Travel Prepare Tips - Get Bargains on Currency Exchange

As we travel around the world to different destinations, our local currency might be accepted in some other places we went to but some would be not. So that’s why it’s better to learn something about currency exchange in part of our vacation planning. Remember that when traveling to a foreign country, currency movements can also affect the cost of your trip. Converting currency can be quite a hustling and often financially strapping proposition. How can you make a good of this issue??

Here are number of options for you:

1. US Dollar or Local Money: This is the option for cash holders. As everyone knows that US Dollars can be used in most of everywhere in this world. Therefore, apart from the local currency, US money can always be decent alternative to spend on your trip. Simple tip is that if you travel to some of the countries in South-east Asia region especially Laos and Cambodia or even Myanmar; let your main spending such as Hotel rental, Airfare etc. pay in US Dollar and to take a small amount of local currency for minor trip expenses. This will help you by not having too many local currency rates left in your pocket when converting back to your local currency at the end of your trip. Why?? Because US Dollar can be hold and used on your next vacation.

2. Travellers Cheques: This is good for security purposes, as each cheque is uniquely numbered, so if a cheque goes missing it can be quickly cancelled and replaced by the cheque issuer. However, most of the banks will always take an even greater premium on converting cheques to currency than currency to currency. Even black marketers (those who will convert on the street) will give less for travellers cheques than dollars, that is if you can find black marketers.

3. ATM Withdrawals: Another good for security purposes, but unless you have an account with the local ATM bank you will be charged a withdrawal fee. These tend to be significantly greater overseas than they are in your domestic locations. Also banks take a conversion premium off the top.

4. Visa/ Mastercard Credit: Credit cards are accepted virtually the world over, and may seem the best way of paying your way while abroad. Contact your Visa/Mastercard representators. Send a check to credit your account the amount of money you wish to spend on your trip. Withdraw freely from any ATM machine. Visa/ Mastercard withdrawals don't carry ATM fees, you get the true currency conversion rate, and you’ll also not be charged insane interest rates for cash advance because your account is pre-credited.

Travel Health Tips: Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Many travelers always prefer to book for one long-hour flight flying direct to their favorite holiday destinations across the world, because they want to save time with fewer stopovers or fewer flight changes which would believe to be more convenient. But being cramped in a small seat for over eight hours is indeed, grueling. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to make such trips more comfortable and less stressful on the body – here are some tips:

Dress Comfortably. Wear loose, and preferably, cotton clothes. You will be seated for an extended period of time in a confined space with temperatures fluctuating from hot to cold, so it’s best to be comfortable. Same goes for shoes. It’s common for our feet, hands and face to swell at high altitudes, so ladies, leave the heels behind.

Drink lots of water. Before the flight, and during your time in the air. The air is dry up there and dehydration is common. Try to abstain from alcoholic and diuretic beverages as these further dehydrate you.

Pack the right toiletries. Pack moisturizing lotion for your skin, bring balm for your lips and include eye drops in your carry-on bag. Moisturizing sleep masks are a popular choice for frequent flyers.

Stretch. Immobility combined with dehydration can cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – the forming of blood clots in the deep veins of your lower legs – which is associated with long distance flights. That’s why it’s important to adopt some simple exercises and keep your legs moving when airborne. Rotate the ankles, pointing the heel and toe alternatively and lift your knees whilst seated every half hour for a few minutes. Tense your leg muscles too and take a regular walk down the aisle to help circulation.

Take other preventative measures against DVT. Pack compression socks or hosiery that has been designed especially to prevent DVT. Take a low-dose aspirin (100-150 mg) before the flight, during the flight (check the dosage limits) and for 3 days after. Aspirin helps prevent the blood from clotting.

Delay your snooze. Rather than taking a kip immediately after the first meal and movie, try and keep your mind active for a few more hours. Prolonging the time until sleep will ensure that when you finally get some shut eye, the sleep will be heavier and longer.

Budget Travel Tips: Proper Tipping Etiquette Advices

Originally, tips were optional and given to reward exceptional service. The term, ``TIP'', was considered to be an acronym for "To Insure Promptness" or "To Improve Performance". Nowadays, tips are more or less expected. Many service workers are paid minimum wage, and rely on tips to augment their earnings which are aimed to encourage their best performance on serving customer pleasures. But how much should be a “proper tipping” was sometimes a question mark for some travelers. Here are some proper tipping etiquette in different travel destinations:

1. Research where you are going. In some places like mainland China or Japan tipping can be considered insulting. So do a little reading, save your cash and don't get labeled a rude tourist. For general ideas on tipping in prospective countries we've put together a brief list:
- If you

travel in Australia: Generally tipping is not expected.
- If you travel in North America: 10–20% depending on level of service (15% is a generally a good guideline), but if the service is terrible, don't feel obliged to leave anything.
- If you travel in China: Tipping isn't required (outside of Hong Kong).
- If you travel in Egypt: Tipping is expected everywhere, so it's good to have small change available at all times. For restaurants/taxis 10–20% is the standard.
- If you travel in France: Service charges are automatically added to the bill, generally 15%.
- If you travel in Hong Kong: Read your bill, as a service charge (generally 10%) has probably already been added by restaurants and hotels. For taxis, just round up to the next Hong Kong Dollar.
- If you travel in Japan: Don't tip. Some places will actually find it insulting if you do.
- If you travel in Malaysia: tipping generally isn't expected.
- If you travel in Philippines: Tipping is expected for many services. The standard practice is 10% of the total bill. Tipping is optional on bills that already include a 10% service charge.
- If you travel in Thailand: Traditionally tipping hasn't been expected, but it is becoming more prevalent. Many restaurants/hotels have already applied a 10% service charge, so check your bill. For taxis, provided you are using a meter, 3–5 Baht is plenty, 10 Baht if the total is over 100.
- If you travel in Mexico: similar to Egypt as tipping is expected everywhere, so it is best to have some small change on you.

2. Remember to read the bill. As previously noted many restaurants and hotels will automatically add a gratuity and should be giving the tips to the staff.

3. If you're unsure what to tip, just ask. Most people will give you an honest answer and let you know what is adequate.

Remember that the amount of the tip is up to you. The above information is just general gratuity amounts which can be general guidelines for contributing your pleasure from the services being served along your trip to different destinations in different cultures across the globe. But, “TIP” will always be good thing because it’s the kindness you giving to other people and society which would only make everyone happy.