Hello Explorers!

I just got off the phone with Wilma from Fredericksburg, Ohio and she wanted to know how to be the best prepared for using her money in Europe.

During a trip abroad, I recommend the use of an ATM Bank Card for obtaining foreign currency while in Europe as this typically offers the best exchange rate and they will shoot out the cash in the local currency! ATMs are found in abundance in Europe as they are in the States and many ATM cards can be used as debit cards to make purchases, but don’t forget to notify your bank that you will be traveling in Europe. They may need to set you up with a different pin number that will work with the machines in Europe. It is always a good idea to carry a bit of cash on your person as many places will not accept credit cards for small purchase or on-the-go lunches. As a general rule, you should really only keep enough cash on you for about 2 or 3 days so that you don’t have a large amount that could get lost or stolen during your journey, plus you don’t want to have a lot of money to exchange back to US dollars at the end of your trip.

I also suggested that she bring at least two working credit cards such as Visa or MasterCard because they are typically accepted everywhere. Again, I reminded her to contact her charge card company to notify them that she is traveling to prevent them from suspecting fraudulent activity and freezing the account. American Express and Discover should NOT be the only credit card option because they are not widely accepted.
When notifying your banks regarding your travel plans, also check if there are daily limits with withdrawal amounts or number of transactions.

As a precaution, she made copies of her credit & debit cards to keep in her suitcase, with the emergency numbers for the banks so that she can contact them in the case of an emergency. Great idea Wilma!

Since traveler checks, personal checks and American Express & Discover Cards are not good options for your travels, Wilma was glad that she called BEFORE the trip to make sure that she was prepared ahead of time. This alleviated any money-related stresses from her tour, and allowed her to enjoy the great sights & scenery without worry.

I hope Wilma’s questions will also help with your future travels!

Happy Travels!

Your Travel Agent

Hello Explorers!

As I promised, my next conversation with Delores is chronicled below. We were now discussing her suitcase and how she should pack.

“The first step,” I advised “is to make sure that your suitcase size fits within the requirements of the tour company and airlines. In most cases, the Tour Company has more stringent rules about size because there is less room on the motor coach than there is on the airplane. The standard weight is 50 lbs. for a checked piece of baggage, and 15 lbs. for a carry-on. Even though they say 50 pounds, really you should only pack it to about 40 so that you have enough room after your purchases and mementos so that you don’t exceed the limit on your way home.” Delores checked her suitcase measurements and her baggage fit within them if she didn’t use the ‘expand’ feature on the suitcase. I told that would be fine, but be sure not to ‘expand’ it later on the tour because if everyone did that, there wouldn’t be enough room on the bus for everyone’s luggage by the end of the tour!

“As for your carry-on bag, you really need to know what the bus requirements are. The airlines usually will allow you to take another small suitcase to but in the overhead bins. This is not the case with the European buses. Usually your carry-on bag is supposed to sit underneath the seat in front of you because the motor coaches don’t have overhead compartments.” I told Delores that she shouldn’t push the dimensions for this piece either, because it would just mean that she would have to carry it on her lap throughout the whole tour or be required to ship it home.

In the end, she used her regular ‘un-expanded’ suitcase for her checked bag, and she purchased a small flexible duffle bag/backpack for her carry-on. Since she followed the outlines by the Tour Company, she didn’t worry about her luggage at all once she started the tour because part of the benefit of an escorted tour, is baggage handling. Her preparation ahead of time, allowed her to enjoy the tour to the fullest extent!

Happy Traveling!

Sincerely,

Your Travel Agent

Hello Explorers!

Delores Jones was packing for her European trip and became distraught over what to bring for her 15 day tour.
She called me, and we calmly discussed the best clothing options for her to bring.

“When planning your wardrobe, always keep comfort in mind.” I told her. “Choose basic colors that mix and match easily, and a raincoat or light jacket is important for any season. There is no need to dress up, however if you would like to bring one fancier outfit for an evening meal, you may do so, but it is certainly not necessary.” Since she was traveling in mid-September, I told her to be sure to pack clothes that she can layer for colder weather or evenings, and wear separately for warmer weather during the midday.

After our discussion, she felt much better about what to bring for her trip.
In my next chronicle article, I will discuss my very next phone call with Delores regarding her suitcase and how exactly to pack the clothes that she did decide to bring.

Happy Traveling!

Sincerely,

Your Travel Agent

Hello Explorers!

I have clients tell me again and again that one of the most rewarding parts of their tours, are the people they meet while traveling. The group dynamics in the tours we offer are remarkable. By the end of a tour, the group participants truly become like a “family”. You will share many wonderful experiences with the folks you travel with and many travelers have made life-long friends with people they have met on the tours.

I have a client, Ruth, who recently returned from her tour. Ruth called and asked me if I could contact the tour operator for her and obtain the contact information of one of her traveling companions, as she had misplaced it. The two women had become close friends on the tour and Ruth was upset at the prospect of not being able to get back in touch with her new friend.

Please keep in mind that, due to privacy concerns, neither Escape World Travel nor the Tour Operators we work with can share any type of personal information regarding our clients. If you do meet people on the tour who you would like to keep in touch with and you most likely will! – remember to get their contact information before you part ways and keep it in a safe place until you return home. When you do arrive home, immediately add the information to your address book or email list.

Fortunately, for Ruth, this story had a happy ending. I contacted the tour operator who in turn contacted the other traveler and the two were finally able to get back in touch, as the other traveler still had Ruth’s information.
Other instances may not turn out so well. You may even want to consider bringing a small address book with you on the tour so you can add your new friend’s information on the spot!

In Travel,
Your Travel Agent