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INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL -
Dining (continued)
2. Try to avoid the large, very fancy restaurants in the big cities. Just like in the United States, the prices are excessive (perhaps even more than in the United States) and you will probably leave the restaurant feeling that you had a “nice” meal, but was it “really worth the cost.” It probably wasn’t.
3. Perhaps the best way to make sure you get good food and competitive prices is to eat where the locals eat. Try to avoid the normal “tourist” restaurants (even less expensive ones) where you may very well be “paying more for less” and look for restaurants that seem to be bustling with local patrons. Just like in the United States, they will welcome your business. And a busy restaurant full of local customers is a good sign that your dining experience, whether it be a fancy restaurant or street corner cafe, will be a good one. You will also get a better flavor for the country’s culture and people, which will provide a great experience
4. And do not forget about buying groceries and making some of your own meals. Save that restaurant meal for dinner, and eat a quick breakfast and picnic lunches. Most cities around the world have great parks, and the city’s residents like to spend time outdoors when the weather is good. This will save a great deal of money, and allow you to spend more time seeing attractions, as well as get a better feeling for the local residents.
5. Most foreign cities now have fast food restaurants, including many with McDonald’s. While fast food is not the best way to go, they can provide known quality, an “on the fly” meal and less expensive dining opportunities, when eating a picnic lunch, or having a casual meal at the local bistro, is either not feasible nor desirable.
One of the first questions asked by many people who travel internationally is do I need local currency, how much, how do I get it, and how do I get rid of it at the end of my trip. In today’s world, the answer to these questions has actually become very simple. Follow these guidelines:
1. A small amount of local currency will probably be needed at the very beginning
of your trip, when you land at the foreign airport and need money for tips and perhaps
cab fare. Unless you are taking a long cab ride, $50-
2. With ready access to ATM’s in most developed areas of the world, by far the easiest and least expensive way to get local currency is to simply put your ATM card into one of these machines and withdraw the amount of local cash you need. It is just like using the machine back home, except you are getting foreign currency instead of dollars. While there probably is an ATM fee for this service (check with your bank to see if your ATM card can be used at certain foreign ATM machines without a fee), the exchange rate you receive is usually far better than you will get at currency exchange booths. In any case, just make sure you are using an ATM machine from one of the country’s major banks and not a machine from a local money changing business. In most cities, major bank ATM’s are all over the place when you are walking down the street, so you can get cash whenever you need it. Another word of caution, make sure you know your PIN number in number format. Unlike United States’ ATM machines, foreign ATM machines may not have letters printed on the access keys. So, if you only know your PIN number by a word, it may take you a while to figure out what numbers you need to use to gain access to your account.
3. Because your VISA and MasterCard will be accepted almost any place you travel (although make sure you check if credit cards are accepted in some “third world” countries), there generally is no need to have a lot of foreign currency for purchases. You can just charge your expenses. The conversion fees and exchange rates charged by the cards are usually reasonable, and it is by far the easiest way to go. If you have several charge cards, you may want to check with them before your trip to see exactly what fees they charge, so you can choose the card that is most affordable. Make sure to call your credit card company to let them know the dates and locations of your foreign travel, so they will not think your card has been stolen.
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