While a conducted tour is not the best way to see a place, it is an excellent starting point in discovering a city. You will get a general feel of your surroundings, plus basic information on the city's layout and attractions. Once you have found your bearings, supplemented with information from the tour guide, you are ready to explore on your own.

The key to making the most of your travel experience is to recognize where your interests lie. Is it in cultural activities, for instance, or just having a good time on a Saturday night? If so, are you looking for a noisy bar, a romantic restaurant or a trendy disco? Ask and, in most cases, you will be told.

However much you may be bent on soaking up the local colour, it is best to avoid the kind of place that may be termed a "clip joint". Here, a woman will join you at your table and order a "special cocktail"- special only in the sense that it costs, say, US$50! There is no backing out here; the price was probably on the menu, if only there was some light to read it by. There is no getting away either, for there are bouncers eager to block your exit if necessary.

While traveling internationally, if is important to speak slowly and clearly, keeping in mind the variations in accents and pronunciations - even for an internationally accepted language such as English.

Foreign Language Vocabulary Chart