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Here's a travelers' advisory that can save you money
By Daffyd Roderick
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ILLUSTRATION FOR TIME BY ROB DWYER
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Travel expands the mind. It has quite the opposite effect on the bank account. When we commit the act of tourism, we expose ourselves to new vistas and new ideas, but we also become vulnerable to a host of pitfalls, monetary and otherwise. Here are a few savvy-traveler tips to help you avoid trouble on the road:
TRAVEL HEALTH
Nothing pulls the plug faster on a vacation or a business trip than illness. Simple precautions can make the difference between hitting the trail and treading a well-worn path between your hotel bed and the toilet. Experienced Asia hands know that meals purchased from street vendors come with a certain amount of risk. Minimize it by avoiding raw foods (including garnishes) and meats not cooked in front of you. Anything deep fried, though hard on your heart, is safest for your stomach.
Common medications can be found throughout Asia, but carrying a few basic remedies saves time that would otherwise be wasted combing pharmacies or trying to decipher dosages in a foreign language. Recommended contents of a rough-and-ready first-aid kit include: Band-Aids in several sizes; antibiotic ointment; alcohol wipes; tweezers; an anti-fungal cream; an anti-diarrheal such as Loperamide; and sample-size sachets of painkillers, decongestants, Pepto Bismol tablets and antacids.
While a head cold or a simple case of Delhi-belly can usually be dispatched with the contents of your kit, those going further afield should consider asking a doctor for a prescription for a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Self-medication isn't generally recommended, but being able to fight off a raging bacterial infection when traveling far from medical help just might save your vacation.
INSURANCE
When it comes to insurance, what you don't know won't kill you, but it might cost you. For example, sampling the local vino is a harmless holiday indulgence, right? Well, you'll sober up quickly if you tumble down the restaurant stairs and end up in the hospital. The fine print on every travel insurance policy expressly states that injuries sustained while under the influence of drugs or alcohol are not covered.
Consider also the issue of lost or stolen luggage. If your bags go missing from the airport carousel, the airlines, not your insurance company, provide compensation. And just because you tell airline claims adjusters your wayward Samsonite was crammed with Chanel dresses and Manolo Blahnik shoes doesn't mean they're willing to offer full compensation for your loss. In most cases the maximum amount insurers will fork out for a lost bag won't come close to the value of the contents.
Your possessions aren't necessarily more secure once you've reached the hotel. Some policies exclude theft from room safes, and for good reason: they're notoriously insecure. (The only hidey hole offering genuine peace of mind is the hotel safe.) If you are robbed, you must report it to the local police within 24 hours for the insurance company to start a claim. The gendarmes may not be willing to do much, but they'll at least give you a report form. It doesn't matter if you can't read it—take it, it will help make your case.
Be sure, however, to read your travel policy's fine print. How else will you know that if you break a leg while skiing you're covered, but if you suffer bodily harm on a snowboard, you'll be paying for the crutches yourself? Just remember that if you had a beer in the chalet, you're definitely not covered.
CHANGING CURRENCIES
Money can be one of the biggest traveling hassles. To get the best rate of exchange when stocking up on local currency, use your credit card or withdraw money using an ATM. You'll pay lower institutional rates since large banks and credit card companies like Visa or MasterCard exchange enormous volumes of currency every day.
You'll get the worst exchange rates from the money changers at hotels and airports. Use them to get just enough local currency to take a cab or eat a meal, but do so knowing you're generally paying as much as 10% per transaction. While in many countries you can get a better deal using illegal money changers, it's also a great way to get robbed or handed counterfeit money.
For longer trips requiring copious revenue sources, use a variety of payment methods. Carry some cash in U.S. dollars, use your debit card or credit card for meals and more expensive purchases, and carry some traveler's checks for emergencies. Lost or stolen traveler's checks are conveniently replaced, making them a good backup should you lose all your belongings, including cash and plastic. It's nice to know that if everything goes wrong, you'll at least be able to buy a ticket to get home.
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