gras: I was set to meet friends for a parade but they ended up on the other side of the street from me. One of the security guards managing the private VIP area (cordoned off because it was closest to the street) lifted the velvet rope and nodded me in after he realized I was there alone and obviously not local. I got a great view of the parade and had a blast. Some places have terrible reputations but I’ll always try to keep an open mind.

Planning a trip to Detroit for a conference this week. This comes up in my feed. I guess we know what youtube thinks of Detroit :D :D :D

@horseplop9

4 жыл бұрын

haha Its a fun city. If you need any recommendations i know it in and out. The downtown is surging like crazy right,now. It looks fantastic but the burbs are always a nice option as well depending on where your show is

@ericleszkowicz898

4 жыл бұрын

@@horseplop9 I know that the city is great - even downtown is amazing - it will take a while for the perception to change....even the youtube algorithm was biased :D

@thenationaltimelyactionhou9328

3 жыл бұрын

Can’t have shit in Detroit!

I only can agree. On my last trip someone broke into my rental car on an outlet parking during the day. Just for a left jacket on the back seat with tinted glass. And I do recommend pay for the additionnal insurance to cover that kind of incidents. Safe travel and go ahead with your awesome channel.

@woltersworld

6 жыл бұрын

+Marco Imstepf I know. You think "Who would want that" and it disappears. Lost CDs and radio back in the day. Now I fill my car with kids garbage to scare people off :)

@jonnieinbangkok

6 жыл бұрын

Wolters World In some cities, people leave their car doors unlocked so the thieves can easily verify there is nothing of value in the car without breaking the window. They even put a sign up saying the car's unlocked.

@marcoimstepf6262

6 жыл бұрын

Wolters World correct, they did not steal the toys just bought hours ago 😂😂😂

@18632ewa8

6 жыл бұрын

I always leave my car unlocked and never have a problem. when the car looks like something is valuable in it or is locked up then that's when somebody wants to break in to get whatever's in it. the windows are more expensive than the radio so I would rather you take the radio if you want it that bad it's right there just get it and go before I get back because if I get back I will shoot you this is why I have a gun. if that $5 radio was worth that trip to the hospital for the bullet in your ass make it worth your while. and I know I was taught to kill with the weapon however wounding is much more sinister.

Very useful and thoughtful advice, as always. :-) You're a true professional.

Cant wait to go to DC this summer and these videos really help for an amature visiting the USA

My suggestion for those visiting the USA is try not to look like a tourist. Don't make it obvious that you are a visitor. I know to some extent this is difficult, but the better you blend in the less of a target you will be

@JRRLewis

6 жыл бұрын

This is the advice I received several times before I went to Europe too, and I think it really did help me out. It's really a great piece of advice for tourists in general.

@JG-id5vi

4 жыл бұрын

Dont wear exspensive clothing ether.

I clicked on this as I was going to sleep. When I closed my eyes I started to realize you sound like Jack Black and now I can't sleep.

Good video man... thanks :)

thanks for the tips. We will be coming soon.

Good tip for the US if it looks like a bad neighbourhood it is. Unless you go to Portland Oregon. I’d also recommend the South over the north nicer weather and people. And I live in the north.

@MarkBH70

6 жыл бұрын

Ian Dunn I agree! I live in the North. Lived in the South--yes, nicer people and weather, except in summer.

@FatBoy42069

6 жыл бұрын

Josh Davis I live an hour away from Chicago and go to Portland once a year and honestly I couldn’t feel safer there. To be honest and don’t take this a bad way a lot of people I’ve met there always say it can unsafe but its the total opposite of where I live.

@kingdomofcraftersclub6058

6 жыл бұрын

Ian Dunn california is better, socal to be specific

@psmith85channel5

6 жыл бұрын

+Ian Dunn Hard to say 'South over North.' Better (although less varied) food and friendlier people, yes. But if you don't visit Northeastern cities (NYC, Philly, Boston, DC), you're never going to get the full US experience. The history and culture is just so much deeper there than in other parts of the country, for many reasons, not least of which it is 2-3x older (as part of the US) than most other areas of the country. While it's great in many ways, the South and other areas are slightly more dispensable than Northeast for a tourist. As Mark has said, you really need either multiple trips or a big chunk of time (2-3+ months) to 'fully' see and gain a relatively high understanding of the US (and much longer for Europe).

@MarkBH70

6 жыл бұрын

nateman10 I've heard about the "Left Coast." I'm from Virginia; I grew up in Roanoke. There are a few belligerent hicks there, but most people are quite normal and plain--they seem to pride themselves in being plain and basic Americana. T-shirt and jeans type people. Many quite nice. I miss it. I was born in Richmond, and, despite being a little reserved, they are also friendly and nice. Roanoke is my favorite place to live in the US, with my limited experience. Where I live now--not being specific--it's a little cold, as far as the people, but they too can be nice. I'd like to visit the West Coast, but I doubt you could pay me to live there. For big cities to live in, I like Chicago, but I've heard there are problems. I live in the outskirts while going to college for my freshman year. I wish you find a more satisfactory place. I'd consider Colorado if I weren't to move back to Virginia...North Carolina, Kentucky, Utah, Arizona, Nevada--some place where it's warm.

#7 Gas stations and convenience stores are sketchy. Yes, all of them.

@perthfanny3017

4 жыл бұрын

They are such an important part of US culture though... it's funny how criminals always go to a gas station before killing (from what I saw on TV)!

Thank You Mark! :)

Adding onto the last bit, I was always told that if you get robbed on the street, toss your purse or wallet away from you so they’ll go over to get it (assuming they just want your money) and then run while they’re picking it up

*gets to front desk of hotel in Chicago* Me: "Excuse me is there a part of town I shouldn't go to?" Front Desk: "Yes, anywhere north, west, East and south of this hotel."

@notthegoatseguy

5 жыл бұрын

I visited Chicago about a year ago and I am actually dead and talking to you from Hell. Just kidding. There was never any threat to my safety.

@dantesinporno

5 жыл бұрын

Just stay in the loop and don't go south of Chinatown, especially while the sun isn't up, and you'll be fine. The most dangerous thing you'll encounter on the North side of the city is some trust fund baby driving their Audi like a dickhead because they're too busy Snapchatting.

Great point on number 2. Wouldn’t thought of that. I will use the safe to store my meds next time I stay in a hotel or cruise ship.

@BacknMetro

6 жыл бұрын

Jesse k yeah. I didn't even know about that. First time I heard that.

@rmkenney

6 жыл бұрын

I guess it makes sense. If a maid is going to grab them, he/she won't be a part-time pharmacist - they won't know what's valuable or not. So they'll grab everything - all of your meds. Then take them to the neighborhood dealer to let -them- decide what they're worth. So you're out your blood pressure medication, plus the maid probably got a rap on the knuckles from the dealer/pawn shop.

Amen to the car tip. I used to live in a rougher city neighborhood where I had to park my car on the street. I kept the interior of my car looking like I just bought it: absolutely nothing in sight. No cups, no coins, no cables, no crap. And in eight years of living there, I never had a single issue with my car being messed with.

Anyone else love the way he says “ok”

I was born in Savannah! Hence my name ;)

@Scrimjer

6 жыл бұрын

savannah silbernagel congratulations

@tallflguy

6 жыл бұрын

Very cute ;)

@jeffreywinters293

6 жыл бұрын

That is a beutiful name

@maxweisel9027

4 жыл бұрын

I was named after where I came from too. I am The Fiery Pits of Hell.

I've yet to go to the US but my impression is that you have to be smart everywhere. In the uk you can go to any coastal area with no hassle at all.They are probably the safest areas of the country. You don't get gang members down Cornwall lol.Maybe see some homeless in skegness but they wont even ask you for money. But virtually everywhere ive looked at going in the US you have to watch out for gang members in this area,homeless in this area, don't go to the boardwalk at night etc. And some of these places look like paradise lol. The coast off LA looks especially nice but most say its dodgy as shit. I'm sure theres a high chance of surviving a trip but its a weird thing for me that you have to watch your back in many places. In the big cities around the world you expect it but the US seems to have more of these sketchy areas than most. I usually go to spain and the canaries and for me that seems even safer than England. Hopefully next year i'll be going to Boston for a few days. But i'll probably have to keep my nut down there too :)

More than any of these I'd say when pumping gas, pay inside if possible because card skimmers on the pump are getting SO common, even in small towns.

Love from GA!

Yeah, if you get stabbed it will cost a lot more at the emergency room than it would cost to replace your smartphone.

I’ve lived in the United States for my whole life and I’ve never been the victim of any crime.

being from sweden i have watched like 20 of your videos and decided its just best to stay home.

@happycook6737

3 жыл бұрын

Please, just like in Sweden we have good and bad. Overall the USA is safe if you follow what most locals do.

I love this guy, as an American he is too honest for his own good and that's why I adore him.

Also remember how diverse the US is when it come to terrain, climate and wildlife. If your planning on hiking or camping, even driving outside of towns/cities, make sure to research where your going and what to expect

I really want to go to Denver and Los Angeles, they are my goals to visit at some time in my life.

@Samsterdude1

6 жыл бұрын

Nice meme Denver is a fantastic city!

@trevorboivin4639

6 жыл бұрын

Nice meme Los Angeles is a dump.

@luisroman2144

6 жыл бұрын

American Patriot downtown yeah but depends on what part of Los angles you go to remember we are huge

@kipp4805

6 жыл бұрын

You should visit. From a safety aspect, Denver is a little bit safer than LA, which, you just gotta know where you're going. If you go somewhere like Beverly Hills, where a Rolls Royce is as common as a Civic, than you don't really have to worry. If go somewhere like Compton however, don't drive past the wrong crowd on the sidewalk, and make a U-turn and drive past them again, they may think it's about to be a drive-by shooting. Just gotta know where you're going.

@FluffyBuzzard2TheMax

6 жыл бұрын

If you visit Colorado don't just stay in Denver, the public land here is unlike anything you have ever seen

I didn't like you channel at first but it's really grown on me

Great video

You can also use mace on the homeless too.. that stops them real fast.

BTW, who the fuck takes taxis anymore? Uber and Lyft bro!!!

@woltersworld

6 жыл бұрын

+Zachary Zdanczewicz some places don't have them yet or have not allowed license for them

@khalidcarrillo1132

6 жыл бұрын

Sometimes Uber and Lyft drivers are incompetent and do not know the area and rely on their GPS.

@Nubianette

6 жыл бұрын

Sometimes taxis are better, especially if you want to tour around a city for a little sightseeing. You can drive around without a plan in a taxi, but not Uber or Lyft. Found that out in Paris.

@luisroman2144

6 жыл бұрын

Khalid Carrillo I think they have to use the gps so the price is what is told to you because I had people who knew the area line there their whole life but still used gps for that reason

@Minoritynomad

6 жыл бұрын

A lot of places don't. Austin just got them back after being banned.

If you drive in San Francisco, absolutely do NOT leave anything in your rental car! Break ins have been happening a lot lately in the daytime. No change, no empty bags, nothing.

I'll add one: If you're visiting the US between October and April, and you're from a place that doesn't get snow: DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE EFFECT OF SNOW AND ICE ON YOUR CAR WHEN DRIVING (this mostly applies to the northern states, but portions of the south can get the occasional snow squall and icy roads too, and they usually don't have the same resources to deal with even a light snow that we do up here). Even as a lifetime northerner with years of experience driving through all manner of winter storms and their aftermath, it can be dangerous and scary, ESPECIALLY if you're not driving in a vehicle that is better able to deal with it, like a 4x4/All-Wheel-Drive truck or SUV, and even then, you need to be careful.

@elainelouve

5 жыл бұрын

I guess this also applies to people who are very used to driving in snowy and icy conditions - with studded tires. I honestly don't know how it would be with ordinary tires.O.O And yes, I actually even passed by driver's licence test during a snow storm. It's no big deal, but we have mandatory studded or friction tires for the winter months.

Mark, shouldn't visitors get travel insurance, especially for medical issues that may arise? If they come from somewhere with national healthcare they may not be aware that does not exist here.

@woltersworld

6 жыл бұрын

+J. Joy we always recommend travel insurance because you never know

@trueoskar

6 жыл бұрын

Can't recommend this enough! I went to the USA for a vacation, ended up being admitted to the hospital, by the time I was discharged, my bill was about a MILLION AND A HALF dollars (American). All I had to pay was the ~$30 for my traveller insurance.

@JJoy-bk8yr

6 жыл бұрын

nateman10 Oh, I remember that case. I think the family were Americans though but they were city people. (True, the lost husband was ethnically Asian.) If even citizens get lost and stranded in the wilderness, tourists could be even more vulnerable, so that shows this tip: not go down any road if you think it may be unsafe, even if your GPS or map system recommends it. Stop and ask locals. People have got into great danger in Death Valley also, from following online map systems. And if you do get lost, don't ditch your vehicle. It is a shelter and easier for rescuers to see than a individual person would be. Just today I heard a story about a boat that ran aground on an island in Jamaica Bay right by New York City. Two guys stayed on the boat and were rescued safe and sound. One other guy tried to swim back to the city and got stuck on another island with hypothermia and dehydration. He was saved too, but practically in shock. America is huge and has a lot of wilderness, even near cities.

@JJoy-bk8yr

6 жыл бұрын

trueoskar I'm glad you got the insurance. American health care prices are incomprehensible.

@ashleythomas4700

6 жыл бұрын

+J.Joy All international travelers should get travel insurance. Why would you leave the UK or wherever and not cover yourself? Yes we have NHS here but you research where you travel to and make sure you are safe and insurance is part of that.

I like Savannah, it is very dog friendly.

Funny you mention taxis. I was in Chicago after arriving on Amtrak for a day trip. The first cab driver we had take us to our destination was a very nice guy. He told us the best way there should be telling us that other drivers will try to screw you by taking the long way around. We arrived at our destination was about $20. He told us this is what the fare should be and gave us his name/number and asked for us to rate him. When it came time to return to the train station, we ended up with a different taxi driver and he did exactly what the first driver told us he'd do...took the long and slow way back. During our trip back, I even asked him several times about is this truly the right way back to the station and he assured me it was. I even mentioned that none of this looked familiar to me from our trip in this morning a few times. When we finally arrived, the dollar amount on the meter was almost exactly what we were told it would be by the first driver, over $50. I looked at the driver, told him I was wise to his stunt, refused to pay more than the first trip amount of about $20 and he argued with me, unexpectedly. I told him "call the cops. You are trying to extort 2.5x the proper fare and I will tell the cop that and ask to press charges. You take the correct fare for the correct trip and suck up the rest for trying to screw me, or we can call the cops and I press charges on extortion/theft. Your call." He argued some more and I finally said, I'm giving you this amount, end of story. I told him that I have your name and number. I will contact the company and complain and if the cops come looking for me in the terminal, so be it, I'll take it from there." Never saw the cops. I even told Amtrak cops what happened and where I was going to be if CPD showed up. They laughed, told me good catch and reassured me, the cabby wasn't going to push the issue, he knew he was busted. I contacted the company and told them "The tail of two cities road trips." I spoke very highly of the first driver and praised him highly, which from what I learned later, he was driver of the month/year or something like that and the other driver, well, he was probably told use a few more smarts when pulling that stunt and kept his job since he generated revenue. So yeah, this stunt happens. I was just fortunate enough to get an honest driver the first time out. And I don't advocate pulling the stunt I did because the cops would likely tell you to pay the fare or face jail and move on rather than being supportive of your position. I just got lucky and sold the argument convincingly. Next time, it may not work.

@notthatyouasked6656

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I've had cabbies take me from my airport to my house and try to tell me about the "new airport surcharge" that they have to charge but not on the meter. Dude, I do this every week, and you're taking me to my HOME, not some tourist hotel!

Happy new year. I was in the US last year and were driving around with a local, so he made me aware of a lot of things. As for the homeless and begging, as I'm a smoker I was approached often for that. So I'd give them one, no big deal. My companion would give the cigarette he was smoking at that time (hilarious, but as I said he was a local) I don't like opening my bag and taking out my purse, nowhere, so I always offer a cigarette or if I can get them something from a shop (something to drink, something to eat) and rarely money. So this and all your examples are things you should do at home too. The only thing I wasn't aware of is the meds, but again you don't leave valuables anywhere. Not in your room, not in your car. Not abroad, not at home.

You forgot the most important one!!!!! Be cautious around police! If you get pulled over, don't get out of your vehicle and don't approach police with your hands in your pockets! Most cops in the U.S. are nice and will help you if you need assistance but they are trained to assume everyone has a weapon on them until proven otherwise so keep that in mind.

US is a great country to visit :)

GREAT VIDEO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We've definitely had prescription medicine stolen from a hotel room (at Disney no less). Since then, we either put it in the safe if there is one, or else keep it on our person in a fanny pack. You are correct that prescription drug abuse is no joke in the USA, and pretty much any prescription medicine is at risk of theft when you travel here. Also, we only bring enough pills for the trip plus 2 days extra (in case of travel delays). That way, if for some reason it still gets stolen, at least we don't lose every pill for the entire month or 90 days.