That's a superb idea! Not sure if thats a reference to something I've missed but it needs to be something that is easy to dismiss if you're not in the know.
Striking up a conversation with someone who is travelling about travelling is always easy enough.
- Have you ever been to Serbia? -obscure enough of a country for most people to say no or wonder why you're asking (have an excuse):
Correct answer: - No, but I Know a guy who works from there. - not weird enough to raise eyebrows, specific enough to not be a random answer in 9999/10000 cases.