Dressing for Travel Success

As a traveler, you don't want to attract even more unwanted attention than you'll already be getting. Nor do you want innkeepers to say "Sorry, scumbag, no rooms available" when the place is nearly empty, or the police to "inspect your passport and visa" when you're minding your own business.
Like it or not, when you travel you are representing your country—but it’s more than that. We have all seen travelers who seem to want to represent only the grungy underside of their social-circles all of the time. Yes, scum-bagging-out can be fun and not a major problem in some of the larger world cities, but you should know when to clean-up and look more like Charlie Brown than Charlie Manson. When you arrive at embassies or consulates for visas, at borders to enter a country, or at airports, you'll find life much easier if you look a bit neater.

Positive Attitude Dude

Encounters with officials, especially in Asia, are made much easier if you take a "chill pill" first. That is to say, keep cool no matter how much they annoy you. Displays of temper and impatience usually have a counterproductive effect. You can always get a lot more accomplished if you treat the person with whom you are dealing with respect and tolerance—even when you feel they don't deserve it. Your perseverance and good humor will get you through almost any bureaucratic quagmire or social discrimination. With the right attitude and patience, you might even be able to force a smile from your Parisian waiter. (Just kidding.)