The U.S. State Department issued recent warnings about tourists being sickened or worse by poisonous whiskeys. Many are homemade liquors where deadly wood alcohol is used as a cheap substitute for safe commercial brands. 

This time the incidents were reported to be at small cafés in Mexican Riviera cities on the nation’s west coast. Savvy senior travelers should be aware of the potential dangers, and confine alcohol drinking to name brands served in upscale hotels and restaurants.

It’s no surprise to seasoned senior wanderers, but a recent Travelers United poll reports that 80% of travelers wanted hotels and resorts to list absolutely all charges on final totals and advertised honestly up front.

The sad fact is that we’re living in an age of advanced bait and switch, and too many travel ads are about as honest as your friendly used car salesman’s pitch. It all started a century or so ago with carnival barkers and newspaper ads for miracle medical cures. Then came the crooked auto pitches.

Visitors to the historic city are not permitted to tote wheeled suitcases along the ancient streets and bridges. According to the Venice City Council, they cause too much damage to the fragile thousand-year-old stones.

So, if Venice is on your bucket list for an upcoming visit, while wandering the historic town, hoist an old-fashioned backpack or fanny bag. Tote only bags that won’t rut the road. Offending tourists could be gigged a fine of more than $600.

Incidentally, the law is somewhat discriminatory. It doesn’t apply to local merchants who daily track through the city with ponderous metal-wheeled carts and other heavy vehicles.

Your travel4seniors.com editor enjoys waves and smiles while in the middle of a line of local ladies.