Local currency can be confusing and it is easy to be fooled into giving 1000 of something when actually it is 100 or being given the wrong change. One of the wisest money tips of all is to take half an hour somewhere quiet and safe to get to know the new cash you have in your hand. Knowing how many pennies make a pound is fairly obvious but to a foreigner it may not be so. Having a vague idea of the exchange rate helps get an idea of what things cost and it also helps you budget.
One thing everyone who travels for any reasons will always worry about is money. Life would be easy if there was just a single currency worldwide but there is not. Here are 7 money tips for travel (when we are allowed to travel) that will always be helpful. Tell your bank you are travelling: One of the most important things to do regarding money and travel is to tell your bank you are going overseas. With increased levels of fraud and tightened security, transactions you make with your bankcard overseas may be deemed suspicious. This is especially true with bank debit cards. To avoid this let your bank know. Get the right credit card: Check how much it costs to use your credit card for foreign currency payments. Some credit cards charge high or hidden charges for making a purchase in any currency other than your home currency. There are cards that do not charge fees and just treat any purchase as normal. Read the fine print on your credit card or speaking to the bank or card company, it could save you a small fortune. ATMs can sometimes be cheaper than exchange offices: Many people are not aware than drawing money on your bank or ATM card overseas may actually be a great deal cheaper than using a foreign exchange office. Using an ATM is definitely a lot more convenient but check with your bank about the fees charged and you may very well be surprised. Use local currency and understand it. Local Currency does seem obvious but many travellers today try as hard as possible to stick to plastic. Sadly, it is not always possible. While more and more places take plastic there are still many places where cash is king. Post cards, flea markets and some smaller shops may not take plastic. Also, in countries where haggling is the norm, a credit card will not help you at all. Local currency is best for small transactions such as entrance fees or even a bus ticket. Local currency can be confusing and it is easy to be fooled into giving 1000 of something when actually it is 100 or being given the wrong change. One of the wisest money tips of all is to take half an hour somewhere quiet and safe to get to know the new cash you have in your hand. Knowing how many pennies make a pound is fairly obvious but to a foreigner it may not be so. Having a vague idea of the exchange rate helps get an idea of what things cost and it also helps you budget. Spend the remainder of your excess cash at the airport. You usually always end up with some excess cash after any trip. It often costs money to change your cash back into your home currency so why not keep the cash you have and spend it at the airport. You may have enough for a cup of coffee while waiting or enough to buy a bottle of water. Very often airports charge less for items if you pay in local currency and in the end you save. Have an emergency stash! Perhaps the most versatile currency in the world is the US Dollar. A really amazing money tip that could get you out of a sticky patch is to carry a handful of loose dollar bills with you on your person. If your wallet is stolen, these dollars you keep on your person can become the most valuable things in the world.
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Traveling solo has its pros and cons and it’s up to you to decide whether it will work for you. Solo travel is intensely personal. You can discover more about yourself at the same time as you’re discovering your travel destination. Traveling on your own is fun, challenging, vivid, and exhilarating. I have read that people who have never traveled alone often describing their first solo trip as an almost religious experience. To be completely independent and to do exactly what you want to do ALL THE TIME, see exactly what you want to see - can be a blissful self-indulgence. Of course, single travel has its perils too – you need to be aware of your safety, sometimes it can be lonely and you may sometimes need to pay more for a tour or accommodation. Safety While not having to negotiate which museum you want to spend time in is an advantage, one of the biggest concerns for most people travelling alone is safety. You can feel very vulnerable without another person that cares about whether you are in your hotel room at night and will watch your back when shopping in a local market. But some people say that by being alone they can blend in more easily than a couple or group, and you are treated more like a local rather than a tourist. The bottom rule is - you need to be prepared and do your research in all your destinations and the most important rule is: If it doesn’t feel right – don’t do it. Here are a few tips I’ve used myself and also what I have found in my research. www.safetraveller.gov.au gives you some excellent advice that you can use before and while you travel: Transport
Hotel Accommodation
Loneliness
Avoiding the Single Supplement The single supplement is used by tour operators, cruise liners and hotels to add to your bill to make up for the fact that they're not making money off a second occupant. The supplement can range anywhere from 25 to 100 percent of the trip cost, meaning that you could end up paying twice as much as someone traveling with a partner. There are several ways to get around the single supplement. You can avoid it altogether by booking with a tour operator that offers share accommodation but it means you will have to share a room with a stranger. If you're concerned, contact the tour operator and voice your concerns - see what kind of procedures they use to match roommates and again if it feels wrong – don’t do it… If you're flexible and ready to go at a moment's notice, you could save money by booking at the last minute. Tour operators who are eager to sell out their last few places may be willing to reduce their usual single supplement. Have fun, negotiate and grab a bargain. The most important thing is to enjoy your trip – Meet different people every day. HAVE FUN. Take lots of photographs. You have a chance to really take in your surroundings, meet locals and travellers along the way; be content to be by yourself, but confident enough to introduce yourself to people when you want to be sociable. Take care and enjoy the experience. What are your most memorable solo travel stories? Have we missed any tips? Feel free to join in the conversation on our Facebook page or leave your comments below. Joanne Ammerlaan VLLC National Business Manager. |
AboutTravelling is an exciting opportunity which can be enhanced by learning the language before you go. This blog contains some interesting articles about language and travel. Archives
March 2024
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