Travel Money Do’s and Don’ts

Spending more than what’s expected is the very least you want to happen after your most awaited European city hopping.  Careful budgeting is necessary which often includes big-ticket items such as airfare, hotel, car rental, and tourist attraction tickets. But the trickle doesn’t stop there, minimal costs of cell phone charges, bank fees, and housekeeping tips can be pretty high once you computed the final price.

It’s important to let your bank know that you will be travelling out of the country. Technological innovations in modern banking can easily detect any suspicious and fraudulent activities on debit and credit cards. Paying your overnight stay at a vintage chateau in Florence using your credit card might be useless since your bank might think that some other person is using it.

Always bring a sufficient cash in hand before reaching your destination. Withdrawing money from an ATM overseas is a risky move. Firstly, it’s difficult to find a machine that can read your card. Secondly, syndicates use ATM machines to scan and copy your debit card details. Finally, don’t underestimate the fees these ATM machines are charging you.

You have to plan your means of transportation from the airport to the hotel, and vice versa. Taxis are the most convenient and ergonomic way of reaching your hotel. But, they don’t come cheap and you are required to stand in long lines. Though buses are available, it could be a hassle to transfer from one point to another knowing that you are unfamiliar to the place and you have lots of heavy baggage. Make it a point to coordinate with your hotel if they are offering any shuttle services to pick you up in the airport. Most hotels have that amenity especially to foreign customers and you just have to add a couple of hundred bucks.

Don’t overlook your mobile phone usage. If it’s not necessary, avoid making overseas calls. There are plenty of ways to stay connected no matter what part of the globe you are without having a thousand dollar cellphone bill. All you need is an internet connection and you can instantly send messages using chat applications. It’s fast, efficient, and doesn’t cost a thing. You can even send pictures or make a video call for free, unlike when you use the service of your mobile provider.

Be familiar about the local currency. This way you will know if the price of an item you’re planning to buy is worth it or a little over the top. Traveler’s check is not ideal to bring anymore. The amount needed to fund those doesn’t come cheap yet barely anyone accepts them anymore.

Most importantly, always keep your valuables secured and never leave them unattended. Trust me, it’s difficult to lose your passport or wallet with all your valid ID’s when you’re far away from home. Another important rule, never use public unsecure connections whenever making financial transactions on your laptop or smartphone. If you must use public computers, make it a hobby to wipe out the browsing history and cache once you logged off.

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