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Matera Italy: Site For The New James Bond Film “No Time To Die”.
Vasto Italy: Vasto Marina
Prague Czech Republic
Traveling Outside The Us
Hi everyone! This is my first official Blog on my newly constructed website, which is still being tweaked at the moment. I decided to write about a question I often get; “Got any tips on traveling outside the US?” Well, I got this question a lot so I decided to write what I call my “Travel Tips” document. I send this to fellow musicians, family, friends, and followers including seasoned travelers who find the tips helpful… Right now we are all still dealing with a travel ban which has put a big cramp on everyone’s travel plans, me included. But, this too shall pass (I hope). So, in anticipation of being able to go abroad and having people ask me the question recently, I’m putting the “Travel Tips” here for everyone to have…
If you’ve never traveled outside the US it can be a confusing and daunting task. Obviously you need to do your homework and gather information on your destination(s) especially when it comes to laws and customs. It’s also helpful if you can learn some of the language, time permitting. I like getting maps and guide books well in advance of the trip. If you plan on visiting specific historical sites and events, you will want to book those in advance online to avoid the long lines and wait time. I hope you will find the “Travel Tips” as helpful as others have…
MICK’S TRIP TIPS FOR TRAVEL ABROAD
1. Call Banks in advance of your trip to let them know you will be out of the country with credit cards. Never let your credit cards out of your sight. Use only credit cards with chips. Debit cards at ATMs.
2. Buy Euros / Pounds or other relevant currency in advance from your local bank and then use ATMs when overseas as the fees are lower. Know the current exchange rates: http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/# http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1000&From=EUR&To=USD
3. American Express Travelers Checks are a good option.
4. Get your cell phone company’s “Travel Plan”. Turn off when back.
5. Make sure to turn off your cell “data roaming” or it’s big $$$
6. Purchase a “Eurail Pass” train pass that lets you travel without purchasing a separate ticket each trip. (UK does not use)
7. https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/global-pass
8. An option is a local cellphone just for Europe/UK or? because if the people in the country you’re visiting are calling you on your US cellphone, it will ping to the US first and then to you in the country you’re in, which is expensive. That’s why I have a “Dual SIM” cellphone and country specific SIM cards.
9. Book Hotels in advance: London: http://www.lordkensington.co.uk/
10. Florence Italy: http://www.hotelbalcony.com/
10. “Insurance outside the USA”: Check Medical, etc. you may not be covered or your insurance co. may have limitations.
11. Make sure the electronic devices you take have power chargers that are 110-240v or you will Blow up the device. Get the correct wall adaptor plugs for the country you will visit. Wall Adaptors DO NOT CONVERT VOLTAGE!
Wall Adaptor Plugs:
12. Keep cameras, purses, and valuables in front of you in your bag.
13. If possible, take only carry-on luggage International size & weight requirements. (Important)
14. Purchase a biometric flash drive and keep all credit card, passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, banking info, US consulate, local emergency numbers for the area you are traveling in, etc. on it in case you lose everything. Especially make a copy of your passport and keep it in separate place.
15. Email a copy of all important documents to yourself in the event everything is stolen or destroyed. Use secure email server.
16. Know where the US consulate is where you are going and what the emergency services phone numbers are, i.e. Police, etc.
17. Purchase “TSA” locks for luggage. Purchase an “Alarm Cable Lock” that can be set to sound if the bag(s) are moved or to sound if the cable is cut.
Luggage Alarm Lock:
18. When leaving items of value in the hotel while you are away, lock them in the suitcase(s) and “alarm cable” the suitcase(s) to an immoveable fixture in the hotel like a heater pipe.
19. If you are at the airport in a foreign country and have a layover or a wait, cable the suitcases together. This prevents the scam where a thief runs off with one suitcase and while you are chasing after him others come and steal the rest of your stuff…
20. Purchase a “Talking Translator” that has the language of the country you will visit. Usually these have other very valuable features. You can get apps for your phones that have these features. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dautomotive&field-keywords=talking+language+translator
* If you want to use the hotel safe or your room safe ONLY do so if you can set the combination otherwise the hotel has access to your valuables. JUST REMEMBER TO WRITE DOWN THE COMBINATION YOU CHOOSE AS THE HOTEL MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE SAFE!
21. Be careful of open WI-FI. If you use an “Internet Café” be sure to wipe your trail before leaving that computer and make sure no one is able to see you enter passwords, etc.
22. Lay out everything you will take and ask yourself “am I really going to use that enough to justify taking it?” If you run out of toothpaste in Rome you can just buy more… Take small travel sizes and follow International liquids regulations.
* Liquids Rule | Transportation Security Administration (tsa.gov)
23. International size & weight information:
* http://traveltips.usatoday.com/items-allowed-carryon-baggage-international-flights-54765.html
* What Can I Bring? | Transportation Security Administration (tsa.gov)
24. There are advantages to acquiring a KTN through the TSA Pre-
Check: https://www.tsa.gov/precheck
25. If you travel abroad often you may want to think about the
Global Entry Program. Much like the above TSA Pre-Check
This program will allow you to skip the long security lines in participating countries:
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry
26. Use a money belt without metal parts to hide money & other valuables under your clothes and pass through metal detectors.
