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?

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Creative Commons License / Picture by paul bica

Research, research and more research

With the power of the Internet, you have advanced search options at your very fingertips. Find websites that provide quick and easy navigation to help you search for the perfect vacation spot for you and your family. Research is important because vacations can get very expensive and you don’t want to waste your time or your money on a sub-par vacation rental. With all the websites available to you, finding your next getaway is not as hard as it once was. No need to make phone calls and no need to ask the travel agent for pictures. Get all the info and pictures you need on that screen right in front of your eyes with the click of a mouse.

Word Of Mouth

Ask around. Talk to your friends, your family and neighbours about vacations they have taken in the past. Word of mouth is the most honest reviews you will find anywhere. Your friends and family will give you information on everything from the taste of the food, to the size of their suite. Plus, by asking others about their vacations you can ask certain people for exactly what you want. For example if you and your significant other is looking to take a romantic getaway, you can always ask the newly weds next door who just took their honeymoon.

Selecting the General Location

Figuring out the setting of your next vacation can be tough. So do you want to take a nice relaxing vacation on the beach or hit the slopes on top of a mountain? That’s the decision you have to make before anything. Maybe you want camp out in the wilderness or escape to your choice of beautiful Tuscan Villa rentals… who knows! If you want to narrow your search down, think about how much you want to spend, the temperature and how far you want to fly – drive – or sail.

Follow Ashely Wilson @ashelymarie1985 to see what else she has to say!

The post Welcome To Paradise appeared first on Best of European Union.

All inclusive is a style of hotel board basis that, as the name suggests, typically includes all of the essentials – that means the cost of the room, your meals, drinks and snacks too. The finer details will depend on the hotel, because some hotels include all meals and drinks while others place certain restrictions in place. For instance, some hotels provide local drinks and house wine to all inclusive guests, but charge extra for spirits and branded drinks. Similarly, hotels with numerous on-site restaurants may allow guests to use the buffet as part of their inclusive deal, but require a supplement for the fine dining restaurant.

Photo by Velas Vallarta / Creative Commons-licensed

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