Leave the traveler’s checks at home.  Traveler’s checks are a waste of time – you will have to wait in lines at the bank as well as there are fees to purchase and fees to pay when cashing them.

Do not purchase foreign currency before you leave home.

Instead, use a no-foreign transaction fee debit card that enables foreign travelers to access cash from ATM machines.

ATMs are the way to obtain currency in foreign countries.  To avoid complications using your debit card abroad, follow these tips:

• Bring identification:  Always carry your passport with you – this is the perfect identification.
• Keep your PIN number to four digits:  In many countries, the cash machines will only accept four digit PINs.
• Notify your Bank of Your Travels:  To be certain that your cards (both debit and/or credit) will work abroad, before departing you should notify your bank which countries you will be visiting.

Once you decide which international credit card might work best for your situation, it’s time to put that card to good use.  Here are some tips that can help you make the most out of your travel rewards card when you use it abroad or at home: 

• Always call your card issuer before you travel overseas.  When you plan to use your international credit card outside of your home country, it is important to call the number on the back of your card and let your card issuer know of your travels.  This is especially crucial if you plan to travel internationally.
• Bring several payment options with you.  Even when you inform your card issuer of your travel plans, there are times when you won’t be able to use your card.  In addition to having other credit cards from different card issuers, you will want to bring some cash and an ATM card.
• Purchase everything in the local currency.  Fortunately, credit card transactions are typically processed at a very competitive exchange rate.  As long as your international credit card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, you can make your purchase in the local currency at the marked price without worry.

Travel Insurance protects you for the following occurrences:

• Loss of deposits.  We require a non-refundable deposit to register for our retreats.  Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for non-recoverable deposits if you have to cancel before the beginning of the retreat.
• Extra expenses of returning home before your trip ends.  If you have to abort a trip because something happens to you, your traveling companion, or a family member at home, getting home quickly may be expensive.
• Medical expenses.  If you get sick or suffer an accident when you are away from home, you may face some stiff immediate medical bills.  The main risk occurs when you are outside the United States.  Your own medical plan may cover you anywhere in the world, but some don’t.  Medicare doesn’t cover you outside the United States.
• Emergency transport home.  On your trip, if you become so sick you can’t fly home, or if you fall and break something in a remote area, getting you to a hospital in a helicopter or back home on a private jet could cost a fortune.

We recommend purchasing insurance through independent online agencies that specialize in travel insurance that provides comprehensive search and comparison systems.  We recommend Travel Guard Insurance or Allianz Travel Insurance.

As we all know, a valid Passport is required for travel outside our country.  However, what many citizens do not know is there may be restrictions on our unexpired Passports.

Check the expiration date on your passport carefully before traveling to Europe.  Entry into any of the European countries in the Schengen area for short-term tourism requires that your passport be valid for at least three months beyond your intended date of return.

If your passport does not meet the Schengen requirements, you may be refused boarding by the airline at your point of origin or while transferring planes.  You could also be denied entry when you arrive in the Schengen area.

For this reason, the US Department of State recommends that your passport have at least six months validity remaining whenever you travel abroad.  You can find passport validity requirements for your destination country, along with other important information, on the Country Specific Information pages.

Visit the US Department of State’s passport website for more information on applying for a new or renewal passport.  Here is a link to the US State Department.

The Schengen Area Member States are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Here is a link to Schengen Country Agreement Information.