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What to Expect While Traveling in Developing Countries

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Traveling in developing countries will leave you with some of the most authentic and memorable cultural and local experiences.  I predominantly travel to developing countries because many of these countries are the most beautiful, fascinating and worthwhile.  And they’re often less touristy and untouched and much more budget friendly.  However, this doesn’t come without some culture shock and unique challenges.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT WHILE TRAVELING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

 

BEFORE YOU GO

 

TAKE DUKORAL

Take Dukoral, an over-the-counter oral vaccine for traveler’s diarrhea, before you leave for your trip.  It is an absolute must for traveling developing countries because stomach problems can ruin your trip.  I always take Dukoral and I eat street food, salads and raw fruit, with discretion, in developing countries that are notorious for stomach problems.  The vaccine protects you for 3 months. However, Dukoral cannot protect you against parasites, which have very different symptoms.  I had a parasite in India and Sri Lanka, but it’s a lot more chill than it sounds and they’re easily treated with antibiotics.

Street food in Yangon, Myanmar

PACK A FIRST AID KIT

While you can easily get medication at pharmacies in developing countries, sometimes you’ll be in rural areas without a pharmacy, so you need to be prepared.  Also, certain medications only exist in western countries.  I was constantly plagued by various colds and flus in South America, but apparently cold and flu meds don’t really exist there, which really sucked.

EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, DRESS CODE AND TABOOS

Do a little research before you leave so you don’t unknowingly offend the locals.

LEARN A FEW PHRASES IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE  

Not everyone can afford to learn English and it makes the locals so happy.

INFORM YOURSELF ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION(S) AND RESEARCH THE LAWS AND POPULAR SCAMS

Different countries have different laws that you must follow in order to avoid going to jail.  And there are always popular scams to take advantage of tourists.  These scams could potentially scam you of a few dollars to a few hundred dollars.

BRING SUNSCREEN

It’s not cheaper when you get there because locals don’t use it.

 

THE CONDITIONS

 

EXPECT A SLOWER PACE AND BE PATIENT

Things won’t work as quickly and efficiently as you’re used to.  So don’t expect things to run as smoothly as they do in your home country.

Uganda East Africa
Uganda

EXPECT LONG TRAVEL TIMES

This ties into having patience with a slower pace- when traveling in developing countries from city to city by bus, short distances often come with very long travel times.  Driving 100-200km can often take 5-10+ hours or more because the roads are terrible, there are many stops or direct transport isn’t available.

THERE’S GARBAGE EVERYWHERE 

And there’s a major lack of recycling.  It’s easy to forget that the education and dealing with garbage responsibly, recycling and caring for the environment are expensive.

traveling in developing countries
Garbage in India

BYOTP (BRING YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER)

Most public toilets don’t supply toilet paper (they use a “bum gun” or bucket of water instead), so carry some toilet paper with you.  They often don’t have soap either, so also carry hand sanitizer. You also can’t flush the toilet paper because the pipes can’t handle it. There is usually a garbage where you can dispose of it.

FORGET ABOUT SITTING ON A PUBLIC TOILET SEAT UNTIL YOU RETURN HOME

Many toilets are squat toilets, meaning there is no toilet seat at all.  And if there is a toilet seat, chances are you won’t want to sit on it anyway.  It makes for a great leg workout 😉  Roll up your pants so they don’t touch the floor.

POOR AIR QUALITY AND CAR HORNS

Inhaling aggressive exhaust fumes is a way of life in developing countries.

In North America, car horns aren’t used too often and it’s considered a little offensive when someone uses their horn; but in developing countries, they use their horns non-stop as a way to let other drivers know they’re coming.

Traveling in Developing Countries
Smog in Mumbai

POWER OUTAGES ARE COMMON

Pack a small flashlight.

GET USED TO COLD SHOWERS

Hot water is a luxury that we take for granted.  I recommend military style showers to make a cold shower less painful (i.e. quick rinse, turn the water off while soaping and lathering, then water on again for a quick rinse off).

 

THE PEOPLE AND THE CULTURES

 

KNOW THAT BEING POOR DOESN’T ALWAYS EQUATE TO UNHAPPINESS

But there are different levels of poor.  Sometimes a simpler life is a happier life.  Anxiety and depression are more common in rich Western countries than in developing countries.

SKIN WHITENING (BLEACHING) PRODUCTS ARE COMMONLY USED

Thanks to white colonialism.  It’s really sad and it’s definitely not good for your skin.  Be aware of this when you need to buy skincare products because it’s in everything.

RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION IS COMMON

Again, thanks to white colonialism.  There’s no denying that racism is a worldwide issue, but it’s often more rampant in developing countries because they lack “political correctness”.

SOME LOCALS WILL FEEL RESENTFUL TOWARDS YOU

If you’re from a western country, it’s assumed that you’re rich and you’ll find that some locals will feel bitterness and resentment towards your luxuries and easier way of life.  You’ll also find that they often have a very unrealistic perception of the western lifestyle and wealth, largely due to the media and music videos etc.  They don’t understand that while our wages are higher, that our cost of living is also significantly higher.

It doesn’t matter if you’re backpacking on a tight budget, you will be viewed as rich purely because you’re traveling, and traveling of any kind is a luxury in developing countries.  You will get ripped off with the justification that you’re from a rich country.

EXPECT A LOT OF ATTENTION AND STARING

Unless you blend in with the locals, expect to be stared at A LOT.  This is especially true if you have lighter skin and hair (unless you’re in a super touristy country, like Thailand).  Developing countries have far less diversity, so locals aren’t used to seeing many people who look and dress differently than them.  People may take photos of you as well, sometimes very obviously and without your permission.  This is very common in India, Myanmar, China and Indonesia.

Exploring Old Delhi in India

YOU’LL BE MORE APPRECIATIVE ABOUT WHERE YOU’RE FROM

Life is rough in developing countries and there’s a lot more poverty, crime and corruption than you’re likely accustomed to.  Understand that traveling versus living in some countries are VERY different experiences.

IF YOU’RE A WOMAN, YOU’LL BE EXTRA APPRECIATIVE 

Women often have far fewer rights and freedoms in developing countries and domestic abuse is normal.

ANIMALS ARE TREATED POORLY 

And it’s heartbreaking.  The sad truth is that the majority of the world treats animals very poorly.  Developing countries struggle to look after their own people, so unfortunately animals are not a priority and animal cruelty education isn’t either.  There are usually stray dogs everywhere and you’ll likely want to bathe, snuggle and adopt them all.  If you pet them, make sure you wash and sanitize your hands after.

Traveling in Developing Countries
Varanasi, India

 

ETHICAL TRAVEL

 

IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER, RESEARCH THE ORGANIZATION VERY CAREFULLY 

Volunteering is very popular while traveling in developing countries, but a lot of volunteer organizations are unethical and exploitative.  Some organizations are actually some of the biggest travel scams of all because so many of them charge foreigners a ton of money and the reality is that the actual cause sees very little of this money.  You should NOT have to pay to volunteer.  And if you do have to pay, at the very most, it should be a very small amount for food and accommodation.

Some examples of volunteering organizations to avoid are building schools or houses, visiting orphanages, and many elephant programs.

The sad reality is that many of these voluntourism companies have made a very lucrative business out of commercializing poverty, so they don’t actually want to help these communities in the long term because they will lose their business.  Ultimately, a lot of voluntourism is colonialism disguised in the white savior complex.

For more information on voluntourism, see What To Know Before You Volunteer.

DO NOT GIVE TO BEGGING CHILDREN 

As difficult as it is, giving to begging children promotes a begging culture and it keeps them out of school.  Even the locals will tell you not to give them money.  And sometimes begging children are involved in popular scams.  If you would like to help out, it is better to do so through a local non-profit.

DO NOT RIDE ELEPHANTS

Or other animals.  This falls under the umbrella of animal cruelty.

 

THE FOOD

 

EAT THE STREET FOOD

Forget everything bad you’ve heard about street food because some of the best and most authentic food is found on the street.  And the street food is one of the best things about traveling in developing countries.  And it’s fast and cheap!  Use your judgement and pick a busy stall to ensure fresh food.  If you need more convincing, see Legal Nomads How To Eat Street Food Without Getting Sick.

Banh Trang Nuong Vietnamese Pizza
Delicious street food in Vietnam

DON’T LOOK AT THE MEAT AT THE LOCAL MARKETS 

The markets are far from sanitary places and they’ll make you question your life as a carnivore or confirm your life as a vegetarian or vegan.

DON’T EXPECT GOOD SERVICE AT RESTAURANTS AND DON’T EXPECT YOUR MEAL TO ARRIVE QUICKLY

Unless it’s a fancier restaurant.  The poor service is especially noticeable if you’re from Canada or the US, where good and friendly service is expected.  Meals can often take 30-60 minutes and if you’re with a group, it will most likely not all arrive at once.  In Ecuador and Morocco, it seems like they make literally one meal at a time.  So if you go to a restaurant in a country like this, you can’t be in a hurry.

EGGS ARE NEVER KEPT IN THE FRIDGE 

But it’s safe and you’ll get used to it.  It seems like Canada and the US are the only countries that refrigerate eggs.  This also means that when you go to a grocery store or market to buy eggs, you’ll find them on a regular shelf.

 

MONEY

 

LEARN HOW TO BARGAIN

Developing countries operate on bargaining.  Get an idea of how much things should cost and bargain fairly.  A few extra coins is nothing to you, but everything to a vendor.  So don’t be a jerk, but also don’t get hustled.

I bought a rug from this super sweet man in Chefchaouen, Morocco

CASH IS KING

Credit cards and bank cards aren’t used in most day-to-day transactions (aside from at nicer hotels and restaurants).  And always have an emergency stash of cash for if/when your bank or credit card doesn’t work.

BUT PAYING WITH CASH ALSO HAS ITS CHALLENGES

No one ever has change and no one wants to accept bills that have a small tear in them.  But it’s totally fine if they give you a ripped bill as change, of course, so feel free to tell them off.

Tanzania

FOR TOURIST SIGHTS, THERE IS A LOCAL PRICE AND A FOREIGNER PRICE

And the foreigner price is exponentially more expensive.  It’s frustrating because western countries could never get away with this because that would be racist/prejudice.  It’s understandable that locals should be able to visit the beautiful sights in their own country and to charge foreigners a little more, but it’s a huge discrepancy in price which is why it’s not so cool.

The worst discrepancy I ever came across in my travels was Petra in Jordan, which is 50-90JD ($70-127US) for a 1 day visit for foreigners (depending on if you stay 1 night in Jordan or if you only visit on a day trip from Israel, which is the more expensive option), but it’s only 1JD ($1.50US) for locals.

 

STAYING HEALTHY

 

DON’T DRINK THE TAP WATER

Obviously.

YOU CAN GET MEDICATION AT THE PHARMACIES FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE OF WHAT IT WOULD COST IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY

I’m talking an extremely small fraction of the price.  And you don’t even need a prescription.  Have a bladder infection or a parasite?  You can get antibiotics for a few dollars or less.  Eczema?  You can get Betaderm.  An 8-16+ hour overnight bus or train?  You can get sleeping pills (don’t judge me. I unfortunately do not possess the superpower to sleep well in moving vessels, especially while sitting upright).  I spent less than $2 on medications in India, which would have cost me around $150 in Canada.  However, make sure you research the exact names of medications you need or you could be given something that may not be considered safe in your country.

IF YOU GET SERIOUSLY ILL, GO TO A PRIVATE HOSPITAL, NOT A PUBLIC ONE
Public hospitals in many developing countries can be extremely unsanitary, so if you need any kind of injection that could be a huge problem and health risk.  And literally a difference between life and death.

 

STAYING SAFE 

 

DO NOT WEAR FLASHY DESIGNER CLOTHES OR JEWELRY

Walking around with your expensive camera around your neck could be a problem in some places, especially if the value of your camera is 4x their average monthly income.  Leave your nice things at home in order to avoid being a target and back up your photos regularly.

BE CAREFUL WITH STRAY ANIMALS

There are loads of cute stray dogs in developing countries, but as much as you might love dogs and want to pet and cuddle them all, they can also carry diseases (like rabies).  If you can’t help petting some of them, make sure you wash and sanitize your hands after.

Good luck trying to not pet these street puppies – Jaisalmer, India

However, some of the street dogs can be very aggressive.  For example, street dogs in India and Sri Lanka are friendly during the day, but they can turn very aggressive and territorial at night.

If you encounter aggressive dogs, remain calm and do not run, yell or hit them.  But abandon all of these rules if you’re legitimately about to get attacked.  Staying calm is much easier said than done, but this saved me when I nearly got attacked by a few different packs of dogs when I was alone at night in Sri Lanka.  This was one of the most terrifying experiences I’ve ever had in my life.

THE LGBT COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE DISCREET AND PRACTICE CAUTION

Unfortunately, in over 70 developing countries, homosexuality is illegal and the punishment is often prison and sometimes even the death penalty.

BE CAREFUL WITH DRUGS

Know the laws and proceed with caution to avoid going to jail in a developing country.  Some countries have the death penalty for trafficking drugs.

USE YOUR COMMON SENSE

You’ll learn that there are far fewer rules in developing countries, which has major pros and cons.  For example, just because there isn’t a sign saying something is unsafe to enter, does NOT mean that it’s safe.

Traveling in Developing Countries
The top of this tower didn’t appear to be overly stable on Cat Ba Island in Vietnam

PEDESTRIANS DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY

Unlike many western countries, where pedestrians can get away with a little too much sometimes, this habit and expectation needs to be forgotten while traveling in developing countries.  Traffic is typically a chaotic free-for-all, so you’ll need to exercise caution and common sense.

THE POLICE ARE EXTRA CORRUPT

Every country has corruption, but developing countries have way more than their fair share of corruption.  Police in developing countries see tourists as an easy way to make extra money through bribes.  They will make up things that you’re doing wrong so they can demand a “fine”.  This is very common if you have rented a scooter.  But if you have a GoPro attached to your helmet, they won’t bother you 🙃

CHOOSE TRANSPORTATION WISELY

Safety standards aren’t a thing in many developing countries.  If flying on an internationally recognized major airline isn’t an option, ensure you research information on the local airline’s safety records (the same goes for trains and buses).  Input the airline’s name and the term “safety record”, “crash” or “blacklist” into an online search.  In very mountainous areas with narrow and windy roads, try take a small van instead of a large bus.

ONLY CARRY AROUND WHAT YOU NEED ON A DAY/NIGHT OUT 

Don’t bring your bank card, credit card, passport and all of your money if you don’t need to.

For more tips for staying safe, see Tips For Staying Safe While Traveling

 

MOST IMPORTANTLY…

 

EMBRACE THE DIFFERENCES AND THE CULTURE 🙂

If you’re from a western country, all of these developing countries likely have 100x more culture than your home country, so enjoy and embrace the cultural experience.

Yangon, Myanmar

 

For more on traveling in developing countries, see the humorous Traveling to the Third World Is Great and Also It Sucks.

 

MORE TRAVEL TIPS

 

11 Essential Things to Pack For A Trip

16 Essential Things to Do Before a Trip

My 45 Best Travel Tips after 11 Years of Traveling

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7 thoughts on “What to Expect While Traveling in Developing Countries

  • Zoe Osborne September 8, 2015 at 6:13 PM Reply

    Some great advice! What about accommodation? What would you advise in terms of where to stay and how to book? Should people book ahead or just kind of turn up?

    • thetravelinggypsy September 8, 2015 at 6:22 PM Reply

      Thank you! Glad you found it helpful. For where to stay, I look on Hostelworld and book one of the cheapest, highest rated and most popular hostels in a convenient area amongst all the action, unless a friend recommends a specific hostel. And I always stay in the largest dorm room to save money and to meet more people because I always travel solo. There are times I book ahead, but not too far ahead, and many times I don’t book ahead at all and just show up. I like having the flexibility of deciding as I go, but if it’s a busy season, you typically have to book somewhat ahead of time. I hope that helped! 🙂

      • Zoe Osborne September 9, 2015 at 6:11 PM Reply

        Sounds good. I like flexibility too, but when I travelled in India for example I found that sometimes it was much safer to book ahead! That’s why I asked 🙂

        • thetravelinggypsy September 10, 2015 at 12:45 AM Reply

          When you’re arriving to a new city/country, it’s often nice to book ahead so you have an address to go to

  • AnnaJ September 9, 2015 at 12:38 PM Reply

    Well put! I’m from a developing country so most of these things come naturally to me. But I am in conformity with all your points.

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