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Travel
Tips
Collect or exchange as much small change as practical, very
few people seem to have change, especially in rural areas.
Take
a fair amount of small denomination US money for airport (departure)
taxes and when you only need to exchange a small amount of
money-like when leaving a country. You can also often get
better prices in shops if you pay with greenbacks.
In
general, cash is better than traveler's checks. Cash can be
easier and quicker to exchange and command a higher rate or
the commission can be lower. In some places, the larger the
denomination of bills, the better the exchange rate. Many
merchants will take dollars and their rate of exchange can
be higher than the "official" rate.
Refer to your guide book on the existence
of any black market for currency exchange and whether to or
how to use it. Some countries are more tolerant of black markets
than others.
When you exchange money, exchange as
much as you think you will need for some time as it can be
a real time consuming task or the banks will have odd (and
short) hours. You may not be able to exchange money at all
in small towns or in the countryside. Money can also be exchanged
in many hotels.
Take a personal check and an American
Express card. If you need more money, you can go into an American
Express office with your card and write a check for traveler's
checks. Cash machines are also more common now in large cities.
Keep money and valuables in a money
belt or pouch under your clothes. If you carry a bag for guide
books, maps, brochures, etc., use one with a zipper and hang
on to it. Leave your wallet and purse at home. Crimes that
take place are usually crimes of opportunity, like pickpockets,
as opposed to violent crime (unlike in the U.S. According
to FBI statistics from more than 80 other countries, only
the Bahamas has a higher than the U.S. per capita frequency
of robberies and violent thefts).
Unless you have an audience with the
head of state, leave all jewelry (and engagement ring) at
home.
ALWAYS
keep your passport, plane ticket, money and camera with you.
If something doesn't't go right, smile
and be persistent in what you want. Getting mad, yelling or
fist pounding will only be met with resistance.
As soon as you arrive someplace, arrange
your way on to your next stop. trains/planes/("first
class") busses tend to get booked up in advance. Travel
agencies can usually get reservations for you as they book
blocks of seats well in advance.
Arrive early and get aboard early any
bus/train/plane etc. They can be oversold and/or fill up in
a hurry.
When traveling by regular bus, try
to get seated close to the front as they will keep packing
people in until there is no room left inside. Additional people
then hang on the outside and climb on the roof, when travelling
in a ordinary bus.
Always settle on a fare before climbing
into an un-metered taxi. If metered, make sure the driver
will go by the meter or decide on a price. Make sure the price
includes everyone in your party. In some countries, the meters
can't be readjusted as fast as the rate of inflation so the
fare may be the meter price plus X%. Check your guide book
or ask someone if the driver won't go by the meter. Rates
are often higher in the middle of the night and between an
airport and town.
Reconfirm all airline flights along
the way. It is possible to show up for a flight and not have
a reservation because you did not reconfirm.
Every time you check in at the airport,
check your tickets afterwards and make sure that the agent
did not tear out more tickets than she/ he was supposed to.
When you step out the door of an airport,
be prepared to become the focal point of dozens of taxi drivers
and kids drumming up business for busses. Know what you want
to do before stepping through the door. Check your travel
guide or ask someone in the airport how much a ride to town
should cost and what the choices are.
When you step off the bus or whatever
in a new town and need a place to stay, and some kids come
up and offer to show you a place, go ahead and use them. You
can always take a look and say no. They are just trying to
drum up business for someplace and/or a commission for themselves.
When asking directions to someplace,
ask several people, and keep asking as you go.
Use a travel alarm clock to wake you
up in time for that early morning bus/train/plane.
Medicines of all kinds are usually
available in local pharmacies with no prescription necessary.
Check expiration dates.
Unless you are in an expensive restaurant,
you will be charged for any bread, butter, jam, cheese, olives,
etc. on your table that you eat.
Check your guidebook for taxi and restaurant
tipping guidelines. In some places the service is included,
others it is not, and in still others there is a combination
of included service charges and tipping. For tipping 10% of
the bill amount is good.
If you wear shoes that can be polished,
watch for kids who will sneak up to you, slap some polish
on your shoes, then offer to finish the job. Settle on a price
first if you decide to proceed.
If you hand out coins to children,
you are likely to start a parade.
Above all, use common sense! |
