Travel Tip #15 - Cash, Traveler’s Cheques or Credit Card???

Which one is better to travel with?

Cash is good because you have it on you and you can pay for cheap items easily and it is always accepted and you never get charged any fees when paying with cash. One thing with cash that is a little annoying is having to change it at the currency exchange which is where you will definitely be charged a conversion fee. If you lose your cash, it is gone and never to be seen again.

Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I knew anyone that traveled with Traveler’s Cheques. From what I hear, you get charged when you buy them and you have to write down all the serial numbers and then you have to change them into cash as you go….blah blah blah – can you tell I’m not a fan??

Credit Cards are one of the best things to have with you when you are traveling. You get good exchange rates and some fees and they are normally less than when you buy foreign currency. If you lose your credit card, you can cancel it straight away and hopefully get a new card organized. You can nearly 100% of the time pay for items by credit card anywhere in the world.

Personally, I like to have a mixture of cash & credit cards, just in case I lose one and then I have the other to fall back on. What do you like to travel with?

Travel Tip from Seth Godin…

Here is a great travel tip from Seth Godin…

Travel tip

I never bothered to print out boarding passes in advance… after all, the machine at the airport takes about ten seconds.

Here’s the thing: at some airlines, the machine stops working 30 minutes before your flight. Leaving you at security to watch through the window as your flight takes twenty more minutes to board and leaves without you.

Tip 1: print your boarding pass out ahead of time.
Tip 2: if you forget, have them switch you to a later flight, then run to the gate of your original flight. Ignore them when they tell you that you’ll never get on. I did.

We shouldn’t need to share travel tips. “Have a good flight,” he says sardonically.

If anyone has any other travel tips they would like to share, simply leave a comment or send me an email.

Travel Tip #14 - How to avoid jet lag and be comfortable!

I know that whenever I fly on a long flight, I have no problems sleeping on the plane. Actually I can fall asleep standing up if needed, but I do have a problem with jet lag when I get to my destination. Here are some tips to try & avoid jet lag…

• Just after take-off change the time on your watch to the time of your destination. (If in doubt, ask your flight attendant)
• If you are due to arrive in the morning, try & have a sleep before the plane lands. This way you should have some energy, even if it is just enough to get you to your accommodation.

Also, I hate being uncomfortable on flights, so here are some hints for staying nice & comfy…

• Rub moisturiser on your face, it will stop it from drying out (works well for girls & guys)
• Wear loose fitting clothes…if you have to wear business clothes because you have a meeting when you arrive, take a pair of tracksuit pants to change into.
• Try not to take your shoes off - the reason? Sometimes your feet will swell & not fit back into your shoes at the end of the flight. Believe me…it happens!

Anyway, I hope these help

Travel Tip #13 - Essential things to remember!

When you are travelling it is essential that you remember to:

- not over exercise in hot climates
- not to drink local tap water where it isn’t safe. Always drink bottled water even in hotels and make sure your bottled water is sealed when you by it.
- Avoid ice in drinks as freezing preserves germs…it does not kill them
- Include rest time in your itinerary.
- Dress appropriately in accordance with local customs.

Travelling with kids?

When I have been travelling, I am always amazed at how parents manage to travel with their kids and everything that goes along with them, like strollers, diaper bags, toys and much more… Now there is a company called WeeTravel that are a rental company that provide everything that you could possibly need when travelling, so that you don't have to take it all with you.

They are only in Vancouver, Toronto and Victoria (Canada) at the moment and they offer items such as car seats, strollers, high chairs and more! The items are available for rent by the day, week and some monthly plus they are all brand name products.

This company has done something that I haven't seen for a while…they have taken care of a niche market that helps tourists. They aren't another sightseeing company or hotel, but a service that every family could use if they have little ones.

Travel Tip #12 - Help, what food can I order?

I had a problem when I was travelling through Asia as I didn't speak the language. This made it extremely tough when I was trying to order food at a restaurant.

The easiest way to order food is to simply look at what other people are eating and point to their dish when the wait person asks for your order.

But don't go over the top like I saw some people do. There is no need to walk over to the other table & point at the food as the people are eating. Remember they are trying to eat their dinner too.

Travel Tip #11 - Buying your luggage

When buying a suitcase or bag make sure that you don’t buy one that has an inbuilt lock on it. The reason that this is a bad idea is because if an airline / country wants to look in your bag, they may use force to try to open it. More than likely your lock will end up broken and your suitcase damaged.

One solution is to use cable ties that are cheap and can be easily cut to gain access to your bag. Also it lets you know that you bag has been opened, so you can check your belongings.

If anyone else has any tips about luggage, feel free to let me know.

Travel Tip #10 - Do you take photos of what you pack?

If you answered no, maybe you should re-think…have you ever thought how you would prove what is in your luggage if it went missing on an airline or got stolen to an insurance company?

These days with digital cameras being easily available, why not safe-guard yourself & take photos as you pack? If you do need to make a list for an insurance company, then it is super easy & you have visual evidence if they need it.

Travel Tip #9 - You can’t wear that!

So, when you are travelling always do a bit of research on the local customs your destination has before you go and make sure you observe any traditions that they have.

For example, some religious or cultural sites have special rules - In some Islamic countries women’s arms, legs and hair must be covered. You may have to take your shoes off at the entrance to temples. Females may not be allowed to wear a short skirt or show their stomach. Some places are so strict that they can lead to unhappy locals (never a good situation to be in) or even arrest.

It is best to read up & maybe even make a list of what is ok & what is not ok before you go. What may only take you a few minutes may save a lot of unwanted attention.

Travel Tip #8 - Don’t forget the Departure Tax!

This is an important one as I have been caught out with this!

There are a lot of countries that have a departure tax. Sometimes it is included in your air ticket taxes other times it is not.

When you go to the airport for your departure flight, always have enough local currency or cash you can convert to pay the tax.

Why is this do important? Simple. If you can’t pay your departure tax, the local authorities may not let you on your plane - not a great way to end your trip!

Luckily when I didn’t have any cash on me, a nice American couple paid it for me…this is probably the only time in my life I have ever been lucky! And I would definately repay the favour if someone infront of me didn’t have the cash…