Tips For Foreign Travel
Traveling to a new location, especially a new country can be a stimulating experience, especially for a first timer. But to be sure that it does not end up being a nightmare, one needs to plan well, and well in advance. Prevention is better than cure and nothing sums it up better. Here are some of the small things that will go a long way to ensure that you come back from your trip with a big smile.
Getting travel insurance from a reputed service provider is a must. Do ensure that you take a comprehensive plan that includes the medical insurance also. This will ensure that you are covered for exigencies like missing a flight connection or a flight cancellation. Since the medical costs in a foreign land may be exorbitant, ascertain that your medical policy is accepted by hospitals in that country and that the sum assured in the policy covers you adequately for all the medical conditions.
Thanks to the heightened security measures, especially at the airports, it is advisable to reach the airport ahead of the time. This will help you in case of any undue delays in the guise of security precautions. Keep your passport and boarding pass at a convenient place so as to save time. Finally if you find that you still have plenty of time, even after obtaining all the security clearances, you can explore the comfortable airport lounges and book stores. Be careful of your belongings at all times lest someone relieves you of your precious possessions. One simple rule that can be followed is to check in all your bulky baggage and keep only the essential things with you. And ensure that you have locked your hand baggage.
Another seemingly trivial act that can go a long way to protect your interests is to preserve a copy of all your key documents. Keep them in a different place than your original documents. In case you lose your passport, the copy of your passport will help you in filing a police complaint without having to lose your sleep over it. A copy of your credit card can help you reach the issuing bank with all the relevant details so that your card cannot be misused. The copy of your medical prescription and your medical insurance can even be life saving, literally.
Lastly, check for the financial details. Do you know the conversion rate of Americn dollars into the local currency? Where do you get your currency exchanged? Will your credit cards be accepted or should you take travelers check? Since these factors would change depending on the country you are visiting, it is wise to invest some time in finding these answers.
So before you start packing your cameras, do ascertain that you are covered for all the nasty surprises. This will ensure that you have a memorable trip and come back with pleasant memories. After all, it is not often that many of us visit a foreign land!
Ken Snow
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/tips-for-foreign-travel-51988.html
Tags: Advance Prevention, Airport Lounges, Boarding Pass, Convenient Place, Essential Things, Exigencies, First Timer, Foreign Travel, Guise, Hand Baggage, Medical Costs, Medical Insurance, Medical Policy, Police Complaint, Precious Possessions, Prevention Is Better Than Cure, Security Clearances, Security Measures, Security Precautions, Undue Delays
Travel tips, foreign currency tips. help.?
We’re going on holiday in a weeks time to Texas in the USA and I want advice on best way to keep my bank charges down. I was going to take 400 ish dollars initially to cover us while we get to a hotel then for the rest of the holiday just use my barclays debit card at a bank of America ATM as I only get charged 2.75% conversion and no transaction fee, also the same if I use my card in stores, bars, restaurants etc.(As Barclays and Bank of America are part of the Global Alliance) Am I going about this the right way to save me money? Thomas cook are also offering me a card to just put dollars on and use too, not sure what to do. Please someone who’s been in my shoes and to America tell me the way to go here. Thanks.
I would suggest you not using your card on holiday so much, there is a huge fraud risk. if you have the money in your account get it changed up. you will be paying over the odds for everything. Even ATM’s charge to use as well (in my experience)
I always take plenty of cash or travellers cheques with me over there, you can use your travellers cheques anywhere. I use my credit card for large purchases and use it as little as possible.
you will also need to produce ID everytime you use your card.
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Look on http://www.moneysavingexpert.com and you will get detailed answers to all your questions.
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Barclay’s card is a rip off!
For the best money advice - have a Nationwide bank account, you pay no fees to withdraw cash from an ATM anywhere in the world. Plus while ALL other banks exchange at the am-ex tourist rate Nationwide exchange at the mid-rate. Your dollars will cost you 4% less.
In English, if you get your cash with your Barclay card and I use my Nationwide card, for every $100 we withdraw, I will have enough extra for a meal out!
The Nationwide credit card also charges no fees, and also uses the mid rate for currency exchange thereby saving you 4% on every purchase you make with a credit card.
Currently VISA charge the bank 0.84% commission on every transaction with a card bearing their logo. Apart from the nationwide, who absorb the cost, all other banks pass this cost on to you. Please note that from 01/07/09 this charge will rise to 1%
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Happy Nationwide customer and world traveller