Touts, Scouts, and Businessmen

As I mentioned earlier, you may encounter (almost certainly if you go to a developing country such as India and Morocco) people whose job it is to convince you to use their taxi, rent their room, or buy their things. If you know you don't want to buy what they're selling, move on, preferably without even making eye contact. If they are persistent, even after you have said "no" in several different languages, simply ignore them. Treat the situation and the annoying individual as if it and they don't exist.

[More on this topic in the Full Version of Quit Dreaming & Go!]

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Bargaining

Especially outside of western countries, get ready to spend half your shopping time negotiating prices. Prices for tourists are often times not marked, and are usually open for negotiation. Here's how it works:

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Bargaining can be an enjoyable experience. If it's something that is pricier, then you may be offered tea or other refreshments as the process of negotiation continues. In this circumstance, you're probably safe to accept their hospitality, but not necessarily their asking price. Constant haggling over prices, especially for the simple things as shampoo or fruit, can become maddening. Just remember not to rush; you're not shopping Wal-Mart or Tesco.

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Confirm Your Price

In most places you will visit, local laws, personal honor and superstition ensures that the stated price is what you will pay after services are rendered. But like so many monetary situations we've covered so far, stated prices tend to fluctuate in direct proportion to how gullible you appear. That's why when selecting a room, you may want to see the price in writing or pay the first night's cost in advance (that's after you've seen the room).

[More on this topic in the Full Version of Quit Dreaming & Go!]