Common Myths of Travel
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-- If you use your cellphone, the plane will crash.
-- Recirculated cabin air on planes will make you sick.
-- X-ray machines at airport security checkpoints can erase your computer's hard drive.
-- Your hotel card key can be used to steal your identity.
These are just some of the things many travelers believe to be true. And, in fact, with a couple of qualifications, they are nothing more than the latest batch of travel myths.
More Common Travel Myths
Up Next: Can Cell Phone Usage Cause a Plane Crash? -
Airplane Cell Phone Usage
Myth: If you use your Blackberry or cellphone in flight, the plane will crash.
False: The FAA has tested all sorts of electronic devices for 25 years, at 100 times the RF interference levels -- and nothing happened. The FAA simply states that no link between operating the devices has been proved. By using your cellphone during flight, you risk interfering with a flight crew, but the plane won't crash.
More Common Travel Myths
Up Next: Are Cruises Really All Inclusive? -
All-inclusive?
Myth: "All-inclusive" cruise means you can put your wallet away for a week.
False: It used to be true, but no longer. Cruise ships now charge for any number of things, including a fee for unlimited soda. A new rule of thumb for budgeting your next cruise: Take the basic cruise fare and multiply it by 1.75 per person.
More Common Travel Myths
Up Next: Rental Cars - Are You Really Insured? -
Rental Cars -- Are You Really Insured?
Myth: Your personal auto insurance covers damages to your rental. If you don't have your own insurance, your credit card will cover you.
True: Unsuspecting renters think they are covered by their credit card. Not so. Almost all credit card companies offer something called "secondary insurance," which only kicks in when you've exhausted all the limits of your primary policy. And if you don't have a primary policy, then you are not covered at all.
More Common Travel Myths
Up Next: Does Recycled Cabin Air Make You Sick? -
Recycled Cabin Air
Myth: The way cabin air is circulated makes the plane a prime breeding ground for colds and flu viruses.
True: There's no scientific proof that breathing someone else's air in the cabin will make you ill. It's true that some airlines save money by recirculating air instead of purging and replacing it, so Greenberg's advice: Hydrate yourself while on the plane, wash your hands often, and turn off the air vent over your head to keep your own air around you longer and put off breathing someone else's.
More Common Travel Myths
Up Next: Can Hotel Keys Lead to Identity Theft? -
Identity Theft
Myth: Your plastic hotel key card can be used to steal your identity and credit card account information.
False: Simply put, hotels do not put your personal information on the card. At the most, they will encode the room number and activation date.
More Common Travel Myths
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