Photo by Images Money

Before leaving on vacation it is worthwhile to think about which cards to keep at home and which of them to take with you. Even if you have multiple credit or debit cards, it is recommended not to take all of them on your holiday. When deciding which card to take with you it is good to check the fees for ATM withdrawals abroad or check which one offers better travel insurance or insurance against abuse.

It is advisable to take cards from different associations, ie, Mastercard and VISA, where both are the most common cards within EU countries. It can happen that a trader accepts only one of them. However American Express is usually acceptable in the main shops and airports, it is better to check with your hotel first so you are not dissapointed on your arrival.

Good travel insurance which is part of some credit or debit cards and packages for personal or business bank accounts can be another factor for choosing the appropriate card for your vacation. Some insurance covers all family members. It is definitely worth taking a card with special benefits such as priority check-in options at the airports, visit the airport VIP lounges, discounts on car rentals and accommodation in selected hotel networks or resorts or golf courses. Some banks offer opening a bank account online so you don’t even have to visit a branch and you can choose the best conditions from home.

And finally one warning!

Never change money on the street! Even if the trader offered you advantageous rate free of charge. I personally saw Italians that wanted to pay for the lunch in Prague but instead of Czech crowns they wanted to pay with Hungarian forints which they exchanged on the street in the rate of Czech crowns in believe they received Czech crowns (Hungarian forints are 10 x cheaper). However if you have no choice (in such case there is no official exchange office or bank), do not change big amount of money at once!

And what about you, what type of payment you usually use on your holidays? Do you use cash, or cards?

The post How to pay in Europe while travelling appeared first on Best of European Union.

Travel pack by Nick Gray

1. Keep it simple: The best tip anyone would give you for taking a trip is to always travel light particularly if you are flying to a foreign land. Travelling light means taking as little luggage with you as possible. This is to avoid waiting for too long in the luggage claim area especially if you have kids with you. People have had terrible experiences when they carried too much luggage with them; they either lost their bags or had to spend the whole day searching for them at the airport.

2. Take care of your travel documents: This one again is for those who are going for an international journey. Keeping all your travel documents in one place, usually your backpack or hand carry, is a great idea to save a great deal of time and trouble while travelling. Also make sure you take along a phonebook or address book to have all the important numbers handy in time of need.

3. Pack well for kids: If you have kids travelling with you, it is advisable to make a checklist of all the items you are going to need when it’s time to change their diapers, clean their hands and face, give them something to eat or drink, and keep them busy while the journey is underway. Kids make a lot of mess particularly if you forget to pack up necessary items for them, such as baby wipes and tissues, extra diapers for babies, activity books for older kids, playthings, warm clothes, etc.

4. Don’t forget the cash: It’s always a good idea to keep some extra cash with you while travelling in case of an emergency requirement. Credit cards are good but remember they are not accepted everywhere. If you are travelling to a foreign country, convert your local currency into the currency of that country to save time.

5. Arrive at the airport early: It’s not going to help you if you arrive at the last minute. In fact, you will be running here and there and will be exhausted before the journey has even begun. So, always arrive at the airport early.

6. Protect your health while you’re away: It’s going to be a terrible experience to fall sick while you’re travelling. People may have food allergies they are not aware of or may become a victim of a foreign disease. It is therefore important to get vaccination shots before flying and keep important medications with you like pain killers, flu relievers, cough syrups, and the like.

7. Plan a safe travel: Imagine how dreadful it would be to get into some sort of serious trouble in a foreign land. It is therefore advised to stay as safe as possible. Dress up according to the culture of the country you’re visiting to mix up with the locals. Take care while renting cars, never accept anything from a stranger, don’t fall prey to local deals that appear to be very attractive, and avoid going into strange areas and narrow alleys.

8. Tips for travelling with pets: Animals are just as important as your own kids while you’re travelling. Pack for them according to the duration of your stay and take along anything you’re going to need.

9. Do not pack too many clothes: If you want to enjoy your trip, always take a few clothes with you with matching accessories and shoes. Try to carry only washable clothes and the ones that dry quickly. For children, it’s always best to carry disposable and inexpensive clothes to come back light and easy.

10. Use guidebooks whenever you can: It’s not a good idea getting lost in a foreign country. Particularly if you are travelling to Europe, it is advisable to buy guidebooks of areas you are going to visit to make the best use of your time.

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Travel wallet by mroach

Check with the bank first

Before you leave you should ask your bank how much they will charge. Using an ATM might seem to be a better option than exchanging cash but many banks charge a hefty fee for using this service abroad. If you plan to use a credit card in an ATM(if you have a PIN) then there are additional costs. You can let your bank and your credit card company know in advance so that they do not register the unusual transactions as fishy. You can also inquire if they have direct debit in the place you are going to.

Traveler’s cheques

Traveler’s cheques used to be common mode of money exchange until sometime back until ATMs become popular. It is still one of the best ways to exchange money if you are going to a remote country and you doubt that you will find many ATMs there. The downside is that you will be paying more transaction fees and you can only exchange them in business hours. If you have planned a long trip, then you can take travelers cheques to keep it aside, as an emergency fund if you run out of cash in a tight situation or lose your cards.

Keep details safe

Keep a record of credit and debit card numbers and any bank telephone numbers that will help you in case of an emergency. Do not disclose your passwords and pins to anyone. Always ask for a bill and sign it after you pay for anything. It is better if you don not engage in internet banking from a public computer.

Avoid putting all your eggs in one basket

Money should be kept in a combination. A debit card, maybe two credit cards, a little travel money and a few traveler’s cheques. Credit cards and traveler’s cheques are easier to replace and debit cards come with lower costs.

You can also try the old two wallet scheme. One wallet should contain important documents and credit cards. Keep a little money and a few other small cards in another old wallet. In case you are mugged, just hand over the other wallet. Like this your losses will be minimized.

What to do in case you are robbed?

It is always better to get a travel insurance for yourself. The first thing to do is to report the robbery or the theft to the nearest police station. Next call you bank and credit card company so that they can cancel the traveler’s cheque and the credit cards before anyone makes use of them. Then you can call your insurance emergency number. Depending on the severity of the loss and the insurance you had, you will be recompensed for the amount you lost.

Penny is a financial expert associated with Travel Money Deals a company that simplifies travel money rates on different currencies. You can buy euros online and exchange travel money by visiting the website.

The post Tips to Effectively Manage Your Wallet During Travel appeared first on Best of European Union.

Disadvantages, disadvantages

At first sight, every option at your disposal seems to come with own problems and limitations. Let’s have a look at them in turn:

Cash

Exchanging your money before you go is a popular option, but make sure you are getting the best exchange rate and look out for hidden fees. Once abroad, make sure not to carry too much cash around with you to prevent theft.

Traveller’s cheques

Compared to cash, travellers’ cheques are a far safer way of taking travel money abroad. They can be inconvenient, though, and are no longer widely accepted. Today, generally speaking, they are no longer a wise choice for your holiday abroad.

Debt- and credit cards

Using your debit card may be convenient, but it can be expensive. You may be charged per transaction as well as a fee each time you use the ATM. A credit card can be a good way of spending your travel money but again, look out for hidden fees and be careful that you don’t spend too much and get into debt!

In response to the issues of these three traditional payment tools, banks have started offering specialised credit cards, which offer free ATM withdrawals and fixed currency rates during your stay. Unfortunately, it is anything but easy to determine whether or not they make sense for you and which of the many cards on offer is best. Is there really no solution to the travel money dilemma?

Well … there just may be

A travel card (sometimes also called currency card) can be the ideal payment alternative for you. You load your travel money before you go and get the best possible exchange rate. You can use the card at any location where Visa and MasterCard’s are accepted and it will offer you a safer, alternative way of carrying a lot of money with you on holiday. A travel card usually lets you make your purchases for free unlike a debit card and you will not risk getting overdrawn as the travel card does not have a credit facility.

Of course, you will still need to take some cash with you for small purchases such as ice creams or taxi fares. Perhaps the best way, therefore, is to take some travel money as cash and use your travel card for the more expensive purchases. Before you do this consider how you tend to spend your money when on vacation:

• Are you likely to be eating out at restaurants a lot or do you tend to buy snacks from street vendors whilst on the go?
• Do you go to large pubs and clubs that will take a card or do you tend to go to smaller beach front bars that will only take cash?
• Are you planning on hiring a car where you can pay for petrol with a card or are you going to use taxis or other methods of public transport which will require a cash payment?

Essentially, when considering which type of travel money to take you have to consider what type of vacation you are going on. This, however, presents you with practical questions you will find a lot easier to answer than the abstract choice between cash or card. Investing time into these matters is sure to pay off: Get the balance right and you can have an even happier, worry free vacation.

This article was written in association with Tuxedo, a leader in the field of currency cards and prepaid technologies.

The post The Travel Money Dilemma: Cash Or Card? appeared first on Best of European Union.