I am writing this article from beautiful Phuket, Thailand. Since May 2011, I have been traveling around Southeast Asia, funding my journey with my freelance writing income. Life has been good to me and I am eternally grateful I can work anywhere with an internet connection. But, like any international journey, my trip has not been free of snafus and hiccups. One such area where I have learned a lot of lessons is in the money department, and I would like to share some tips with you that have helped make my trip flow more smoothly and made it more enjoyable.
- Traveling Money Lessonsbitzcelt / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Get Pin Numbers for Your Credit Cards
This first tip falls under practicality and preparation, and it has come in handy for me numerous times. For this reason, I highly recommend you do this before you set out on your travels. You always want to make sure you have access to money at any time you may need it—for most of us, that means bringing our ATM card, and it usually does the job. But, I have experienced a locked card on numerous occasions, even though I informed my bank of my travel plans; I have also experienced not being able to withdraw money because it counts the whole weekend as one day as far as the daily limit is concerned. If you are in a position where credit cards will not cut it, and banks are either closed or not available to get a cash advance, a credit card with a pin number will be your best friend. You usually get one with the card, but if you do not know this number, you will need to get a new one. It will take about 10 business days to get it in the mail, so plan accordingly. You will not be able to get one issued over the phone at your destination.
Remember that Value is Not Just About Money
Most of us have some sort of budget when we travel and that is all fine and good. When we think of value, we tend to think of dollar amount. But, it goes far beyond that, and when it comes to traveling, ways of doing things that save time, hassle and aggravation are quite valuable. I have found that focusing solely on cost and trying to get everything as cheaply as possible had been causing a lot of unnecessary angst on my trip and I have gotten better about reframing value. Sure, you can get the public bus from the airport, but if it will take two hours and several transfers—and you have no idea where you actually need to go– get the taxi that will take you right to your hotel if it is reasonably priced. In Malaysia, I faced a similar situation and I went with the taxi—sure, a lot more expensive than the bus, but 20 bucks for a 45-minute ride from the airport was a steal compared to back home. If you can truly afford to do things the easier way, go for it.
Avoid the Obsession to Get Everything for as Little as Possible
When you are traveling in a destination that is a lot more inexpensive than where you live, the cost of things can truly amaze you. Meals for a dollar, massages for five. I have been in SE Asia for 22 months now, and I still get amazed at how inexpensive some things are, and this can skew your perception of what is ‘’expensive.’’ While it is great to be able to spend so little money for things that would cost so much more back home, it can easily become almost an obsession to spend as little money as possible; and this can put a damper on your trip. When you can get a meal at a street stall for 75 cents, a meal that costs 4 dollars can seem astronomical, so you skip out on that amazing Italian food even though you have a major craving. You can get a hotel room for 10 dollars, so you cannot bring yourself to spend 20 even though that room will be much nicer and you can easily afford it. Now, if you are happy going this route or you are on a super-tight budget, than go for it. But, if you find yourself missing out on things you might enjoy because you cannot resist the cheaper options, that can make your trip less enjoyable.
Kelli Cooper is a freelance writer who enjoys blogging about all things travel; while on the subject of money, all you Canadians out there should check out the Kanetix travel insurance comparison service to find the right policy to protect against the high costs of being injured or sick while abroad.
