Adapters

Traveling internationally it is best to know which adapter you will want to bring. Refer to www.ceptics.com which offers a comprehensive guide of outlets, plug styles used around the world. You can also use their choose my adapter tool to select the adapter plug types for your destination country.

And leave your hair dryer at home. Nearly every hotel or villa rental has one you can use.

Currency

To find out the currency and conversion of the country you will be visiting use the web site such as www.xe.com. Even if you are traveling on a fully inclusive tour, you’ll want to have euros for extras such as a cup of coffee or souvenirs. The best way to get cash ion your travels is to use your ATM card.

Cash machines are everywhere as they are in the United States. Be aware that many International cash machines will not accept card with PIN codes, five numbers or longer so be sure to reset your PIN to a four numbers before you go. You may also have a problem accessing a savings account so be sure the ATM card(s) you are bringing are linked to checking accounts. You may also be able to use your credit card for a cash advance if it has a PIN code (fees will apply).

Many travelers wonder about bringing travelers checks with them and it simply isn’t a good idea anymore. You’ll pay a fee for the checks at home, will need to find a bank (banks are usually open for a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the afternoon on week days) when it is open, wait in line and pay another service fee when receiving local currency.

Credit cards are widely accepted worldwide. Visa and MasterCard are more commonly accepted so if you’re bringing an American Express card, be sure to bring a Visa/MasterCard as well. Many credit card companies (Capitol One is an exception) are now charging a transaction fees for international purchases. Be sure to check with your credit card company before leaving home. Finally, cash is king in most locations. IMerchants hate paying service fees on credit card transactions and will often give you a discount for paying cash. Of course, they also like to hide their earning from the tax authorities too, but that’s a whole other story.

Shopkeepers are also open to giving discounts if you are buying multiple items. Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount!

Tip: Get a small amount of what currency is needed at your home bank – say $100 worth. Any commercial bank in the U.S. should be able to provide this. Tip: be sure to notify your bank if you will be using your ATM card to notify them you are out of the country and where you will be using your bank card. Then you’re really prepared to hit the ground running.

Passports & Customs

U.S. citizens need a valid passport (that is not due to expire in the next six months) to enter International destinations. U.S. citizens may stay in most international locations up to 90 days without needing a special visa. Some countries like Cambodia, India, Kenya,Turkey, Egypt require an E-Visa which can be done online for a fee, it is processed within minutes. If you are returning from your travels with goods, you should know that there are some rules and procedures that you need to follow. Here is some information that might help you.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Control, You need to declare everything that you are bringing back to the United States that you did not have when you left. This includes gifts, souvenirs, food, plants, animals, etc. If you do not declare something, you risk forfeiting it or paying a penalty. You have a duty-free exemption that allows you to bring back a certain amount of merchandise without paying duty. The exemption amount depends on the countries you visited and the length of your stay. The general limits are $200., $800., or $1600.

Telephone & Internet

Making Calls Chances are that you own a cell phone. So your question might be, will it work in Internationally? First you need to find out if your phone is GSM (Global System for Mobile - some 50% of cell phones sold in the U.S. are), which means it will work. Call your service provider and find out what the per-minute charge will be abroad. It will likely be about $1 per minute if you pay a small monthly fee for an international plan. This will get your cell phone working abroad, but is not really an affordable option for much talk time. A better option is to purchase a local SIM card to use in your GSM phone. This will allow you free incoming calls from anywhere in the world and outgoing calls at about .35€ per minute. In order to use an International SIM card, you need to make sure your phone is “unlocked.” You can go online to find out how to do this.

CellularAbroad.com offers International SIM cards for sale online so you can get one before you hit the ground running. This company, among many others, also offers cell phone rentals in case you don’t have a GSM phone. Whether or not you bring a cell phone on your international travels, you’ll probably want to buy a prepaid international telephone card once you’re in the country. Once purchased locally, follow the instructions to activate the card.

Whatever you do, don’t make direct international calls from your hotel room phone.Your telephone bill might exceed the nightly cost of your room!

If you’re bringing your laptop computer with you on your travels, you can sign up for a free account at www.skype.com Skype allows you to make free international phone calls through your computer to anyone else in the world who also has the free software on his/her computer. For a small fee, you can set it up to make calls from your computer to any phone — cell or landline — in the world.

Internet Wireless access is prevalent in restaurants and hotels and most hotels no longer charge for you to use WiFi. You can access it with your phone or laptop computer. If you choose not to bring a device with you, most hotels make a desktop computer available for guests to use or have a business center available.

Travel Tips for First Timers

If it is your first time abroad, get ready for an incredible experience!

The prospect of visiting any country, for the first time will provoke a wide range of emotions. For some, traveling to a foreign land-especially one that doesn't speak English - is so intimidating that any real enjoyment can only be realized with the help of a native to navigate through all the unfamiliar turf. For others, even those who don't speak another language, the opportunity to be immersed in an entirely new culture is part of the fun, and they look forward to feeling their way through each of the novelties that Italy throws at them.