Thanks to your summer travel itinerary, general wanderlust or baffling dedication to Iceland’s World Cup team, you’ll soon be landing in a new city. You’re excited to explore its cultural institutions, meet its vibrant populace and absorb the local culture. But first, you need to make a connect that’ll keep you dome-deep in sticky green. To make sure things run smoothly on your next visit to a strange place, we’re rounding up the people and places most likely to help you score during your trip.
Cab Drivers
This will be your first point of contact as you make your way from the airport to the place you’re staying. And let’s face it, cab drivers are like the love children of Waze and the Silk Road. They know every dark corner of their cities.
Add to this an industrious attitude and shitty take-home pay, and you’ve got a guy who would absolutely love to hook you up with anything illegal. Start with a little small talk to suss out if he seems cool and open to providing recommendations based on your interests.
Just keep in mind that a cab driver’s connections can be shady or unreliable, sometimes involving random dealers they’ve driven or scammers they regularly work with. With a busy driving schedule to keep, don’t expect a ton of commitment or follow-through here. Ultimately, the guy driving you around may be giving you the runaround.
Hotel Staff
Believe it or not, the bellmen, front desk attendants and concierge making things look like a hedge fund convention rolled into town are here to hustle. And they’re used to dealing with guests’ requests, penchants, and occasional dead hookers with discretion and aplomb.
Start with the guys out front, who are running around all day, want