Travel tips for Haiti - what to prepare in advance and what to obey

1. Do not demonstrate jewelry, cameras, smartphones, and wallets in public places. Such carelessness might make you a target for pickpockets.

2. Do not drink any water except the bottled. Stomach upset is the least dangerous thing that can happen in this case. However, there might be bigger problems such as unknown infections with an unclear result if foreign tourists neglect this rule.

3. Try not to put expensive items into open pockets and try to avoid crowded places because there are always swindlers in such areas.

4. Haitians do not like it when people take pictures of them. They usually think that photographers will then use their images to earn. Try to refrain from taking pictures of unknown people.

5. Do not visit remote areas of the country and do not enter so-called “slum districts” that usually surround big cities and tourist resorts.

6. Hotels and resorts are always guarded by the police, so these areas are absolutely safe for foreign guests. You can relax freely here. Do not walk far away from your hotel if you do not know that place and do not travel alone.

7. If you follow basic safety rules, your vacation will be pleasant and free of any accidents. Despite some negativity regarding Haitians on social media, local people are calm and friendly with tourists unlike some other destinations in the Caribbean. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

8. A couple of words about tipping: tips are usually included in the total in big restaurants and cafes. In small dining establishments, it is recommended to leave a 10% tip to the waiter. This rule is applicable to any services.

9. It is recommended to think about vaccines before your vacation to Haiti. Consider making vaccines against jungle fever, typhus, hepatitis, and tetanus.

10. In humid areas such as mangrove swamps, bloodsucking insects like mosquitoes can transmit malaria. Tourists need to wear closed clothes to these places and apply repellent to open body areas.

11. Peel all kinds of fruit before eating them for disinfection purposes.

12. Haitian policemen treat tourists with respect and do their job well nevertheless some of them do not miss an opportunity to earn on irresponsible tourists. This is rather an exception than the rule, however. There is a simple recommendation for all foreigners in Haiti – simply be attentive.

13. Do not exchange currency on the street because there is a risk of being fooled.

14. The voltage is usually 110-125V. Only some hotels have additional 220V sockets.

15. The U.S. type sockets are adopted in the country. If you travel from Europe, don’t forget to take a suitable adapter.