Most people are concerned about their money when traveling abroad. What would happen if you run out of cash in a foreign country and you can’t access your bank account? What if somebody steals your money? How would you get back home?
These are some of the major concerns that most people have when traveling overseas. Nevertheless, these concerns shouldn’t hinder you from traveling. They should also not prevent you from enjoying your trip. Simply follow these money tips for traveling abroad to ensure a safe and comfortable trip.
Check the money conversion rates before you travel. For instance, find out how much Kenyan shillings you can get for one dollar. Also, check the amount you will be charged to convert your money. Do some mathematics before the trip to determine the right amount of money to carry when traveling abroad.
Before you travel, find out whether you can use your credit card in your destination country. Most banks have switched to chip-and-PIN technology because it’s more secure. Also, know that most businesses are no longer accepting outdated magnetic-stripe cards. Therefore, check whether you can use your credit card in your destination country before you travel.
Airport conversion centers and those in the city are a major rip-off. These will charge you hefty fees to convert your money. To avoid this, use a bank or ATM to get an exact conversion rate.
Don’t travel without cash in the local currency. This is very important because not all places accept credit cards. As such, you may want to use cash in places like buses and trains.
Your credit card provider or bank might think that a transaction that you perform outside the country is a fraud. This can prompt the provider or bank to take security measures like turning off your credit card. To avoid this, inform your bank that you will be traveling to a foreign country and you will be using the card there.
Some countries will charge you to enter or leave their boundaries. Usually, they don’t include this fee in the airline ticket. Therefore, check whether your destination country charges an entrance or exit fee. In most cases, this fee ranges between $25 and $30.
Follow these money tips for traveling abroad to have an enjoyable and comfortable trip abroad.
A backpacking trip is a great adventure that mainly entails camping and hiking. Going on such adventures allows you to expand your horizons as well as enjoy the cleaner and fresh natural outdoor environment. Unlike daily hikes, a backpacking trip requires you to carry a few travel essentials in the backpack. Check out the following guidelines for help on how to prepare for a backpacking trip.
The destination of your trip will no doubt have a significant impact on the overall experience. The adventure could easily become disappointing if you choose a destination that is too hard to hike. To allow you ample time for exploring and enjoying the experience, you should choose a destination with well-traveled trails and camps and, also close to home. You can also consult with experienced backpackers for trip recommendations. The ideal destination should also have a water source and more elevation than your daily hiking spots.
While there are various kinds of backpacking gear and clothing that you can carry on the trip, it is always advisable to stick to the essentials. Since the items should fit into your backpack, you do not need a long list. Nevertheless, the key backpacking items that you should carry include;
With regards to clothing, you should carry hiking boots, socks, sandals, long underwear, hiking pants and shorts, a t-shirt, long sleeve shirt or sweater, an insulated jacket, gloves, and rain jackets. You should also pack sunscreen, bug juice, sunglasses, and lip balm. It is also important to think about your backpacking food based on the duration of the trip.
As you get closer to the departure for your backpacking trip, it is recommended that you take steps to ensure physical, mental, and logistical readiness. Small workouts could help to set up your body in motion for the adventure. Assess your mental state and make sure that all the logistics of the trip are in place ahead of time.
Many people want to travel solo but they feel guilty whenever they think about leaving their partners behind. So, how do you travel alone without feeling like you’re being selfish? Shedding this travel guilt and making you the priority is not easy. You need the right mindset to plan a solo trip guilty-free. Here are some of the thoughts to consider.
Maybe your spouse is not interested in traveling. If you think about it that way, you will be freeing them of the guilt of keeping you from traveling when you take off solo. Thus, you could be feeling guilty about the idea of wanting to travel alone when you could be doing them a favor.
You deserve to be happy. And, your partner will be happy on realizing that you’re doing what makes you happy. A smile can be contagious. Therefore, travel solo to come back as a happy person and spread this happiness to them.
You may be responsible for caring for your children, parents, and friends. In that case, traveling alone provides a chance to take some time off the duties. It’s an opportunity to make you a priority. This rejuvenates your body, mind, and soul, thereby enabling you to take care of the others better.
Traveling with a partner or a friend involves giving and taking. However, a trip with a partner or a group might not provide what you want. In that case, avoid dragging other people and go solo.
Engaging in a selfish activity like solo travel can be a gift to another person. For instance, you may have been generous with your talents and time. In returning your generosity, the recipient may want you to take time to yourself and travel alone.
Essentially, you don’t have a reason to feel guilty for traveling alone. If that’s what makes you happy, consider going on a solo trip.
Whenever you think of taking a vacation somewhere international, the first thing to come to mind should be to check your passport. Ensure you know the expiry date and confirm it even if you recently used the document. There are many problems to face if your passport expires and you need to travel.
You can get caught up in planning for vacation and plane ticket booking and forget to check whether the passport is still valid. You need to know the following.
It is impossible to travel internationally with an expired passport. There is a six- month rule that ensures you cannot travel if your passport is expiring in the next six months. If by some means you still make it to the plane, then it will be hard to come back and might get stuck in foreign places. But you will not make it to border control if your passport expiry date is approaching.
If you just noticed that your passport is expired or about to, it can be renewed before you fly. There is a special provision [expedited service] to issue passports before the standard processing time of about 6 weeks or more.
There are certain instances when you need to expedite your passport renewal. For instance, you can have an emergency that requires you to travel immediately. In this case, you can renew the passport within 72 hours. However, you must present proof of travel to speed up the renewal process. There is an expedite fee of $60 to your normal renewal fee.
If you are already abroad and your passport requires to be renewed, just visit the local U.S Consulate to get assisted.
If you’re flying domestic, it is possible to do so even when your passport is expired. This is as long as you have another valid form of United States identification such as a driver’s license.
It’s possible to travel with an expiry passport. However, not all trips are possible to make without renewing your passport. So, to be on the safe side be up-to-date with the expiry date of your passport to avoid unnecessary trouble.
