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!