Travel To Europe

The Best Ways To Keep Your Money Safe Whilst Travelling

baem — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:47:43 +0000

Most travellers know how to find the cheapest airfare or hostel room. But when it comes to how to travel with your money and how to access it, most travellers have a thing or two to learn.

There is no single best way to travel with your money or to make sure it is always accessible.

Travel Security Products

You must make sure you always have access to money overseas, and the best way to do that is by keeping your cash, ATM cards or travellers cheques safe with travel security products. The most popular are travel money belts, combination padlocks, security cable locks, and mesh security products. Be sure to plan ahead and purchase these products before leaving home.

Cash

You will need easy access to your cash, but it is not a smart idea to carry a large amount of cash around with you. It is also not a good idea to carry the bulk of your travel money around with you in cash form. If you get mugged or your luggage stolen, your holiday could be ruined.

You should disperse your cash around when travelling. Some should be placed in your wallet, also in your travel money belt. But you should keep a spare $100 or 100 Euros hidden in your backpack. This way if you do get mugged, you will still have money to tide you over.

A small supply of local currency is important to have when you arrive in a new country. You will be able to pay for transport to your accommodation, and also buy something to eat. If you are travelling in a third world country always pay for items and bargain for items in the local currency. You are less likely to be ripped off!

Credit Cards

A credit card should only be used as a back-up option to access your money when travelling.You will get charged large transaction fees to withdraw money in another currency. If your credit card gets stolen, your details could be used to steal your money and essentially ruin your vacation.

Always have the details of your credit card company, so that you can contact them if something goes wrong.

However, if you look after credit card, it can be very useful. It can be used to book flights, accommodation and tours online. It is also reasonably safe to pay for hotels and meals at well established and quality businesses.

Travellers Cheques

Travellers cheques are not very popular any more with any traveller. They cost you to make and they cost you to access your money. Often banks will give you a worse exchange rate when converting you travellers cheques. Using an ATM is a lot easier now that they have become universal.

On the upside, if yo lose your travellers cheques, you may be able to contact the nearest office of the issuing authority with the numbers on your unredeemed cheques to get them replaced.

ATMs

You can find an ATM just about anywhere now. They are by far the most convenient way to access your money when you are travelling. You must make sure your ATM card is authorised for use overseas before you go.

You are smart to travel with a spare card, just in case you lose your only means of accessing your money. Remember, you may be charged overseas transaction fees and conversion fees from your bank.

Cash Passport Cards

These are becoming a very popular option now with many travellers. You buy this card before you leave home, and place your funds on it, but in the currency of the country you are travelling to. The most popular currency cards are US dollars, UK pounds, and Euros.

Once your money is on the card you can access it anywhere from an ATM. This way you wont be charged conversion fees.

What should you do?

You should travel with a variety of options to access your money. Choose the best option for you that makes you feel comfortable. Remember, you can always get someone to transfer money to you internationally anywhere if you run out!

What not to do?

Avoid carrying large quantities of cash, when you use an ATM separate the money into smaller amounts and hide them around your backpack, pockets and wallet.

Do not give your credit card details to anyone.

Do not use your credit card to with draw money at an ATM. It will cost you so much money in fees!

A team of four dedicated and experienced travellers have come together to form Trusty Travel Tips. We provide great travel tips and advice on planning your adventure, what to pack, how to pack and what to expect when travelling on the road.

You may be interested in our tips and advice on travel security accessories that will keep your belongings safe or the best travel accessories to pack.

Things to do when you are renting a cheap car

baem — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:44:49 +0000

When you are thinking of renting a low cost car sit back and think about the reasons behind renting one in the first place. If it is for a weekend trip the car that you will need to rent might have to carry not only people, but camping equipment as well. This will all take up space and if you rent the car of the wrong size it will lead to everyone being uncomfortable during the journey.

When you rent a low cost car it will always be a good idea to bring a camera along with you to take pictures of the car. You can inspect the car before leave the parking lot, but if you do not have any proof about the condition of the car some companies might take advantage of that if you damage it. This is something to do just to avoid paying for damages that you did not do, but it will always be better to return the car in the condition it was rented to you.

Using the internet you will only take a few minutes to find the right car to suit your needs. Once you know the make and model of the car you want to rent, you can start to look at all the prices to choose the cheapest one to rent.

Travel Gift Ideas – Seven Great Gift Ideas for Travelers

baem — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:28:14 +0000

Whether you are buying for a birthday, a holiday or some other special occasion, shopping for your favorite traveler is easy if you use these ideas as inspiration.

1. Gifts for travelers can range from high-tech to low-tech and from practical to a little bit frivolous. The most obvious, and perhaps the most certain to be useful, is a gift certificate for travel. You can quickly and easily purchase all kinds of travel gift certificates online, ranging from exclusive spas to budget motels. Or purchase a gift certificate from a travel site, which will give a range of choices to any of a number of destinations. You may want to combine a travel gift certificate with a coupon book for the traveler’s next destination – or an attraction pass, such as those that allow general admission to a number of attractions for one price.

2. For someone who is traveling for the first time, a natural gift choice is luggage. While your gift recipient probably has his own set of luggage, you can always purchase accessory pieces that he’ll be sure to enjoy. Small bags with zippered pockets can help the recipient organize his valuables, for example, and keep everything orderly as he travels.

3. Travel pillows and other items that help a traveler stay comfortable are also good ideas. You can find travel pillows that have aromatherapy scents to help the traveler feel relaxed, refreshed, and invigorated. Another similar idea is a small foot massager that a traveler can use to comfort her feet after a long day of sightseeing.

4. Noise canceling headphones are perfect for people who want to get some rest on an airplane or other public transportation. These gifts are normally lightweight so they don’t add to a traveler’s bulky packages.

5. There are also many high-tech (and somewhat higher priced) gifts that are great for travelers. If your gift recipient is visiting a foreign country, he will definitely appreciate a pocket translator. These devices can help travelers use phrases in up to twelve different languages, which will help them get around when they arrive at their destination.

The low-tech version of this gift is a foreign phrase handbook. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that you know exactly where the recipient is going before making this purchase.

6. Because digital photography is so prevalent these days, it makes sense to give your traveling friend something related to his hobby. This way he’ll be able to take lots of photos while he is traveling so he can share his experience with you and others. Find out what kind of camera he is taking and purchase backup memory cards so that he can take lots and lots of pictures.

You can also find camera bags, neck straps and security devices that will help him keep his camera safe. You may also want to give him a gift certificate to his favorite online photo-processing site so he can get all of his photographs developed.

7. If you want to help your recipients to remember their trip in a different way, consider buying them a travel journal. A travel journal doesn’t have to be anything fancy; just a well-bound blank book that is relatively lightweight. Include a nice pen that will be easy to write with, and you’ve got an instant gift that any traveler will love.

Any of these gift ideas can be found online or in a local travel or department store. The best part about shopping for travelers is that they’ll likely remember your gift while they are traveling and return with a souvenir just for you!