This is my first post in regards to traveling so I wanted to post a few suggestions to keep in mind when reading any of my posts regarding traveling. Some of the traveling posts will focus around domestic cities, some will focus around international cities. These tips are mainly for international travels.

1. Access to your money.

I learned quite the lesson when I toured across Europe. I figured all credit cards and bank cards were made the same. My money is my money, right? WRONG. Absolutely 100% incorrect. I got dinged with foreign transaction fees and bad currency exchange rates left and right. It was like walking around with a hole in my pants and a pocket full of quarters… but live and learn.

I still had an amazing time, just wish I hadn’t paid so much in fees. The “Capital One No Hassle Rewards” is one of the only cards that does not charge foreign transaction fees. If you would rather get miles, “Miles by Discover” gives you miles for planes, trains, and automobiles! (Note: I am not sponsored by either of these two cards, hence no referral links… I have just heard good things about them)

2. Buy Low.

Just like the stock market, right? I don’t expect you to have the skills of a highly trained currency trader… but sometimes you can save bundles by exchanging ahead of time and either holding the cash or converting to traveler’s checks. I had planned my tour across Europe a year in advance. Had I exchanged $3,000 at that time like I was inclined too I would have saved about $400 in the year between planning and execution. I had a feeling the dollar would slip and the pound and euro would gain, and boy they did!

3. Choose your destinations wisely.

The difference between London and Prague is a whole lot of charm and a pocket full of cash. There are still many destinations that have a vibrant culture, a sizable tourism industry, yet still have a good exchange rate. My favorite locations if you are looking for a European get-a-way were found in Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. If you want to go South, the Dominican Republic is loved by many as is Costa Rica. (If you like baseball, that’s a bonus in the DR!). Southeast Asia has a lot of popular destinations including Thailand and Cambodia. I will try to devote some time to the ones I have actually experienced in future posts.

These are basic principles and I will expand upon them as I introduce new areas worth traveling to. If you are reading my blog and come from a city/town/country that you think is worth visiting, please contact me and perhaps we could arrange a guest post where you can write about things to do!