No matter the reason, it is always wise to research your travel destination.

Information you want to understand and have in advance:

• Local metro and transportation system (costs, closest stations)
• Currency Exchange
• Tipping
• Taxis
• Maps
• Emergency numbers (police, fire, ambulance)
• Local norms for bargaining
• Acceptable attire

If you’re traveling personally, research the top locations and sites you want to visit to see if you about advance tickets, open/close hours, renovations, student discounts. Don’t wait until the last minute or when you are in the city.

Identify local landmarks so you can orient yourself while walking around. Estimate how long it will take to move from one location to the next so you allot yourself enough travel time.

Bring a pocket-size travel guide for easy references. Here are some online recommended guides.

• Rough Guides roughguides.com/
• Let’s Go letsgo.com/
• Lonely Planet lonelyplanet.com/
• Frommer’s frommers.com/
• Culture Shock series
• Eyewitness Travel guides
• cafeabroad.com

 

Money and Banking

Credit card fraud and scams are common throughout the world and tourists are advised to be careful not to allow a member of the public to assist them when drawing money from ATMs.  If you intend to use traveler’s checks be aware that there will be a charge to cash them.

It’s always advisable to bring money in a variety of forms: a mix of cash, credit cards, and traveler’s checks. You should also exchange enough petty cash to cover airport incidentals, tipping, and ground transportation before you leave home, or withdraw money upon arrival at an airport cash machine.

In many international destinations, cash machines offer the best exchange rates. Avoid exchanging money at commercial exchange bureaus and hotels, which often have the highest transaction fees.

You should check with your banking institution to ensure that your credit card can be used where you are traveling.

Don’t forget that credit cards often charge a foreign transaction fee.

Phone

International calls are very expensive.  Phone cards are a better option and local SIM cards are much better options. You can easily purchase these at the airport.

Check with your US cell phone service provider to ensure that your phone will be unlocked to use a foreign SIM card before you leave the US.  Alternatively, you may also purchase a ‘throwaway’ phone upon arrival or in advance to use with a foreign SIM card.

If you choose to use your US cell phone with your US service plan while abroad, be sure to contact your service provider before traveling abroad regarding roaming charges, as they can be quite pricey, even with a special international service plan. Make sure you turn off roaming on your phone.  Other phone call options include WhatsApp, Skype, or magicJack that can only be used with WiFi and will ensure you don’t have excessive phone charges.