Travel Logs: South America
With my departure date fast approaching, I have begun to invest more time into preparation. In the past I would have picked up a travel guide and been done with it, but not this time. My objective on this trip is not adventure. This means that instead or embracing risk, I am working to mitigate it.
One of the risk areas I have identified in my upcoming trip is related to public and private transport.
I generally prefer to use public transit while traveling. It is green, inexpensive, and a great way to experience the place I am visiting. But what if you are traveling to an area where public transit is deemed unsafe for travelers? What if the private transport options are also considered high risk?
After some research I arrived at two recommendations I like. The first is to use an online taxi booking service. These services help to deter criminal activity by logging important details and assigning you a certified driver.
The second (and more recommended) option is to use Uber. I decided to investigate further.
After creating an account I was presented with some new safety options in the Account menu. As I worked through the new options I was impressed with just how robust the security appears to be. In most situations I would consider the options to be overkill for me. Not this trip though.
The options include:
- Safety check ins
- PIN verification
- Record Audio
- Share trip status
- Emergency help/ safety report buttons
- Driver safety standards
* You can read more about safety with Uber here
Working through the options I can say that I like what is available. I cannot speak to the effectiveness of the features, and this certainly is not an endorsement. I do plan to test them out in the days ahead, and will try to report anything of note.
It is important to note that both services (Uber and Online booking) will require access to mobile data. In my experience roaming and mobile data/cell service can be a nightmare to navigate while abroad.
In the past my approach for digital connectivity was to use wifie, or pick up a local sim card as soon as I landed. This time things are complicated, but more on that later.
Next time I will spend some time looking into the best options for international cell coverage on a budget.
Stay Wild!!
References:
The Wild 
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