Seven Traveling Tips

1

Hotel business cards. The first thing to do when arriving at a hotel overseas is take a business card from the front desk of the location you’re staying at. That way, if you are ever lost, you have the name and address of the hotel in the local language. Large populations around the world speak English, but having something in a local language that can show locals and taxi drivers is an extra bit of insurance. Plus, it also eliminates any potential miscommunication when conversing with others about where you need to go due to diction/ enunciation/dialect.

2

Getting cash. The way to get cash is usually an ATM, but many U.S. banks charge steep fees for using an ATM that is out of network. You can take out a large amount of cash at the airport ATM so you pay that fee only once, but it’s never advisable to carry large sums of cash. Plus, you risk having too much local currency left over at the end of your trip. Charles Schwab and Fidelity both offer checking accounts that have no minimum balance requirements and reimburse you for all ATM fees, including those from overseas.

3

Credit cards. The best exchange rates are often found using your credit card. However, many credit cards will tack on a foreign transaction fee, sometimes as high as 3 percent. It’s a pointless fee that no traveler should ever pay. Many airports also offer currency exchange once you arrive, but it’s wise to not carry too much cash on hand while traveling alone. Also, never have a hotel or restaurant convert a charge into dollars first. It’s a bad deal.

4

Medicine. The most important thing about traveling is to always have enough supply of your prescription medication - this also applies to contacts & their solution- on hand because you don’t know if you’ll ever run out of supply while traveling. Additionally, remember to pack it with you in your carry-on or personal item bag on the flight- not in the checked in luggage. It’s a good idea to carry an eye mask and earplugs in my medicine bag because you never know what your hotel room is going to be like. Just as importantly, be sure to pack basic medicines such as Advil, NyQuil, Imodium A-D, Tums, Motrin, Benadryl, and a handful of other key medications. Yes, even the most historic European neighborhood has a drugstore. But do you want to be running around Germany late at night, trying to translate “diarrhea”? If you’re heading to third-world countries, stocking up on the right drugs is even more important. Many travelers fill a prescription in advance for the antibiotic ciprofloxacin and bring it with them just in case.

5

Data roaming. Set up your cell phone to avoid international data roaming. Many business travelers have an international calling and data plan. But infrequent travelers don’t. The biggest costs can come from transmitting data overseas.

6

Google Maps. If you don’t add a data plan to your phone while abroad, you can still jury-rig a crude version. Using the Wi-Fi in your hotel/place of residence, plot out a few routes you plan to walk that day. Then take a screenshot of those maps- or better yet, have hard copies printed out in case your phone battery dies. You can later find the photo, zoom in, and follow the path. It’s not ideal, but it’s a work-around.

7

Translator. If you are traveling to a country where English will not be the primary language, or to a smaller town where the native language will be more often spoken, be sure to bring a dual language dictionary with you or download one on your phone before you leave for the trip. It’s great to get familiar with a few basic phrases ahead of time so that you’re not frantically worrying about getting to a bathroom when time is of the essence.