By Erica Ho A Savvy Traveler's Guide to Vacationing Abroad So you've bought tickets with our awesome airfare guide, and you're ready to vacay. Here's how to hit the ground running in any country, whether you're trekking through the jungles of Southeast Asia or taking advantage of the declining euro. Photo by Erica Ho. It's time to get over that vacation guilt you may feel, start packing more efficiently by rolling your clothes, and prep for your time off. Whether your itinerary is already set or not, assuming you've already taken care of any visa issues, you're almost inevitably going to encounter some basic problems in every country. Here's some you can plan for ahead of time. A note on my experience: The number of countries I've traveled through and visited has hit the double digits, and my travels span across efficient Japan to metropolitan Mexico City. I've also made my share of hiccups and mistakes, from being stuck in Manila as Tropical Storm Ondoy flooded the Philippines to learning how to tunnel out of the Great Firewall of China (it is possible). Accessing Money and Paying for Things It's almost never necessary to exchange money before you hop on the plane to your destination. (One quick exception: Cuba. If you're heading to Cuba, do yourself a huge favor and make sure you've got your money situation well-researched and ready before you go.) There are ways to access your money abroad, and the exchange rate in your home country will be generally the worst you can get. If you are overly concerned about security, traveler's checks are a safe way to travel with money. These checks will lock in exchange rates, so be aware of exchange rate trends beforehand. We'll cover safety later, but security and preparation measures are definitely on a continuum—only use as much as you're comfortable with. In most developed countries, credit card will always be widely accepted. In second- and third-world countries, cash is king. Even so, as credit cards are implemented with smart chips around the world, check with your local region to make sure they are compatible. It's always smart to carry a mixture of both forms of payment, and credit cards are relatively easy to cancel and replace. Always, always alert your debit and credit card company to your exact travel plans. Being stuck in a foreign country with absolutely no access to your money is almost as inconvenient as losing your passport. Quite simply, you won't be able to do anything. Quick tip: If for some reason your credit card is frozen, and you can find a Wi-Fi spot, be aware that you can call your bank's toll-free number for free through Skype. Getting the Best Exchange Rate Airports offer the most convenient way of exchanging your money, but provide less bang for your buck. Instead, exchange only enough at the destination airport to cover getting into town, or for the first day, depending if the banks are open or not. Local banks and currency exchangers in town often provide the best deal. Like with most everything else, shop around for a good exchange rate instead of going to the first bank (especially if you're planning to exchange a lot of money). Photo by viZZZual.com. It's important to be aware of when and what day you come into town. You may be used to traditional Monday to Friday business hours until 6 pm, but banks do not operate similarly everywhere. Heading into Tokyo after 4 pm? Guess what, you're out of luck—no money exchange for you. If you don't want to exchange money, it's possible to pay in other currencies, such as the American dollar. Wherever this is an option, though, the dollar is almost always exchanged at a lower rate than the current rate (unless the currency is pegged to the dollar). For example, in Mexico, some merchants will calculate 10 Mexican pesos to the dollar whereas the current rate hovers closer to 12-13 Mexican pesos per dollar. Paying in the local currency will almost always work out in your favor. Avoid ATM and Foreign Currency Fees When using a credit card or debit card, most banks charge foreign currency fees, which will be 1-3 percent of the total purchase. The same goes for withdrawing ATMs; but instead of just getting charged for the foreign currency fee, most people will get slapped with an additional international ATM fee, which can be up to $5 per transaction. As a result, it is highly recommended to withdraw less frequently in larger denominations. If you decide to withdraw from an ATM to access your money, check to see if your bank is part of any allegiances or alliances. For instance, Bank of America is part of the Global ATM Alliance, which is a major international alliance that allows use of a partner ATM while waiving international ATM fees. (It does not necessarily waive foreign currency fees.) The Global ATM alliance covers major banks on all the six inhabited continents in several countries, including Mexico's Santander Serfin, Europe's Barclays and Deutsche Bank, and the South Pacific's Westpac. A few other banks stand out in this department. Capital One, for instance, does not charge any foreign currency fees but do charge for international ATM fees. That means that it is better to use a Capital One card for credit card purchases, but not necessarily ATM withdrawals. Charles Schwab, on the other hand, has a checking account that refunds ATM fees worldwide, making it a better choice for the ATM route. Quick tip: When paying in foreign currencies, to quickly convert prices in your head, learn what the $5 and $10 equivalents to get a good estimate on the price you're paying. Not All Language Phrases Are Created Equal The oft-heard quote goes something like this: "If you speak two languages, you're bilingual. If you speak one language, you're American." Language is often not the big barrier that most people seem to think it is, (and if you're reading this article, chances are that you're already proficient in one of the most widespread languages in the world), but knowing a few key phrases never hurts. Photo by maveric2003; "rebajas" is the Spanish word for "sale." Being a good traveler means knowing how to get by in the dominant language of the country you're heading to. All words are not created equal: learning how to say "how are you" isn't anywhere as useful as learning "I need help finding my hotel." Here's a short, basic list of phrases you should learn in another language if you're traveling to a foreign land with a different language: The Basics Interacting with others will be a part of your vacation. Being polite is a part of everyday life in every culture, not just America. Greetings (Good morning/afternoon/evening). Common courtesies (Please, excuse me, sorry, thank you, thank you very much). Shopping How much does it cost? A clear sticker price won't always be conveniently displayed on every interesting item in the store. That said, knowing this question won't help if you don't know numbers. Numbers one through ten, 50, 100, 1000. Numbers are crucial. Whether they're used for shopping, street numbers, or directions, numbers can be the building block for putting key pieces of information together. It's nice knowing that your hotel is two blocks away from the park if you're a little lost. Eating I would like _________. It is very easy to point at an item in a menu, but it doesn't take much effort to learn how to order something. May I have the bill? When you're ready to go to next your destination and your waiter at the European-style café hasn't shown up with the bill, this phrase is also useful. Like in all vacations, time is money, my dear friend. Everyday Situations How do you say _________? Probably the most useful phrase in terms of utility, because it actually allows you to learn additional words of the language. Use it everywhere and you'd be surprised at how quickly you pick things up. Please don't bother me/I don't need help. As a tourist, the odds of being bothered or harassed by a street/merchant vendor or local "guides" are high. Even though it might seem rude, having someone follow you around for minutes isn't going to add to the enjoyment of your vacation. Where is the bathroom? "Donde está el baño" might have gotten snickers when you were a kid in middle school, but it's really not funny when you have an emergency bowel situation from eating that Indian curry and can't locate the nearest restroom. I'm trying to find _________. This phrase is pretty self-explanatory. If you get lost, you're going to need this phrase more than you need that Lonely Planet guide. If Your Language Skills Are Minimal If you're so wildly busy that you won't have a chance to brush up on learning new phrases, at least learn the two phrases below; they'll establish your lack of knowledge know-how. I don't speak _________. Do you speak English? Don't Be Afraid to Point and Use Gestures It feels a little elementary-school at times, but pointing to objects and using gestures will get you far. Not all gestures are universal, but the basic ones are. (This reason is why there's even a Point It book, which was exclusively designed for travelers in mind, exists. The small, portable book contains pictures in which a person can point at to indicate something.) It's also possible to point at pictures that you've taken of objects and landmarks on your digital camera. While it may take a while to get the point across, chances are that it will get through eventually. Staying Safe During Your Vacation Nothing is big as a concern as staying safe in a place you've never been to before. Generally, most places are safer than most people think—the reputation often precedes the city. Many people would be surprised to know that Bogotá, Colombia is safer than Washington, D.C. when it comes to the crime rate per capita. Regardless, the same precautions that you take in the United States should be the same no matter whether it's Mexico City, Rome, or New York. As we mentioned earlier, security and preparation measures are definitely on a continuum. Register With Your Embassy Registering with the U.S. Department of State before a trip abroad is a wise move. U.S. citizens can register at the U.S. Department of State's web site. If the government places a travel alert on a country, you will be notified immediately via email with relevant information. The guidelines are good, especially if political and economic situations arise making it possibly unsafe to travel. Keeping track of news can be invaluable in case you need might to cancel your trip or rearrange your trip to avoid difficult situations. For instance, Thailand, once a common tropical summer getaway, is now experiencing political turmoil and protests particularly in the areas of Bangkok. As a transit point, it has been deemed okay to travel through, but many countries have advised against spending a considerable amount of time in the city. Using Taxis in Foreign Countries A strong concern in most countries regard using taxis safely, and the truth is that it varies. For instance, in China, which is one of the most foreign-friendly countries, hailing any taxi cab is a walk in the park. In Mexico and other countries, it can be more of a concern. To err on the safe side, if you're not sure, always call a taxi beforehand instead of hailing one on the street and take government or official (metered) taxis. If the taxi isn't metered, bargain or settle on a price before getting into the car. Photo by Ben Fredericson. Stay Observant, And Smile Above all, use your common sense, be alert, and smile. Smiling, pointing, and talking will get you far in developing a rapport with the locals. If you're in a sketchy area of town, don't go by yourself, don't stay out late at night, and only carry enough money for the day. Everyone has heard about or met that person who was punched and robbed the first day in. If you're unsure about the safety of a particular area, ask hotel staff who will have the best advice. (Good hotel staff do more than just provide you a place to sleep—they will provide information on the areas around town.) In countries where pickpocketing is a concern, keep your wallet or backpack in front of you so that you're always aware of where it is. If you're not sure, the biggest tip is by observing how the locals carry their possessions around town and imitating them like-so. Carabiners are also pretty useful for hooking your wallet or purse to yourself or the chair that you're sitting on. Traveling with Technology You've paid gargantuan amounts of money for your flight, and you're crossing thousands of miles, so it's only natural that you want the best technology around to capture the moments from your trip. Still, it's important to remember that often, when traveling, less is more. You'll be glad when you only have to carry three gadgets around instead of lugging around five. Even more importantly if you do decide to take your computers and gadgets, don't forget to check the electrical outlets of the region. A power converter might be needed to save the day. Bringing Your Laptop Along Netbooks, which are popular for surfing the web, are ideally the optimal computing device to travel with. Internet access is, more or less, accessible and fairly strong everywhere (unless you're going into the heart of the African wilderness). The miniature computers are ideal because they are light, portable, provide Skype and email access, and can upload pictures from your digital camera. Traveling doesn't mean you completely have to disconnect from the world, but staying behind a computer screen shouldn't be your main focus on a vacation, like we discovered previously when we pondered whether we should bring our laptop to Thailand. However, if you have a Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone, it is possible to completely replace the laptop if you only plan to use the internet minimally. Staying Connected by Phone If you wish to be accessible by cell phone, carrying a GSM unlocked phone is important. (Check with your carrier to see if it is possible to unlock your phone.) With the exception of a few countries, which we covered in a previous article, most if not all countries use GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile. Some people prefer to take an old dumbphone for their communication needs when traveling, but assuming you use the same precautions as you do in the States, you shouldn't run into any problems with losing your phone that don't already exist at home. In most countries, prepaid options are better than they are in the United States. It is very easy to grab a SIM card from most convenience stores or mobile service vendors and have a number ready to go. Photo by ydhsu. Skype still remains the most dominant and cost-efficient method for calling overseas back to the United States. But through a combination of Google Voice and Skype options, it is also possible to have people call your Google Voice number and reach you through Skype by connecting your SkypeIn number, a paid service that gives you a local US number. Along the same lines, we previously covered how to make free VOIP calls through Google Voice. Google Voice is also pretty invaluable for checking your text messages and voicemail from abroad. Change the settings in Google Voice to alert you via email every single time someone sends you a text message or voicemail. Since you can respond to text messages by Google Voice's web interface, it's almost like a form of free international texting. The Best iPhone App To Get You By Unfortunately, for America, the United States is unique in the fact that we use the imperial system. There are numerous travel apps out there, but the more universal ones will be converters you can use on your vacation. Convert Everything Free is a free solid iPhone app we've found that converts a solid amount of currencies, translates Fahrenheit to Celsius, and will translate miles and weight into the metric system. It's just a sampling of the many of these coonverter apps out there, but Convert Everything Free gets the job done when I'm trying to figure out out how many miles are in five kilometers. Technology Is Expensive… and Desirable When traveling with over hundreds or even thousands of dollars in gear, it is important to be very, very careful. These items are the most prone to be stolen, so keep them out of sight in your hotel room (things do get stolen in hotel rooms) or take them out when you only need to use them. Use your common sense, like in any big city or small town. You wouldn't flaunt your fancy laptop in the crime-ridden areas of America, so why would you bring them out in the most dangerous areas of any town? Like we stated above, it is important to be sensitive the environment and atmosphere around you. Quick tip: While it may be hard to disguise the fact that you are a tourist in certain situations, realize that in certain countries, the expensive, fancy DSLR camera hanging around your neck can be equivalent to an annual salary for a local. Keep your camera stashed away safely and pull it out only when you need it. If you're really concerned, consider uglifying your camera to deter thieves. Most Importantly... Traveling isn't exactly rocket science. If anything, it's more common sense and keeping your wits about you instead of being lulled into a false sense of security. Even then, it's about being reasonable and not being overly paranoid so you can actually enjoy your trip. So get excited, get packing, and let us know how you finally made it to the Arc de Triomphe or Angkor Wat in the comments before! The author, Erica Ho, often considers the airport her second home due to a bad case of the travel bug. She is currently traveling in Guatemala. View comments » Share this:

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