Money and Communication on Tour

While traveling in a foreign country it can be hard to stay in touch with the home front, though it is getting much easier than it used to be. Keep in mind that you may not be as connected as you are used to, but that can be a good thing. Remember to be in the moment and don’t worry so much about sharing the moment. You can share when you get home.

That being said it is important to have a connection to your families at home. There are a few ways to do that. The old school but tried and true method is to use calling cards. It usually involves you calling a 1-800 number and then calling your home phone. They are usually pretty inexpensive and work from most local phones in country. I usually have one with me as a back-up just in case my next method doesn’t work.

My personally preferred method is to use my smartphone and communicate over wifi. The advantage is that it’s usually free (some wifi hotspots are pay-to-play). The disadvantage is that it only works when you are near a wifi hotspot. There are multiple apps that allow this type of communication. Most require both callers to have the same app for communication to be free. Talkatone, Tango, Line and Text+ are all good options to explore that allow calling and text. In the past I have used the MajicJack app. It allows you to call but not text. I leave my phone on airplane mode to avoid roaming charges and just call in whenever I get to a wifi hotspot (usually the hotel at night).

Another good option for wifi communication is good old Facebook. Most people already use it and are familiar with it. The new messenger app even allows for voice communications via phone and/or computer.

The last, most expensive options are to talk with your phone provider and purchase an international roaming plan (usually you can just buy access for 1 month), or get an unlocked, international phone or sim card. This allows you to make and receive calls whenever you want but, that convenience comes at a pretty steep cost. Ekit and Mobal have some good options and there are others.

Try out a few different communication options before you leave home and always have a backup plan.

Now, on to money. There are some important preparations to make prior to the tour regarding your money. In the past travelers checks were a pretty safe way to travel but nowadays they are pretty cumbersome. Digital money is a great option but there are a few precautions that need to be taken.

For most high school students credit cards are not an option but debit cards with credit company logos are. They are an excellent option for travel. There are a few major networks for these type of cards that make them useable all over the world at ATM’s with matching logos and at shops and restaurants. It does need to be said though that while in foreign countries your bank and credit companies will charge foreign transaction fees (usually 2-3% of the purchase price). That means that if you use your card to purchase every little thing you will be paying some high fees. You can avoid this by using it at an ATM periodically and carrying a small amount of cash. You will still have to pay some fees but they should be lower. Having some cash also helps when you want to purchase things from small shops and street vendors.

A few words of caution with using cards; first, you have to contact your bank and credit companies and make sure they know you are traveling. If not they may shut down your cards while abroad.

Second, there are many people out there looking to get their hands on your money. Using cards offers you some protections. Most credit and debit cards have fraudulent purchase protection. Make sure you talk with your bank about your card. Checking your balance and dealing with the credit companies while on tour can be difficult or even risky. There are such things as fake Wifi hotspots designed to gather your personal information, the fewer times you need to enter your bank account information into a website while on tour the better. A good thing to do is make sure someone responsible at home has access to and permissions regarding your accounts, and periodically check in with them. If they notice anything out of the ordinary they can step in and help out. If you are using a debit card it can be a good idea to only keep a few hundred dollars there at a time. Your responsible designee at home can keep adding cash as you need it.

These precautions will help, but if you lose your card, there isn’t much you can do right away. It is a good idea to travel with a few options. I like to stash a few bills in various locations in my stuff (hidden pockets, shoes, different bags, etc.) I also travel with a few different credit and debit cards just in case one doesn’t work at a location or one is compromised in some way.

A great travel tip regarding money that has been very beneficial to me over the years is to contact your bank before leaving and have them convert a few hundred dollars into the currency of your destination. The bank will give you the best exchange rate available (unlike money changers on the street) though they may have a fee for the transaction, and you will have cash ready to use as soon as you land. This has saved my bacon many times and I highly suggest it.

With a bit of planning and preparations before your leave, you can ensure you have the funds you need and that you keep the lines of communication open.

If you have suggestions or tips to add please comment below.

Packing 101

Traveling involves motion and everything you think you need has to move with you. It is very easy to over-pack but it is also possible to under-pack. Finding a good balance is a matter of preference.

The first things you should consider when packing are climate and itinerary. Ireland and Scotland's  climate in the spring is very similar that of Idaho in the spring. It may get up to the 50's and 60's during the day but it will likely be colder than that. It will probably rain, and maybe even snow. We will be inside at times but outside a lot. We won’t need any fancy, or formal clothes, but a “nice” outfit or two will come in handy. This can make it hard to prepare.

One good place to look for answers to packing and climate conundrums is the camping and backpacking world. Most experienced backpackers won’t take an item along unless it has at least 2-3 different uses. By that I mean it can serve 2-3 different functions or it can be used for the same function 2-3 times without much maintenance. For example, a light sweater  and a good packable rain coat will cover you for most types of weather. You need bring a light sweater or jacket for plane rides, air conditioned rooms and when the temps drop due to rain. I recommend a raincoat over an umbrella because an umbrella only has one use. Using the sweater and raincoat in different combinations covers a wider range than a heavy overcoat. Look for clothes that serve multiple purposes (pants that turn into shorts/capris, shirts that can be worn with different outfits) and clothes that can be worn 2-3 times without much but a rinse in a hotel sink and that can handle being stuffed into bags and come out looking fairly decent. Lots of new “workout” clothes will fit the bill and don’t look half bad either. Bring a good, sturdy but already broken in pair of shoes (don’t buy a new pair the day before the trip!). Start shopping in the sporting goods sections and if see if you can cover your needs there first.

Now you’ve decided what you are going to wear, what else should you bring along? EF has put together a pretty good list, check it out here http://www.eftours.com/tour-preparation . Just remember the phrase, “If you can live without it then don’t bring it” as a rule of thumb. However that rule of thumb does not apply to medications for obvious reasons. Bring enough medications to last you through the entire trip, plus a few days just in case, in the original labeled bottles. Do not bring large quantities of prescription drugs! You don’t want to raise suspicions when clearing customs.

There are specific guidelines involved when traveling with toiletries. Here is the 411 on the 3-1-1. You can only bring liquids and gels in carry-on bags (bags that you keep with you in the cabin of the plane) that are in containers of 3oz. or less in 1 clear, 1qt, zip-top baggie. It does not matter how full the container is, if it says it holds more than 3oz it will be confiscated and yes, make-up (even powdered make-up) counts. Go to the travel size section of your favorite store and get small versions of the essential toiletries (tooth paste, shaving cream, contact lens solution, make-up, etc.) If they don’t have what you need then get some containers that hold 3oz or less and fill them with what you need.  For checked baggage (bags that you check in and get loaded under the plane) it is another story, there are no restrictions on size and quantity though the more your bring the more you have to lug around and the more suspicious your bag will look. Be careful when putting liquids and gels in your checked baggage though. The cargo areas of planes experience vast pressure differences which can cause bottles of liquids or gels to burst. Be sure not to pack full bottles and put what you do bring in plastic bags to avoid spillage.  You should also note that we are going to Thailand, not the moon. If you forgot something or run out on tour it’s very likely we can purchase a replacement there very easily.

A special note for female travelers: Travel can be stressful and cause your natural cycle to change. Make sure you are prepared to deal with it even if the dates of your trip don’t coincide with your usual schedule.

Alright, so you have a stack of stuff on your bed ready to go, what do you put it in? Suitcase preferences are many and varied but for this type of trip I’ll make a few “strong” suggestions. Remember that this is a once-in-a-lifetime type of trip. You don’t want your memories of the trip filled with worrying if your suitcase is going to fall apart or images of you trying to lug it up stairs (most hotels probably won't have an elevator), squeeze it in a bus luggage compartment or it going on a vacation of its own when the airline company decides to load it on the wrong plane. For those reasons and more I strongly suggest you get a “roller-board” style bag that is 24” tall or less (mine is 21” and it fits well in overhead bins on domestic flights) and 10” or less thick, with fixed wheels (the new swivel wheels are cool but many get broken quickly) and a sturdy handle. If you don’t’ have a bag like that I highly recommend you get one either by purchasing one or borrowing one. Pretty much all airlines allow you to carry-on a bag like that and a backpack. That keeps everything you bring in your control all the time. Trust me, you can survive for a week with only what you stuff in those two bags. We will be on the go, not staying in one hotel for more than a day or two. The more stuff you bring, the bigger the bag you need, the more trouble you will have getting around and the more things you will have to remember to pack back up every time we move on.

If you do have to check a bag, make sure that in your carry-on you pack your toiletries and medication (taking care to observe the 311 rules), an extra set of clothes and all your important travel documents. The sad truth is that sometimes bags and travelers don’t end up at the same place at the same time and sometimes bags go through a beating when you are not looking.

Here are a few more things to consider and tips that may help:

Pack your clothes in plastic grocery bags or large zip-top bags before putting them in your suitcase and bring a few extra bags. This will not only protect your stuff from the elements and from the smell of your own dirty laundry but if you pack the bags full, sit on them to squeeze out the air, then seal them, it will save you some space.

Roll your clothes instead of folding them. It will save space and avoid wrinkles.

Some travelers bring “throw-away clothes” and toss them along the way to make room for souvenirs on the way home. Others pack a sturdy cloth duffel bag that they can fill with clothes on the way home and check it in, leaving room in their roller-board for goodies from the road.

Many experienced travelers say you should pack everything you think you need, then take half of it out.

Do a test run. Pack your bag and try to live out of it for a week. Take it with you wherever you go, in the car, to the store, everywhere. Walk a mile or so with it. You may reconsider the size/weight of your “needs”.  If you find you’re missing, something then put it in. If you aren’t using something enough, take it out.

The excitement of the trip begins with packing but unfortunately so does stress and anxiety. Be calm and just think about how much fun you are going to have even if you forget your toothbrush. :)

If you have any tips or tricks to share please comment below. Happy trails!

How to keep your stuff, well…yours.
One of the biggest worries for travelers is pickpockets. Just imagine, you’re out of your element, there are a million strange people around and you are not paying attention to your stuff, you are focused on the beautiful scenery and you suddenly realize your wallet is gone! It’s a terrible feeling and a situation that is largely avoidable. Let’s talk about a few ways to protect your stuff.
Protecting yourself from thieves starts before you leave you home. The best way to protect your stuff is to leave it at home! It’s tempting when you travel to bring your best jewelry, your best gadgets, your best everything. Don’t do it! Wear your cheap jewelry, your old watch, etc. Face it, despite your best efforts you are not going to look like a local, on top of that if you look like you’re carrying expensive stuff you are putting a big target on your back. Thieves won’t be able to resist. Here is a good measure of what you should or should not bring; if you can’t live without it, don’t bring it.
So once you have decided what to bring, what should you do with it to make sure no one else gets it? Most pickpockets are opportunists. They look for situations when your attention is on things other than what is in your pocket. We will be visiting many awe-inspiring places and your attention should be on the scenery but what about your stuff?
While I was in Barcelona a group of students that were on the same tour as me had piled their bags together on the beach and a couple of kids were sitting next to them while the rest played soccer. It seemed like a great idea but after a while the kids by the bags got into a conversation and some even laid down to nap. One girl got tired of playing soccer with her new IPhone in her pocket, she set it on top of the bags in plain sight and went back to the game assuming that since people were close that it was safe. A few minutes later the kids next to the bags heard a “whoosh” and by the time they noticed the phone was gone the thief had disappeared into the crowd. Take in the scenery but keep your stuff out of sight.
Something to watch for while traveling are the tourist traps. They call them that for a reason. Often times thieves will work in teams, one will create a diversion by performing some really impressive act to get you to stop and stare while another thief or two works the crowd. It is very tempting to join the crowd but the best thing to do is take a good look as you walk on by. Other thieves are more blatant. While in Paris I was walking a few steps behind a few students on the street and a couple of ladies with clipboards stopped them. They said that they were collecting donations to help handicapped kids, they handed the kids the clipboard and wanted them to write down their names and make a donation. One kid pulled out his wallet and started looking for a bill right in front of the ladies (a BIG no no! Always turn away and have a friend cover you before you open up your wallet/purse!). Next thing I know one of the ladies was reaching into the kids’ wallet and pulling out a €40 bill! I walked up, snatched it back from her, and we took off. Be wary of folks who walk up to you with a map, ask you for help, bump into you, touch you, etc. They don’t want your help they want your stuff.
While we are talking about handicapped kids it needs to be said that often times people will intentionally mutilate themselves or their kids so as to look more pitiful while begging on the street. It is very tempting to let your emotions overcome your decisions. Just make sure you know that by giving them cash you may be supporting this type of behavior.
The next common way in which thieves will get to your stuff is when you are making transitions, especially on the subway and other public transportation. Major cities are crowded and there is a lot of bumping and mixing around. You are often disoriented in new surroundings. Thieves look for these chances to get close. While in London on a subway train our group was seated and at the next stop a guy got on with a coat draped over his arm. Our tour guide picked up on him immediately. The guy started moving around the train and he was just acting “shifty”. The guide actually confronted the guy and forced him off the train on the next stop. The guide then explained that the coat over the arm is a dead giveaway; they do it so that they can snatch something of yours and cover it up quickly.
Make sure that in crowded situations like subways, crowded escalators and stairways, ticket lines, etc. you put your stuff in your bag, zip it up, and keep it in front of you, even if it’s a backpack. Not only is this safer for you but also for all the other people around. You don’t want to whack anybody with your overstuffed backpack when you turn around! When you sit down on the train, at a restaurant or on the street, put you bag on your feet and lace your legs through the straps. Don’t hang it on the back of the chair, you make it too easy!
People always ask me about things like money pouches, hidden wallets, secret pockets, etc. These can be very effective if used properly. The problem with them is getting access to them. If you need cash you don’t want to have to remove clothing just to pay for a trinket. Keep a bit of cash in your pocket even if you use a secret pouch. Also, a fellow teacher traveler told me a horror story of a kid who’s bus stopped at a rest stop in Switzerland. He set his “pouch” with all his money and passport in it down in the bathroom. He didn’t remember it was there until he reached the German border a few hours later. There is no one fool proof way to protect your stuff so be alert and be diverse.
Keeping people away from your important things can be an easy matter with some careful planning. Here are some more quick tips to help you out:
Make a copy or two of your passport and keep them in separate bags. This can greatly speed up the process if your passport is lost or stolen.
Many of the hotel rooms have safes and most hotels have a safe behind the front desk. Use them! Don’t assume that because it’s in your bag in your hotel room that your passport, ipod, extra cash/ etc. is off limits.
Some travelers carry a “dummy wallet” with a few spent gift cards and a small amount of cash in it. That way if they are ever confronted by someone, they can pull out the dummy and keep the real stuff safe.
I’ve traveled a lot and so far haven’t had anything major go missing but that doesn’t mean that it won’t happen. There is always a certain amount of risk when you step out your door. Just remember what Albert Einstein said, “A ship is always safe at shore – but that is NOT what it was built for.”

Many people ask me about traveling with portable electronics and there is a lot of confusion out there about the difference between an adaptor and a converter. Let’s clear some of that up! Ireland and Scotland's electrical systems (and most other countries for that matter) run on 220 volts. America’s systems are all running at 110 volts. One of the main reasons other countries use a higher voltage system is so that they can install less outlets in a room and still meet power demands. This is beneficial in countries with a lot of old buildings (it’s difficult to retrofit old buildings), or buildings that are primarily made of brick and masonry. This has a significant impact on travelers. For starters, finding an open plug while on the road can be problematic. You may have to unplug a lamp in you hotel room to charge your phone or dig around behind a dresser to plug something in. Also, you will be sharing hotel rooms with other travelers and they will need plug space too. This can also be an issue in airports and other busy travel depots. Other travelers may have already taken all the open outlets. I usually travel with a small plug splitter like this to alleviate this problem:

You can find this particular one on Amazon for about $15.

The next issue is voltage compatibility. Most electronics that have been produced in the last decade or so have been designed to run on 110-240 volts. Look carefully at stickers on cords, plugs and the back of your device to confirm this. What this means is that you will not need a power converter. A converter takes one amount of voltage and changes it to meet the needs of your device. If you device already accepts the voltage in your intended country then you don’t need a converter.
That being said, I need to make a disclaimer about hair dryers, curling irons and any other device with a heating element. These devices don’t handle the change in voltage well, especially going from the American 110 volt to 220 volts in another country. Most of the time the device can’t handle the extra voltage and will die in a blaze of glory. Most of the hotels on our trip will have a blow dryer in the room so the best option is just to leave yours at home. If that doesn’t work for you then look into buying a power converter, or adopting a different hairstyle while on tour.
The next major issue to discuss is the fact that the sockets and plugs in Ireland and Scotland are different from ours here in the US, and there is relatively little conformity in socket style usage throughout the country. Many places will have this type of socket:

Notice the large flat prongs and the switch on the socket itself. That switch controls the power at the socket. If this is off then no matter what plug in it or what other switch you turn on, there will be no power. This plug is typical in the UK but there is usually little conformity in other countries so be prepared for anything.

The way around this plug issue is to bring a travel adapter. Adapters do not change the voltage, only the plug configuration. You need one that will accept the plug from your device (make sure it accepts 2 and 3 pronged plugs) and will then plug into a local socket. There are many different types (universal adapters, ones with removable plug ends, etc.). A few years back I purchased this “Universal’ adapter:

I’ve used it in a few different countries now successfully. The only issue I have with it is that it can be bulky when trying to fit other plugs in the same socket or on a power strip. Also, sometimes the sockets in another country will have a recessed portion and this adapter does not fit. You can find this one on Amazon.com for under $5.
Another important item to consider is the battery life of your devices. When it’s difficult to find a place to charge your device or you’re on the go and don’t have time to wait for things to charge, a backup battery comes in really handy. Nowadays there are many options for this. Be sure to find one that is compatible with your device and will hold enough juice to charge your device a few times before it’s empty.
Another issue travelers face when toting electric devices is the amount of stuff it takes to make them “portable”. Cords, plugs, backup batteries, adapters, converters, etc. etc. etc. It can really start to add up! Usually the only device I bring is my smart phone. It has a great camera, I can use wifi to keep in touch, I’ve loaded books on it with an Amazon Kindle App, it’s a music player, I pre-load some Google maps so I can access them off-line, I use the airline apps to keep track of flights and sometimes I can even check in and get boarding passes on it. It does pretty much everything I need and I only need one cord and one adapter. Carefully consider the items you want to bring. Can one device perform the same function as another? Can one cord fit other devices? Can you do without it for a week and a half? Just remember that every item you bring you have to carry around for days while we roam from hotel room to hotel room, board different flights, jump a bunch of different buses and potentially walk mile after mile. Sometimes less really is more.
What devices do you plan on bringing? What has worked for you on your past adventures? Leave a comment below.

Simple ways to find funds for your tour.

Alright, so you have taken the leap of faith and signed up for a trip hoping that somehow the money you need will grow on the tree out your window. Here are some simple, and more likely, ways to find funds for your trip.

1. Cut back on unnecessary expenses – In order to make your savings plan successful you need to put your travel plans as your top priority. That may mean you or your parents giving up some of your regular expenditures. For example, many people make a trip to Starbucks every morning spending $5 - $7 on a cup of coffee. If you brew it yourself and bring it from home you can save over $150 per month or over $1800 per year! Eating out less often, drinking your own bottled water instead of a daily soda, buying clothes secondhand, cutting back on your utilities usage, finding a cheaper cellphone plan without data charges etc., dropping your cable/satellite plan and just watching Netflix instead are all areas where you may find ways to save. By examining your spending habits closely you may find other ways to save significant amounts (you may even develop some healthier habits in the process!).

2. Sell anything you don’t regularly use – Many of us have quite a few items we have accumulated that we think we need but in reality we rarely use. When I was in my early 20’s I lived in Southeast Asia for two years and frequently moved from town to town. I had to be able to stuff everything I owned into a suitcase at a moment’s notice. I came to realize how easy it is to do without many of the things I thought were essential. When I got home I gutted my room and found a plethora of items that I didn’t need anymore (I still had my high school football practice jersey!)
When examining your stuff a good test to use to decide if you need it or not is the 6 month test, if you haven’t used it in the last 6 months odds are that you don’t really need to have it around. CD and DVD collections, dad’s old fishing gear that he never uses, last year’s prom dress, instruments you don’t really play anymore, sports equipment you don’t use, that treadmill that is just gathering dust in a corner, books that you have read over and over again, anything! Having a yard sale is a start but many people come to yard sales looking to score crazy deals and won’t pay you what your stuff is worth. Try Ebay, Amazon, Craigslist or even local consignment shops to maximize your earning potential.

3. Work your network – If you really start to think about the amount of people you know you’ll be surprised at how long the list is. People at church, school groups, close relatives and distant obscure cousins, neighbors, people you work with etc. Now think about what would happen If everyone you know thought about everyone they knew. The numbers would add up pretty quickly. Imagine if everyone on that list gave you $5 for your trip. You would reach your fundraising goal in no time! For example, if you had 100 people who each gave you $5 and they each had only 10 friends give you $5, you would have raised a total of $5500!
There are some great tools out there to help you spread the word and raise money for your cause. You can link a PayPal account to your Facebook account so your Facebook friends can donate with one easy click. You can start a campaign at gofundme.com. You have a built in Donate button in your EF account that friends and family can use to donate directly to your tour costs. You could even go “old school” and start a letter writing campaign. Just make sure everyone you know and everyone they know knows, you know?

Here are some other suggestions that may prove beneficial to you:

Have your rich Uncle Sam pay for it. If you sign up at the right time you will have up to two tax returns that you can apply to your trip costs.

Get creative with credit. Many credit cards offer lengthy introductory 0%  interest periods (some up to 18 months!) and some great rewards. You could pay the EF costs in one swipe and buy yourself more time to pay off the credit company. But wait, there's more! Many cards offer great rewards for spending a few thousand within the first few months of using the card. You could pay off your trip and be well on your way to earning another one from your credit company all in one stroke!

Connect with your church or community groups and hold a fundraiser like a bake sale, a silent auction, or a spaghetti dinner.

Hold a video game tournament. Charge players to enter the tournament and then give away a portion of the "pot" to the winner.

The bottom line is, you have to make saving for your trip a priority. It also helps to think in terms of a monthly payment instead of a lump sum. Trying to come up with a few hundred each month is easier than finding the total price all at once. Make sure you thoughtfully consider every penny you spend, critically evaluate your needs and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can do it!

What are you doing that is working for you? Share your fundraising success with others by posting your ideas below.