Way pre-Internet, I worked in a lot of countries. I remember getting to the Philippines without a visa and was able to talk my way in. I remember going to Canada on a flight without a passport and almost being turned around...but got in.
It was a LOT harder back then to learn visa requirements. Credit cards were still not widely accepted around the globe (the Visa credit card system was new at the time), so I had to get Traveller’s Checks.
“I remember going to Canada on a flight without a passport and almost being turned around...but got in”
When we went there in the 90’s we just showed drivers licenses and drove in.