Wikivoyage:Tourist office/Archives/2015/November

kidnap risk in mexico

I am considering driving from the Southeast U.S. to Belize. A Mexican friend has warned me not to do so, for fear that I would be kidnapped along the way. I would be following federal highways in Mexico (101, 180, 80, 186, 145D, 180D, and 186) along the Gulf coast, then East through Yucatan to Chetumal. What is the actual risk of transiting Mexico in this way? Asked by: 71.81.212.215 14:33, 1 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I don't have any personal experience in this matter, but as I understand it the cartel violence peaked in 2012 and has since declined sharply, and that your personal risk depends very highly on which border crossing you use to enter Mexico. I would be very interested to hear more informed replies to this question as I myself have also considered taking this trip by car. -- AndreCarrotflower (talk) 14:54, 1 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I know that's not your primary question but if you want to take a car into and out of Mexico there are bound to be a lot of permits and paperwork to secure, as the used car market down there is tightly regulated and they don't want you to sell your car without paying the corresponding taxes and stuff... As for your kidnapping concerns, have you had a look at Mexico#Stay safe? I personally have been to the greater Mexico City area and Yucatan / Quintana Roo and both areas are safe. However, parts of the North have been more affected by the drug traffic. That being said, the cartels mostly target people involved with the drug trade themselves or police / military / journalists who "get in the way". If you are only driving through and avoiding the topic altogether, you should be safe... Hobbitschuster (talk) 15:27, 1 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Also if you intend to do some Driving in Mexico - have a look at said at said WV article... And if you decide to go on your trip after all, feel free to update the articles in question Hobbitschuster (talk) 15:36, 1 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

No personal experience here, but I've investigated this extensively for our own travel plans to the region some time ago. I'm afraid personal experiences will not say too much about the actual risks anyway. I'm a bit surprised Hobbitschuster dares to assume you'll be fine if you don't get involved in drugs, as there are plenty of reports of completely uninvolved foreigners being targeted. Plenty of people travel to and through Mexico each year without trouble, so statistically you will probably be fine, especially if you avoid the worst states as much as you can and travel in day light. Nonetheless, the number of kidnappings is very high. Carjackings occur and highway traffic is targeted too. While cartel violence may have declined, kidnappings are reportedly on the rise and the level of violence generally remains high. The US state travel advise has a state to state assessment as well as lots of general information, which should help you pick the best route. There are no guarantees, but it sounds like an amazing route :-) Good luck! JuliasTravels (talk) 15:44, 1 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I did have some kidnapping training in Colombia at a time when things were really dangerous there. JuliasTravels is right that your risk level will not be be affected by your level of usage of narcotics or association with them (it is true that fake cops, or even real cops, may try and extort money from you if you buy drugs, but they are not going to kidnap you. It is anyway a bad idea to buy drugs when traveling for many other reasons). There are behaviors that will make your trip safer (drive on main roads, dress like a local, etc) and can all be found on the government web sites linked above. Andrewssi2 (talk) 19:42, 1 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Is Paris safe

Is Paris safe after the attacks? Asked by: Lottolads (talk) 16:00, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Your safety is never guaranteed anywhere you stay nor anywhere you travel, but your chances of actually being killed or injured in an act of terrorism are very low, way lower than your chances of dying on the road in a car accident. On the recent tragic day in Paris, there were 129 people murdered and 352 injured. We mourn the dead and send our sympathy to their survivors and to the people who were injured in mind and body. But don't ignore that the population of the urban area of Paris was 10,516,110 in 2011, so even on that horrific day, you had a tremendous chance of not being killed or injured (physically, anyway - of course the toll in people injured emotionally is much higher, but you don't have to travel to Paris to feel that). If I had no particular reason to visit Paris right now, I would probably wait a bit, but if I had plane tickets, I certainly wouldn't cancel them. A friend of mine was in Paris during the attacks and took pictures of his days walking the oddly empty streets. Paris was still beautiful; the terrorists can't take that away from that great city. There is so much to see and do there. Ikan Kekek (talk) 16:35, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

As Ikan said, the chances that something is going to happen to you in Paris is very small, there are at least tens of thousands of visitors there at any given time. Also, the French are working hard to prevent terrorists from striking again and people are encouraged to go back to normal life and show that the attackers didn't succeed.

Personally I wouldn't go to Paris right now; while I'm unable to imagine how Parisians feel right now after this awful terrorist attack, I'm pretty sure the atmosphere in this beautiful city will not be the same for the next couple of months. ϒpsilon (talk) 19:05, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Is Sousse safe

Is Sousse safe? I'm going there this day next week. Asked by: Lottolads (talk) 20:26, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I would beware if I were you. You probably heard about the ISIS bombing there last June; also, two days ago it was reported that the Tunisian government had discovered and foiled another terrorist plot targeting Sousse. -- AndreCarrotflower (talk) 20:38, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

On the other hand, in a perverse way next week might be an ideal window for you to visit Sousse. If one ISIS plot has already been thwarted, surely if they still intend to target Sousse it will take them longer than a week to develop a new plot. -- AndreCarrotflower (talk) 20:43, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

syria

Would travel to any area of Syria be recommended? Asked by: Lottolads (talk) 20:47, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

See the Wikivoyage article on Syria. -- Ryan • (talk) • 20:57, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

In a word, no. -- AndreCarrotflower (talk) 20:59, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

beslan

last question, is Beslan in North Ossetia safe? How would I get there? (I want to see the school). Is the school safe? Asked by: Lottolads (talk) 20:59, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

You could try crawling, or take a hot air balloon. Ikan Kekek (talk) 21:07, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Our article on North Ossetia specifically cites Beslan as a hotspot for rebel activity in the Ossetian-Ingush war. However, that information dates back to 2011 and after a cursory search I was not able to find any newer updates, so your mileage may vary. -- AndreCarrotflower (talk) 21:12, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

So basically it is safe? I might be going there, this is a great website for info.--Lottolads (talk) 21:16, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

According to the most recent available information, absolutely not. However, a lot might have changed between 2011 and 2015, so if you're looking for a definitive answer, I don't know. -- AndreCarrotflower (talk) 21:24, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Ok. Would it be disrespectful to talk about September 2004 in beslan or at the remains of the school? —The preceding comment was added by Lottolads (talk • contribs)

How to handle a flash flood?

Does anyone here have any advice for the traveller in remoter regions concerning flash floods? Asked by: Sfan00 IMG (talk) 16:31, 6 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

That's actually one of the natural disasters we don't have a travel topic for, or even mention in severe weather yet. Hiking_and_backpacking_in_Israel#Flash_floods does have a little information. ϒpsilon (talk) 17:47, 6 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

There is a wikipedia:flash flood article, though, with a section on the hazards. This article cites this page from the US National Weather Service, which in turn links to this little brochure and this somewhat larger brochure, both in PDF. They are not concerned with remote regions, but at least some of the advice would apply anywhere. --174.88.134.156 03:48, 7 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

It is good to know the difference between a warning and a watch. A warning is a hazardous event is going to happen and a watch is a message telling people to be aware of a potential hazardous event because the certain weather conditions favor it. The Disaster Center website and the National Weather Service has four step to safety. Find out what is/could happen to you during a flood, what type of disaster will hit your community and what kind of damage it will cause that will effect you, what the community has set up for an emergency (warning system, shelters), and what to take with you if you have to evacuate. http://www.disastercenter.com/guide/family.htm Kmmi227 (talk) 18:37, 20 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

To start know that flash flood according the National Insurance Floor Program (NIFP)(https://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/flooding_flood_risks/flash_floods.jsp), it is defined as, "is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas in less than six hours, which is caused by intense rainfall."As a traveler going into remoter regions, there are ways you can protect yourself, if in a event should flash floods should occur in the remoter regions. If travelling by a car, note that it never the best idea to drive through flash flood, because Weather.com (http://www.weather.com/safety/floods/news/flash-flooding-vehicle-danger-20140717) has reported that if a car traveling through a flash flood, the likely scenarios is as followed: - It takes 6 inches of water will reach the bottom of the cars, which result in vehicles losing control of steering and potential stalling of the vehicles. - A foot of water will make the vehicles float In any case, it doesn't hurt to be prepared, in that scenario if you are trapped in the car during flash flood, try to roll down your window (if it can't roll down, break it) and be prepared to swim. But if you are in a house or camping near rivers and streams it strongly recommended that in that scenario that you seek safe shelter in the higher ground(http://weatherology.com/articles/106/The+Dangers+of+Flash+Floods.html). It better to be safe than sorry! Dadhikari13 (talk) 23:07, 30 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the responses, Does anyone want to draft a stub? I asked because I felt it was an important topic area. Sfan00 IMG (talk) 21:48, 3 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I'm inclined to say plunge forward do note though, that our articles are rarely if ever given "stub" status - the most common status for articles without much content in them being "outline" Hobbitschuster (talk) 23:35, 3 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Before going into a remote regions, you need to understand the basics of what happens during a flash flood. Kmmi227 touched on it, but you need to understand the difference between a warning and a watch. If you have been alerted that there is a watch, there is a possibility of a flash flood. If you have received a warning, then a flash flood will occur. If a flash flood does occur, here are essential tips:

• 6 Inches of moving water can knock you down and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.
• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
• If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground
• If floodwaters rise around your car but the water isn’t moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground.
• High ground is key
• Never try to swim or walk through the water, the water is stronger then it looks and can carry you.
• Keep a floatation device near you if flash flooding is possible.
• Don’t camp or park near streams, rivers and creeks during rainfall. These areas are more prone to flooding.
• Watch out for downed power lines, these can electrocute you.

When you are around the area, make sure that you can get weather updates. This is the best way to get notified if a flash flood is possible and will keep you informed. By following these general guidelines you will be more prepared on how to act when a flash flood occurs. November 5th 2015 {{Connerarman}} Connerarman (talk) 18:25, 5 November 2015 (UTC)Connerarman Sources used: Severe Weather 101 - http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/floods/ Floods - http://www.ready.gov/floods Before a Flood - http://www.susquehannafloodforecasting.org/before-during-after.html Connerarman (talk) 18:33, 5 November 2015 (UTC)Connerarman[reply]

I would really really appreciate if someone would have time to add all of the useful information in this thread to a section in Severe weather. Otherwise I'll have to do it tomorrow... ϒpsilon (talk) 18:36, 5 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

WMF

If someone wanted to visit the WMF headquarters in San Francisco, would they be welcome? What could they see or do? Would an active Wikipedian be more welcome than a layman? Can/would anyone do an informal tour? Seems there's very little available online about this, even though the WMF and the internet go together like a kangaroo doe and joey... Asked by: 2601:643:1:FF00:190F:BBB3:7B73:4DB7 08:22, 5 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Hi there, well, you would have to ask the actual Wikimedia Foundation office staff. You can contact them in several ways, see here. It's just an office, so it's not a tourist attraction as such; there's nothing much to see or do. You'd have to make an appointment, but if you have a real interest, I imagine they might well be willing to quickly show you around. Plenty of volunteers and other relevant parties visit the office every year for meetings. JuliasTravels (talk) 09:28, 5 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

what do tourist do when getting to a country

what tourist do when getting to a country Asked by: nkosi (talk) 10:04, 7 November 2015 (UTC)nick nkosi (talk) 10:04, 7 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Please try again, if you are really looking for an answer. What is it that you want to know? Ikan Kekek (talk) 10:05, 7 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Off the top of my head, at the very least, you'll need a document to prove your identity (such as a passport) in most cases, sometimes along with a visa. Some countries ask for a proof of vaccination as well. And then you'll need to find a way to get there. You may also want to take a look at our travel topics for other stuff. Vidimian (talk) 10:22, 7 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

It isn't a question to ask tourist office because tourists when getting to a country, what should to do is up to you (tourists). Make a decision, and re-ask a sure question ! Yanlinnnaung (talk) 10:17, 8 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Please have a look at our Travel basics article. Perhaps you will find an answer to what you want to know there. ϒpsilon (talk) 11:07, 8 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Go From Seoul

How Can I Go from Seoul, South Korea To Shenyang? Estimated Time and Distance? Asked by: 222.111.11.254 07:32, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I didn't know the answer, so I did a web search on "flight time seoul to shenyang". According to this site, Seoul to Shenyang flight time is 1 hour 20 minutes. Or, to be more specific: "Non-stop flight time from Seoul to Shenyang is between 1 hr to 1 hr 45 mins depending on the aircraft's cruising speed, technical condition and weather/wind speed." For such travel times, make sure you get a non-stop flight; otherwise, all bets are off. The distance is about 540 km. The link I gave you also mentions some airlines that fly that route.

For the hell of it, I checked non-stop flights on that route on Matrix ITA Software, a website where you can look up flights but can't book them. On Dec. 1 (a date I chose randomly), the only non-stop flights are operated by Korean Air and China Southern, and the costs range from ₩193,000 per person to ₩417,000 per person, with no apparent logic to the price structure. Listed flight times are 1 hr 30 min to 1 hr 55 min. My suggestion would be for you to go directly to the Korean Air and China Southern sites and use a private browser in case they are showing you the price they think you'll pay instead of their lowest price (this has reportedly been a problem here in the U.S.) and see what times and prices you are seeing. By the way, the next day, again, only the same two airlines have non-stop flights; I just checked.

Happy travels! Ikan Kekek (talk) 08:04, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

And if you want to go overland, theoretically the straightest route would be through North Korea, but that country may not be entered from the south as of now (not that any independent travel would be allowed in the DPRK anyway). Instead the shortest possible route would be boat from Incheon (just west of Seoul) to Dalian and from there a train up to Shenyang. Not sure about what ferry company plies that route. ϒpsilon (talk) 18:42, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

An alternative is the Incheon (near Seoul) to Dalian ferry which takes 16 hours. You could then take a bus or train from Dalian to Shenyang (Google Maps suggests that would be a 7 hour journey). Andrewssi2 (talk) 19:33, 19 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]