It always helps to know a few simple travel tips, especially when going to a new place. It seems like every time we travel, we learn a few more simple travel tips. Sometimes these come from seasoned travelers and sometimes from locals.
Here are just a few of our favorite simple travel tips.
Understand Money
We look up the exchange rate when we travel outside the US. We will get some Euros or currency from our local bank before we leave. That way we have some cash in case we need it as soon as we land. It is a simple travel tip that can save you money especially after a long flight.
If we need more cash once we are there, we use ATMs. The best ones are either located in a bank or right outside a bank. Try not to use an ATM in an airport or train station as the rates will probably be higher. Also, do not use the currency exchange counter at the airport, unless you are confident the exchange rate is what it is supposed to be.
We use a credit card associated with our bank. This simple travel tip allows us to dispute a false charge if necessary. When asked if we want the charges to appear as the foreign currency, Euros for example, or US dollars, we always choose US dollars.
Understand Guided Tours
We have found that guided tours can be a wonderful way to see certain sites. The best simple travel tip is to book it ahead of time, especially in a high tourist area. That way when approached by multiple guides trying to sell their tours, we already have ours booked. We use a reputable website or tourism bureau to find the best fit for the site we want to visit.
Understand Restaurants
This simple travel tip will most likely offer you the best meal. When looking for a place to eat, we tend to avoid restaurants with the menus outside that are written in English only. Why? Typically, this means they cater to tourists. Even though we are tourists we prefer to eat local foods.
If you are not sure of what the menu says, use Google Translate, https://translate.google.com/ to help you. Some of our best meals have been in restaurants where we were not quite sure of the items listed.
Another simple travel tip regarding restaurants is to find ones that are not right near popular tourist attractions, like the Eiffel Tower, Sagrada Familia, the Louvre, the Spanish Steps.
We have many more simple travel tips for a later post. Right now…we cannot wait to travel again.
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