What Should I Know About Traveling to a Country with Very Strict Laws?

You’ve heard a million versions of the same story a million times before: Traveler visits a foreign country, gets in trouble for engaging in a seemingly silly or menial activity, and ends up having to pay the price (jail time, a fine, even physical punishment). We tend to watch or hear about these stories from the comfort of our own homes, quick to forget that U.S. law is not international law when the next vacation is upon us.

When traveling, it’s important to be at least somewhat familiar with the rules and regulations of the country you are visiting, no matter how silly they may seem to you. The best way to do this is to engage in a bit of basic pre-trip research, which can easily be conducted with this incredibly handy country-by-country database provided by the U.S. Department of State. Should you find yourself in any sort of trouble in a foreign country, it’s important to contact the nearest U.S. Embassy immediately (a list of U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions can be found here).

On a much lighter note, here are some of the more interesting rules and regulations found in popular travel destinations that you might want to be aware of before visiting:

-In Thailand, spitting out your gum on the sidewalk can equal a $600 fine

-You could be detained for the possession of over-the-counter products that contain pseudoephedrine (such as Vicks, Sudafed, etc.) in Japan

-Not flushing the toilet in Singapore could equal a modest fine

-In Denmark, you can be arrested for wearing a mask in public

-It is not permissible to use more than 25 pennies per transaction in Canada