Actually for the past few days as I've pondered my trip and continue to read blogs and sites online, I start to feel more and more nervous about my trip.
Why? Well I have never, in all of my travels, read so many warnings about being pickpocketed and robbed while still being in the taxi on the way to your destination!!! Sure I've heard of being pickpocketed in crowd, but actually having your taxi window smashed in and having your bags taken?! Maybe they're rare occassions, but honestly - the warnings are stronger than I've ever seen them in any travel guides for the various countries I've been to (including Vancouver, Thailand, China, New York, Hawaii, Guyana, etc.). Most guides say 'just have your wits about you' (be smart and do no expose your money and valuables) or 'exercise caution', but these warnings are more like 'Do not travel at night', 'Be careful of your taxi driver', 'keep your bag between your feet in the taxi' and 'beware of people trying to distract you from your belongings'.
Add to this having second thoughts about taking cash off my credit card when I need it so as to avoid carrying too much cash. I've decided that even though I am carrying two different credit cards from two different credit card companies, if both don't work for any reason - I am stuck.
Last time I was in Thailand and China, my VISA wouldnt work because of the asshole representative over the phone. I told him my pin wasn't working before I went and he insisted it's working fine, it was just the cashier I was at before I left that had a problem. I went overseas, and the VISA didn't work at all. I had to use all my cash. I spent hundreds of dollars calling VISA so they could send me a replacement VISA, and I had to have someone transfer me money so I could stay at my hotels.
So to avoid this potential trouble, I am going to at least take enough to cover the hotels, tours, taxi and food and some souveniers. When I get to an ATM is Cusco, I'll take out more money to cover food and tours, and hopefully the credit cards will work. If not, someone will have to wire me some money through Western Union. Sometimes you can get a Travel-VISA that works like a prepaid card. You put the money on and just take the money out of that out of machines. That should save you on some fees.
Also, be aware of fees when using your credit card abroad.You will get charged 3 Fees for using your credit card abroad.
1. $5.00 (approximately) for every time you take money out of the ATM
2. 2.5% the credit card company will keep for fun for themselves of whatever amount you take out. Say you take out $1,000, they'll keep $25.00 of that for themselves for fun.
3. 2.5% DAILY interest will be charged on whatever amount you take out. If you took out $1,000, isn't that $25 a day? That is f****d up to the 195th power!
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ESSENTIAL Travel Safety, Cash and Credit Card TIPS:
1. Get your hotel to send a taxi for you to the airport or bus station, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. It is worth the extra money. Believe it or not, some taxi drivers and unregistered taxis make arrangements with thieves to jump you. They have a system. Go with someone the hotel does business with and trusts.
2. In your taxi, keep your valuables on the ground/out of plain sight so no one is tempted to smash your window or open your door real quick and grab your bags. This tip is based on reported occurrances.
3. Test and ensure your credit cards are working before you go, including checking them at chip-pin intervals. Ensure you can withdraw from your credit card before you go. Get their international number in case they freeze the credit card because of suspicious activity.
4. Fill out a form to give authorization to someone you trust to help with your bank account just in case the credit card stops working and you can't get a hold of the company yourself from your international location. That way they can call and have the credit card reactivated or have a new one sent to your hotel.
5. Inform your credit card company where you are going and for how long so they don't flag the international transactions as fraudulent.
6. At least take enough cash to cover taxis and all hotels and some food, then you can try the ATM to cover more food and tours and souveniers. Shelter, safety and food is first. You can worry about money for tours after. (why do I suggest not carrying all your cash? well you don't want to get robbed of all your hard earned money via pick pocket or hotel staff or violent robbery or even getting the cash lost)
7. Stash sums of money in different places. If someone jumps you (robs you), then maybe there's a stash of cash somewhere else they won't get their hands on; same case if you lose it - you'll have your remaining stashes.
8. When you're going out, stuff your cash deep down inside your bag and only keep small change in your pocket. Keep it in your bag, inside a zipper-compartment if possible, or buried under a water bottle or something. In your pocket, stuff your cash in first, and then your hankerchief or something on top. Always place the lower denomination bills facing on the outside and hide higher denomination bills under the rest. I practice that even when I come out of the bank in Canada or go shopping in New York. "Think I took out big bucks? Nope, that's just a few $5.00 bills. Just pocket change. Not worth your effort of jumping me!"
The small pocket you see on top is a zipper pocket within a main zippered pocket
of the purse. It is difficult to get access to.
Also, you'll notice my underwear in the second last pocket - a good barriar between
your money and quick hands. I'll put that over my money.
9. Make money rolls that are easy to tuck in your underwear or socks when you're travelling long distances in public or by taxi and especially when you're arriving (when you have your most money).your money and quick hands. I'll put that over my money.
There is $1,000 in that litte roll.
I've first folded each bill in half (as you can see with the $50)
I've first folded each bill in half (as you can see with the $50)
and then each folded bill was piled on top of each other and then rolled,
with a rubber band around
