The best apps for travel

It seems like everyone has a smartphone now, and with the recent introduction of the iPhone 4S, even more are jumping on the bandwagon. And it’s no wonder; smartphones are very useful pieces of technology, especially for travel. If you’re about to take a trip overseas, it’s time to load up your phone with planning apps, map apps,

3 tips for frugal travel

When I travel abroad, I like to stretch my dollar as much as possible. That starts with diligently shopping around for the best currency conversion rates. It’s just like shopping for cheap flights, hotels and car rentals – you wouldn’t spend an extra $100 on a flight without knowing all of your options.

Here are 3 ways…

Beware of hidden foreign transaction costs

You’ve finally decided to travel outside of the United States. Your budget is set, you’ve planned your itinerary, packed your bags and you’re ready to hit the road.

But have you contacted your credit card company to find out what they charge for currency conversion at the destination in which you are headed?

Hidden fees

Foreign transaction fees are often hidden…

Rupee or ruble? Currency conversion on the road

Pretty much anyone who has traveled, and most people who have not, know that euros are the common currency of Europe. The denominations they come in are predictable enough. But some foreign currencies come in crazy denominations, and trying to remember what each one is worth as you do currency conversion can get confusing -…

Portable companion: traveling with an iPad

If you’re looking for a travel companion, the iPad is hard to beat. It fits in your backpack, supplies an unlimited amount of information on the go and never has to stop for a break – unless the battery dies. It’s an expensive item – its purchase certainly pushed the limits of my frugality – but it’s well worth the convenience it provides while traveling. Booking, currency conversion…

Foreign currency conversion: Traveling in India

Don’t get me wrong, I love New York. But it’s nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of The Big Apple and experience a different culture. One of my most recent trips was to India, where I certainly got my fair share of new culture. I traveled to New Delhi, where I got to check out Humayun’s Tomb and some other great attractions. And I came back…

Currency conversion traps

More than once I’ve been caught in a bind and forced to take a hit on currency exchange rates. Had I planned a little more carefully, I could have saved myself some money. But as a novice international traveler, I figured that exchange rates would be the same everywhere – I was wrong.

Watch out for these common traps:

Hungry hotels…

Where to go in the U.S. for currency conversion

If you have some foreign money left over from your travels abroad, you a have a few options – store your foreign cash until your next trip, exchange it with someone that’s about to travel to the same place or find somewhere to exchange it. But finding somewhere to exchange your foreign cash is easier said than done. Places…

Currency conversion fee strategy overseas

Europe keeps drawing me back. No matter how much I go – or how long I spend there – I can’t seem to get enough. And after some experimentation, I’ve figured out a strategy to save on those pesky exchange fees.

Banks keep increasing their fees for debit and credit transactions overseas.  While some of them are understandable – they have to make money somehow – others seem like straight…

A guide to holiday travel

There are plenty of things to remember when traveling: bring the plane tickets, get a dog sitter and don’t forget the kids, just to mention a few. But a few simple tips can save you a lot of worry and cash.

First and foremost, don’t forget to look into currency conversion fees, if you’re traveling overseas. Waiting until you…

Don’t get caught carrying these items overseas

Traveling can be a messy affair. It’s unpredictable no matter how much you organize and plan. But there are a few things you should always leave behind when taking off on an excursion to a foreign country.

Valuables

No matter how much you want to take your one-of-a-kind diamond necklace with you on your trip,…

3 safety tips for traveling with money

Have you ever had your pocket picked in a foreign country? I have. After all that time I spent finding the best currency conversion rates and finding an ATM, I lost it all to a stranger I bumped into on the street. Thankfully, I only had to learn that lesson once.

Get a money pouch

Keep all of your…

Tipping in a foreign country

The rules for tipping abroad vary according to country. Some countries – like Japan – even consider it rude to tip. Since you’ll already be spending a decent amount of time and money on currency conversion, you might as well keep as much of that foreign cash as you can. Here are some general guidelines for tipping in a foreign country:

Avoid the foreign exchange desk for currency conversion

Planning a trip to a foreign country? Don’t make the same mistake I did as a novice traveler and exchange your currency at the last minute – the fees were exorbitant. But if time isn’t on your side, and it’s time to catch your flight, there are a few methods of exchange you should avoid like the plague.

The…

Where to store unused foreign currency

On occasion, I’ll return home from a relaxing trip, and currency conversion rates will have tumbled. In the case that I have quite a bit of money left over, I don’t want to take a big hit, so I store my foreign money until the next time I travel or until exchange rates move back to an acceptable…