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CASH:
Take only a small amount of U.S. cash; once lost or stolen it cannot be replaced. As a safety measure, keep one "untouchable" big bill ($50 or so) in reserve somewhere separate from your other money. Use it only in case of an emergency. All international airports (Atlanta, Cincinnati, JFK, Dallas, etc.) have currency exchanges.
TRAVELERS CHECKS:
Carry some money in traveler's checks; if lost or stolen they are replaceable. Banks sell travelers checks in US dollars, English pounds, Euro, and Canadian dollars for a 1% charge. If you plan to visit many countries, dollars may be the best bet. Members of AAA can get traveler's checks at no charge from an AAA office.
CREDIT CARDS:
MasterCard, VISA and American Express can be used world wide. American Express is not widely used in India and Laos however! Some permit you to cash personal checks or obtain cash advances through automated tellers. You can also arrange to have a debit card that works like checkless banking through VISA or MasterCard. Explore the possibilities with your credit card company. Be sure you know your credit limit! Guard your credit cards as securely as your cash. Most ATM systems abroad support only a four digit PIN; if your PIN has five or more digits, ask your bank to issue you one that has only four. Leave unneeded credit cards at home.
ATMs:
If you have an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, you can probably use your card overseas to get cash easily at the inter-bank rate. Contact your bank to find out if their ATM system has international facilities. They should be able to give you specific locations where you can use your card overseas. Be sure to find out if there is a service charge involved. Because ATMs may not always be available, this should be used as only a backup method and not depended on solely for all your financial transactions abroad.
INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER:
A reasonable choice is to have money wired through the instant international money transfer services operated by MoneyBookers, a service of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
MONEY AND VALUABLES
Don't take much Money in cash. Bring most of your money in traveler's checks. Have a reasonable amount of cash with you, but not more than you will need for a day or two. Convert your traveler's checks to local currency as you use them but not all at one time. If you must take jewelry or other valuables, use hotel security vaults to store them. It is wise to register such items with U.S. Customs before leaving the United States to make customs processing easier when you return. It is a violation of law in some countries like India to enter or exit with that countrys currency. Check with a travel agent or the embassy or consulate of the countries you plan to visit to learn their currency restrictions. Most international airports also have money exchange facilities. Once you are abroad, local banks generally give more favorable rates of exchange than hotels, restaurants, or stores for converting your U.S. dollars Euros and traveler's checks into foreign currency.
Always remember this:
Click Here for an International Currency Converter window.
TELEPHONE CALLING CARDS
If you have a notebook or netbook computer with you do not forget to sign up for Skype to make Free or very cheap calls, even with video, over the net. More Info Here
Sometimes, making a simple telephone call home from a foreign country can be stressful. For calls to the United States, a calling card is very convenient. This allows you to dial a local number (either toll-free or local call), and connect instantly to an operator in the US. You can now access all of the major U.S. long-distance telephone carriers-AT&T, MCI and Sprint-from most countries. There is usually an access number for each carrier; your long-distance carrier can provide you with a small card showing the access numbers around the world. These access numbers will connect you directly to an AT&T, MCI, or Sprint operator in the United States and all calls will be charged to your calling card. Be sure to ask specifically about rates on international calls. In many foreign countries, you can purchase phone cards for local and international calls, which may help you to monitor your phone expenses more closely.
Your friends and relatives should also be prepared to save
by making low cost International phone calls.
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