Money Hints When Traveling Abroad
No matter what country you are traveling in, carry extra change (in local currency) for unplanned-for expenses like public restrooms. Many are coin-operated; and not all have an attendant on duty to make change. Also, many public parking lots require exact change in local currency to get OUT of the parking lot! That change will also make a nice, inexpensive souvenir that doesn’t take up a lot of room.
Don’t expect a free printed program when attending a concert or play. Most printed programs or playbills abroad cost extra, unlike the free programs you are accustomed to in the United States.
Watch out for those hidden charges at restaurants! Ask if that bread basket on your table costs extra. (It might!) Ask if there is a cover charge. Those wonderful, elegant, and expensive “fine establishments” have the most hidden charges. Don’t assume ANYTHING!
Luggage Forwarding Services Can Help You Travel Light
If you want to save time and money when traveling by air or train or bus, there is a solution. Travel only with carry-on luggage! No more lost luggage. No baggage fees. No check-in hassles or dragging your luggage onto the train, subway, bus, or taxi. Think of it. No more wasting time at the airport baggage claim area once you’ve reached your destination, hoping that all your luggage shows up.
Save time and money, and avoid lost baggage, by using only carry-on luggage. Ship additional items to your hotel via FedEx, UPS, USPS, or a luggage forwarding service such as globalbaggage.com, luggageconcierge.com, and luggageforward.com.
Can Swine Flu Bacteria Live on Your Money?
I just read an article that I thought was worth sharing. http://www.smartmoney.com/Spending/Travel/Can-You-Catch-Swine-Flu-from-Money/
It said that the swine flu virus can live on a dollar bill for days, especially older bills (since the original ink has some antifungal properties which wear off with use). Paper currency is passed from one person to another and then to another. It’s logical! But how many people think about it?
The bottom line, to me, is the same thing we’ve been hearing a LOT of lately. Wash your hands OFTEN and/or use a hand sanitizer such as Purell. This is a case of “better too much than not enough.” But really, isn’t this something we should ALWAYS do?
While I’m not trying to minimize the heightened awareness of avoiding swine flu, keep in mind that there are only 109 confirmed cases in the United States, right now, whereas the CDC has stated that in the U.S. 200,000 people are hospitalized annually for the regular flu, and 36,000 die of it each year.
Read the rest of this article . . .
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