FollowNumero Uno: Get a SUGAR DADDY!
mmmm – so sweet!
alright…just kidding!
i’m heading off to Europe in a few weeks for 30 days of touring all around that fine continent. do you know what that means? no, not lots of hangovers. lola doesn’t do those.
LOTS OF PLANNING is what! while i want to focus on my food, cocktails & sightseeing stories AND plan my outfits out, i must really be serious and think about other logistical things right now. LIIIIKE getting the right phone plan. HELL, how about just getting my seats secured on my flights. that would be a good start!
other important tasks (i think you know what i’m about to say) are thinking about finances while away.
tasks on my financial essentials hit list
number 1: have a few Euros on you upon arrival to start off on the right foot. i usually have some left over from previous visits to Europe and i feel comfort knowing i can buy a drink or take a cab without having to rush to find a decent ATM upon arrival. HMMM…i wonder, does the Czech Republic operate in Euros? more research!
money, money, money, money – MONEY!
number 2: maybe even more important than having those precious Euros is telling your bank your whereabouts and length of time out of the country. my bank will close down my account like Fort Knox if i haven’t given them the heads up. talk about awkward and irritating when you are going to the ATM for the first time. AND when you do get around to that withdrawal, be smart about it. what i mean is take out plenty of cash because typically you’ll be charged fees from the ATM & your bank plus a percentage of the withdrawal amount. SO – the less times you withdrawal money – the better! DUH
BONUS TIP: check your bank account online to find out if you bank partners with banks in the countries you’ll be visiting. if it does & you use these partner banks ATM’s, you can save on the withdrawal fees from both institutions!
what’s in your wallet?
number 3: AND the same is true for your credit card companies. in this world of theft & fraud, when you are suddenly on the other side of the globe – it may seem suspicious. all of these pre-trip calls are a pain but so necessary to make your time away seamless. c’mon, who wants to be paying for a precious souvenir only to have to make an emergency phone call to your credit card company because the card has been denied! SO embarrassing.
BONUS TIP: while you are on the horn with your bank & credit card companies, get their emergency collect call phone numbers while traveling abroad. obviously, write these down & leave them in a safe place in case your credit card, wallet or, god forbid, entire handbag gets stolen.
note the darling chip thingy-ma-jig
number 4: it’s also a good idea, pre-trip, to shop around for the best credit card. i’m not talking about the one with the most bling or clout. i’m talking about one that’s widely accepted and has the least or no foreign transaction fees. my bank recently starting carrying a card for frequent travelers and it even has that chip thingy-ma-jig that some retailers require your card to have to even be accepted nowadays. that’s correct – even more things to consider with your financial planning abroad.
hello money. let’s have a chat!
number 5: finally, it’s a good idea that you are set up and able to check your bank account online to check balances, etc. some banks have apps for this should you be traveling with your smart phone. i’m taking my laptop so i’ll be all set. i mean i will be gone from November 5 through December 5 soooo that means i’ll be having to pay some bills while on the road. sadly, they will not magically pay themselves!
am i forgetting anything?? what are your financial essentials when traveling abroad?
