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TRAVEL AGENTS:
If you have a good one
you know they are worth it. Travel agents work for
commissions paid by the airlines, hotels and cruise companies. But often the
commission-oriented agents (and it’s not a big commission) won’t spend the
time to find you the lowest fare or the best flight.
Recently the airlines
have lowered the meager commission even more and some travel agents are
charging fees. Look for travel agents that have completed the
Certified Travel Counselor’s Training (CTC), Certified Travel Associate
(CTA), and/or belong the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) ((not
the dog in The Thin Man)). Ask them if they have been to the
destination you are considering and if they will work to get you the lowest
fare.
Now with the advent of
the Internet it seems that checking the flights yourself and, armed with the
lowest fares calling the airline, hotel, etc. directly, may work better.
Even if you are using a travel agent, I’d research these fares yourself just
as a double check.
GIVE ME CREDIT:
Take only the credit
cards you’re sure you will use. Carrying less cards, you’ll notice
if one is missing sooner. Keep the phone number of the credit card
companies with your photocopies of the credit card numbers.
When traveling with
your spouse, make sure you take different credit cards. If
they are in the same name, and get lost you won’t have to cancel both
cards.
ATMs are usually the best way to get
cash in a foreign country. Even with the surcharge for using a different
bank's ATM, the net rate is the best or close to the best you can get.
Always get
the largest amount of money you are likely to need at one time; this
reduces the effective cost of any commission or service charge.
CHECK THIS:
Traveler's checks are
still great protection against loss or theft, but just about every place
takes credit cards now and there are ATMs on every corner in the world.
Credit cards do charge interest and you’ll want to make certain that your
ATM and your pin work where you’re going. Often with credit cards you’ll
end up with a better rate of exchange than if you would have cashed your
checks in a bank.
If
you decide to use
Traveler’s Checks, see if your bank, credit union or Auto
Club sells them with no fee. Dollars are still the best bet for
traveler’s checks. But a selection of denominations makes sense. Choose
large check denominations for long visits in one country or big
expenditures and small denominations for ease of cashing or short stays.
MONEY CHANGING:
Money is made by
charging fees and also on the rate of exchange. Places with good rates
often have high fees and places with low or no fees have poor rates. Good
money changing establishments show both their buying and
selling rates. Places showing only one rate are hiding the fact that it
is a rate not in your favor!
The fees are usually on
each transaction, so if you find a place with a good rate, go ahead and
get the cash you think you’ll need all at once.
Take time to figure out
the money. It will save you the embarrassment of being short changed or
being treated like a child with his hand of change out for the store clerk
to pick out the coins.
Don't change money in the U.S. before
you leave. The rates are poor, and there is always an exchange booth in
the passport area of the foreign country with better rates than at home.
In
most cases, the best exchange rates come from using your credit card for
purchases, but check with your credit
card company most charge a fee for use outside the USA!!
ATMs are usually the best way to get cash in a foreign country. Even with
the surcharge for using a different bank's ATM, the net rate is the best
or close to the best you can get.
Always get the largest amount of money you are likely to
need at one time; this reduces the effective cost of any commission or
service charge.
DUTY FREE SHOPPING:
In 1947 80% of transatlantic aircraft stopped to
refuel in Ireland, restaurant manager Brendan O-Regan opened a gift
counter at Shannon a new free-trade airport in County Claire.
Duty free shops are a world wide industry now with over $27
Billion in sales.
The business was built on tobacco and liquor sales
since the elimination of taxes on these items (to be consumed outside
the country of purchase) can be 8 to 30%.
Today the best savings are still on tobacco and
liquor (cheapest in Asia).
Savings on other items is minimal. But there is an advantage of buying items not found at home.
Always check the limits on duty free items with
Customs and Border Protection (http://www.cbp.gov)
STRETCH YOURSELF:
Sitting for long
periods in planes, trains or cars can lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT),
the formation of blood clots that can prove serious if they move from your
legs to the lungs or hears. Try these exercises.
NO PROBLEMS
Some of the best ways
to avoid delays and flight cancellations is to take the first flight of
the day. If that's not possible then avoid the peak hours between
8 and 9:30 a.m. and 4 and 7 p.m. Fly in the middle of the week if
possible (Tuesday through Thursday).
If a peak-hour flight
is unavoidable plan the route through major airports (more options just
in case your flight gets cancelled) and, of course!, fly non-stop when
possible.
Bring a list of
alternative flights to your destination along with the airline's
customer service number. If there is a problem it may be faster
and more efficient to make a reservation on the phone than with the gate
agent.
-- Andy
Gilchrist
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