6 Travel Tips The CIA Gives Their Spies For A Breezy โ€œHolidayโ€
โ€” Updated on 20 September 2023

6 Travel Tips The CIA Gives Their Spies For A Breezy โ€œHolidayโ€

โ€” Updated on 20 September 2023
Garry Lu
WORDS BY
Garry Lu

Aside from the ever-crucial opportunity to escape the grind (whatever that may be in your life), at the heart of every good trip is efficiency. And whatโ€™s more efficient than the CIA? You know whatโ€ฆ donโ€™t answer that.

Back in 2016, Wikileaks uploaded a memo detailing a few key travel tips the CIA offered their Germany-bound operatives, and while not every single piece of advice will be applicable to us civilians, there are definitely one or two you could apply to your next holiday.

Check โ€™em out now.


CIA Travel Tips

NOTE: Edited for both clarity and relevance.

Before you go

  • โ€œTalk about your planned timelineโ€ฆ consider [national] holidays, government shutdowns, world events, etc.โ€
  • โ€œHave your Point-of-Contact information on your person.โ€  
  • โ€œHave a travel credit card.โ€
  • โ€œIf you are using a personal credit card, be sure to call your credit card company and notify them of your travel.โ€

Planning and forethought is key. Map out your โ€œtimelineโ€ and all the pit stops; ensure you have all the details of whoever youโ€™re meeting on the other side, or whoever may be of use. The financial aspect of the above is particularly useful, given the last thing anybody wants is to be stranded in a foreign country without access to funds.

6 CIA Travel Tips That'll Make Your Next Holiday A Breeze

During the flight

  • โ€œFlying Lufthansa: Booze is free so enjoy (within reason)!โ€    
  • โ€œFlying United: My condolences, but at least you are earning a United leg towards a status increase.โ€ 
  • โ€œIf you have an overnight flight (most likely), try and get some sleep. It will help you adjust faster to the time difference.โ€

Pretty self-explanatory. And hilarious. Some things never change, I suppose.

When you arrive

  • โ€œBreeze through customs because you have your cover-for-action story down pat, and all they did was stamp your passport.โ€
  • โ€œGet some local currency from an ATM.โ€
  • โ€œGet a cab to your hotel from the airportโ€ฆ Check-in, drop off your bags, shower (you probably need one).โ€
  • โ€œDo not leave anything electronic or sensitive unattended in your hotel room (paranoid, yes, but better safe than sorry).โ€
  • โ€œIf you arrive on a Sunday morningโ€ฆ expect to find most businesses (grocery stores especially) are closed. Some restaurants may be open. Gas stations are not recommended for fine dining.โ€
  • โ€œIf you arrive on a Monday morningโ€ฆ expect that they might not have a room ready for you at your hotel. Get checked in, decompress.โ€

Donโ€™t dilly-dally at customs. Get in, get out, and pick up some cash somewhere in between. As always, despite the fact that most hotels (and even your more respectable hostels) have personal vaults these days, best not to leave anything valuable behind unless you know for certain thereโ€™s zero chance theyโ€™ll be swiped.

RELATED: American Airlinesโ€™ $250,000 Lifetime First Class Travel Pass Was A Jetsetterโ€™s Dream

During your stay

  • โ€œMeet everyoneโ€ฆ Talk to them and find out about what they do. Build that network!โ€
  • โ€œIf you have never been overseas before, let folks know.โ€
  • โ€œHave a free weekend?  Ask for advice on day trips and places to visit.โ€ 

Mix and mingle, and be open to shooting your shot (platonic or otherwise) with strangers. You never know when that bartender you chat up will shout you a round of shots or two, or even keep serving you past the last call (speaking from personal experience).

Setting expectations

  • โ€œBe flexible.โ€
  • โ€œRespect that while efforts can be made to involve you in social activities, it may not always be possible.โ€

Conditions and circumstances can change at the drop of a dime. Act accordingly.

Before you leave:

  • โ€œBuy something at Duty Free, because youโ€™re awesome and you deserve it! (Might I recommend a travellersโ€™ edition single malt whisk(e)y?)โ€
  • โ€œLeave with as little local currency in your pocket as possible.โ€

โ€˜Nuff said.

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Garry Lu
WORDS by
After stretching his legs with companies such as The Motley Fool and the odd marketing agency, Garry joined Boss Hunting in 2019 as a fully-fledged Content Specialist. In 2021, he was promoted to News Editor. Garry proudly retains a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, black bruises from Muay Thai, as well as a black belt in all things pop culture. Drop him a line at [email protected]

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