Few places hold the magic and mystique like the rolling hills and azure blue lakes of New Zealand. In a country larger than the United Kingdom but with only about a sixteenth of the population, there is an abundance of natural life to experience. The beauty of a fiery glowing sun sinking into the horizon or the powdery snow-capped mountains ascending into the sky will not only spark an other-worldly emotional response within your soul, it will also present an opportunity to capture the majestic beauty through photography to share with others.

Vacation is a time to rest and relax, but at Cover-More we know from experience how dangerous new countries can be. From pickpockets to pyramid schemes, we want you to stay safe and aware. Learn about the common scams for visitors and locals in New Zealand and you’ll be better off protecting yourself and your holiday from an unfortunate run-in with one of these scam artists. If you are planning a trip to New Zealand, here are the three scams you should be vigilant about:

Lush greenery rubs shoulders with the urban dwellings of downtown Auckland, all of which overlooks the turquoise bays. Auckland has consistently placed in the Top 5 on the Mercer Quality of Living Survey and often wins awards as a top travel destination. This will no doubt be the best place to take a break from reality and calm your mind from the stresses of everyday responsibilities. Read our list of the top ways to relax when visiting Auckland, New Zealand.

One of the hardest parts about travelling abroad, even if it’s just to the next island over, is figuring out public transportation. Routes and numbers are always changing and it can be hard to know which way is north, let alone the combination of public transport you need to take to get to your final destination. Daunting doesn’t even begin to describe it. 

The first thing to strike you when arriving in Queenstown, New Zealand is probably the scenery. The mountains iced with snow and the shimmering lakes are hard to tear your eyes away from. However when you do, and you get to know the town centre of Queenstown, you’ll quickly realize how friendly and open locals are here.

When you are packing for Sri Lanka you may get halfway through and then think “but what do I actually need to bring?” The last thing you want to do is over-pack for a trip where you’ll be travelling on foot a lot of the time so, to help lighten the load, Cover-More has come up with a suggested packing list for Sri Lanka to help you avoid over-packing and help you bring exactly what you do need.

With four major religions and more than 25 public holidays annually, Sri Lanka has mastered the art of colourful, entertaining and tourist-worthy festivals. While most celebrations are religious in nature, all are welcome to partake. Whether you are looking to expand your cultural knowledge or experience a different religion, here is our rundown of the Sri Lankan festivals you must see.

Sri Lankan cuisine is a reflection of both its diverse landscape and its resourceful people. With a tropical environment of coconut-fringed wet zones, arid dry zones and cooler tea-coated highlands, almost anything can grow and live here. This means that vegetables, fruit, fish, meat and spices are all in abundance and come in a wide variation. Though, considering how many foreigners visit Sri Lanka it is surprising how few actually manage to sample the local food. The restaurants and cafes tend to cater to Western tastebuds, and the larger and more posh hotels stick with international fare. Since Sri Lanka does not traditionally have a dining-out culture, much of the best food is cooked in the home, and if you don’t mix with the locals, you are unlikely to uncover the culinary delights on offer here.

Colombo is Sri Lanka’s largest city as well as its capital. While beaches tend to be the real draw for a holiday in Sri Lanka, if you take a break from sunning and relaxing on the beach and head into the capital, you’ll be able to see a lot more of the Sri Lankan culture. There’s a mix of modern buildings and ancient temples, high-fashion shopping malls and pretty parks, and much more. Come explore Colombo no matter how short your time in Sri Lanka is. Once you get past the sprawling city layout and crowded city centres, you’ll find that the city grows on you, and the longer you stay, the more you’ll love Colombo.

The people of Sri Lanka are lovely, but “value destinations” often come with hidden dangers. If you are planning a trip beware of these five scams for tourists.