Currate.com Blog » Europe

Visas, Do You Need One?

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:42:00 +0000

When Americans travel, we often take many things for granted, including ease of going places without a bunch of bothersome restrictions. We come by this attitude naturally. Being able to move freely through all fifty states of the United States, we get used to the idea that this is our “right.” And yes, we know that when we travel abroad we need a passport. But this is something we’re a little less used to having to do all the time, because, until very recently, some countries, such as Canada and Mexico, did not require us to have a passport. Now they do.

Visa Passport, Public Domain, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

But things have changed even more radically over the last ten years than that. Where once we didn’t need passports to travel to some places, now we have to have them for everywhere. This isn’t just so we can get into those countries. It is also so we can get back into our own! Try to reenter the United States without a passport, and good luck! But again, most of us know that passports are now “a must” whenever we travel anywhere outside of America.

But what about visas? Do we need those, as well? What are they? Many first-time travelers, and even some seasoned travelers, aren’t very aware of visas, as to when they are or are not required, and under what circumstances. Many don’t even know what they are.

Well, simply put, visas are special documents that allow you entry into a specific country. For certain countries, visas are required, as well as a passport, in order to enter that country. You may be surprised which countries do and don’t demand them. Also, normally, you get them before you leave home, by contacting any embassies of destination countries that require them. And for the unwitting traveler who doesn’t know about this, it can be a real problem when they take that “dream of a lifetime” trip. Because to get it wrong, can really wreak havoc with your travel plans, and at the worst possible moment, that is, when you are actually arriving at your destination.

What’s that you say? You don’t have to worry about this, because your travel agent will let you know if you need one? Think again. First, the majority of us now are making at least part of our own travel arrangements. Who reading this article, for example, hasn’t booked their flight to somewhere, at least once? Making our own travel arrangements is fast becoming the “new norm,” and with that goes the responsibility of you making sure about whether or not you need a visa to go somewhere. And also, and I hate to say this, but since it happened to me, I’m going to—some travel agents don’t always know about these things.

Case in point: In the late 1980’s I was planning a month-long tour of Europe. At the time, in those “no-Internet” days, I relied strictly upon a travel agent. I was assured by her I didn’t need any visas in Europe. Now, this was in the days just before the European Union really came into being and each country really was very much separate with border guards, and still with the whole passport drill at each crossing. I remember Spain had intimidating armed guards at its border. Still, even there, visas were not required. But just one week before I was due to leave on my trip, I heard France, because of some internal problems, was suddenly demanding that even American visitors have a visa.

Not being sure about this, not knowing what else to do, I called my travel agent, of course, she being the supposed expert on all this. She assured me I did not need a visa to enter France (so much for her keeping up with the latest travel events of the time.) When I became persistent about having heard it on the news, her response to me was “It’s not really my problem to handle these things.” Of course, I knew it was my responsibility to have a passport and any visas I needed, but I assumed my own travel agent could give me the latest news, at least, as to whether I actually would need them or not! She not only didn’t know, but I also had the distinct impression she couldn’t have cared less, having already received my money.

But not trusting her vague answer (and one which I felt was very ill-informed—I mean, doesn’t she ever watch the national news?), I called the French Embassy in Washington. They “assured” me that, yes, I did have to have a visa. So in a panic, I drove to the embassy in Washington (took two days to do this at the last minute, too, because I didn’t live there), and obtained such a visa. So, I was fine on my trip abroad.

However, a large number of Australian citizens who were also taking the same tour as I was didn’t know about this problem. Result? They spent the two days we had earmarked for exploring London, instead scrambling to get in long lines at the French Embassy there, trying to obtain their visas at the last minute. Part of their trip was wiped out, lost forever, because their travel agents hadn’t known about the French visa problem. And they had left on their trip two weeks after I’d left on mine, so that was plenty of time for their travel agents to have learned of the French visa problem well before they left Australia. By the way, just so you know, France no longer requires visas. It was a temporary emergency measure at the time, but now no longer.

My point here with all this is these things do change. Countries that didn’t require visas may suddenly start requiring them. And a lot of this has happened since September 11, 2001. America started demanding certain other countries’ citizens have visas to come here, and they retaliated by demanding the same from our people. So visa requirements have been in a state of flux for a while now. Lately, they have settled down some, but remember this: It is up to you, as the traveler, to have the appropriate documentation to enter any country you wish to visit. Failure to have such upon arrival there, and again, good luck! You could, and probably will in some instances, be ordered to return immediately from whence you came.

So, which countries require visas? Well, right now, and I stress that, because these things change, most Western European countries do not require a visa. By Western European, I mean countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Lichtenstein, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands—all those we are used to thinking of as “Europe” for the last half a century or so.

However, go just a little farther east and it gets trickier. Latvia requires a visa, but Lithuania and Estonia do not. Greece does not require a visa, but Turkey does. Croatia does not require a visa, but Moldova, does. See what I mean? It gets to be a bit of a checkerboard in Eastern Europe, as to whether or not visas are required for certain countries.

In Africa, it is even worse. South Africa and Morocco don’t require us to have a visa, but many other African nations do, including Kenya, Liberia, Egypt, Nigeria, and a host of others. In fact, in Africa, more nations do require visas than don’t. So keep this very much in mind if you are planning a tour of Africa.

The Caribbean region is much the same way. Countries such as Jamaica and Trinidad want you to have a visa, but Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, and others, do not. And when it comes to Cuba, you have to get special authorization from the U.S. Department of State if you want to travel there as an American citizen. But there’s more.

Countries That Can Use Australia’s ETA Program, Public Domain, Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

South America is a bit of a checkerboard, as well. Peru and Paraguay want visas, but Chile and Argentina don’t. In Central America, El Salvador wants them, but Nicaragua and Costa Rica don’t require them. So again, one has to be careful.

Paraguay Visa, Author Alex Steffler, Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

Asia is a veritable patchwork of countries that do need visas, and some few that don’t. Australia even demands an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority), which will allow you to spend up to 180 days in their country. This is a surprise, because most of us don’t think of Australia as demanding a visa of any sort.

So you see, you can’t just rely on entire regions being “okay” with regard to not needing visas when it comes to traveling abroad. And even those areas that don’t require them now, may institute them if they suddenly feel the need. And this can change, right up to the last minute before you travel, as it did with me, so you must be aware of this. It is you that will be denied entry, and not your travel agent, when it comes to traveling. So it is entirely up to you to be responsible for knowing which countries demand you have visas, and which do not. If you do know and go prepared, you will have a great trip. Otherwise, well, your holiday might turn out to be a nightmare.

Eurozone Map 2009. Author, Kolja21, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Another consideration when traveling abroad is money exchange rates, and which countries have what currencies. Even some countries that are now members of the European Union do not yet use the Euro. England doesn’t, for example, but Ireland does. So, you had better have knowledge of which country has what currency when traveling abroad, and what the current exchange rates are for them.

My advice; please do use Currate.com! I’ve said it before, but only because it is so true, Currate.com really is your one-stop website for learning all you need to know about foreign currencies, what they actually look like, what the current exchange rates for them are, and how to calculate different amounts from one currency to another. So for example, if you have to exchange Euros for Egyptian Pounds, at Currate.com you will find the answers you need with regard to those currency conversion rates, what each currency looks like, and how much of the new money you should end up with after the conversion. Currate.com, the travelers’ friend when it comes to currency conversions!

World's First Google World Currencies With Currency Converter, Including Currency Images

And for more information on which countries require visas, what types, etc., please follow the links below this article. And again, for your currency needs, check out Currate.com. With a marvelous online currency calculator, an Earth map of destination countries where you can just point and click, as well as images of the world’s currencies, regularly updated exchange rates, and even applications that allow access with Internet Browser mobile phones, you can’t go wrong. Try http://currate.com/m.php for this. If your mobile phone has enhanced features, then use http://currate.com/e.php. The best part; it’s all free! And it’s user friendly.

For the savvy traveler, knowing about passports, visas, and currencies is a must. Knowledge of all these things will make for a smoother trip, a more fun one, and a cheaper one! So have fun traveling, and remember that visa, if you need it! And don’t forget to have some of your destination’s local currency. You will need that, too.

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor
Robert Rademacher, Currate.com Editor-in-Chief

References:

Australian Electronic Travel Authority
http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

Peninsula Visa & Passport Services
http://www.peninsulavisa.com/visa-forms.htm

U.S. Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Delta, Visa and Passport Information
http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/

Visa Exempt Countries
http://www.southafrica-newyork.net/homeaffairs/visaexempt.htm

What Is A Russian Visa?
http://www.waytorussia.net/RussianVisa/Info.html

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The Age of Hidden Fees – How To Save More Money When Traveling

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:45:34 +0000

Let’s face it; it’s the age of hidden fees. Airlines, hotels, banks, credit card companies — all have discovered the fine art of charging hidden fees. It has become a major trend. Everybody seems to be in on the act. They quote one price, but when you finally get that bill, there are all those “extra” charges on it, as well. Some of those charges are quite creative and one almost has to admire the imagination that went into coming up with them. But imaginative or not, one thing is certain and that is that they will all cost you more money! For the unprepared, these hidden fees are not only an unpleasant surprise, but definitely an unpleasant added expense, as well. And those expenses add up!

Travel Suitcase - Author, Producer, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

How do you avoid this growing problem? Well, one way, obviously, is not to travel unless you have to for some particular reason. As our last article stated, times are tough all over, and traveling is an expense many people are foregoing, for now, at least. However, some people just can’t do this, such as students, businesspersons, those with jobs that require travel, and those needing to visit friends or relatives. For these people, and for others who still want to travel, but need to do it as cheaply as possible, here are some more cost-cutting methods to use. Follow them, and they will save you money. These are designed for all cost-conscious travelers, and not just those going on vacation. If you combine these measures with those mentioned in our previous article, you can further, and considerably, defray the costs of travel.

FLYING: We’ve talked about researching airlines. However, no matter which one you end up with, as the saying goes, “it ain’t cheap” these days. Airlines are getting very good at tacking on hidden fees any which way they can. They do this by taking away free services, cutting employee staff, and generally charging more for existing services, as well as inventing new fees. These include fuel surcharge taxes, charges for reserving flights over the phone instead of the Internet, and added costs for checking baggage, among other things. Weight limits for luggage are being strictly observed by airlines these days. Why? Well, one reason is that if you slip up on this, “they” make more money. Go even slightly over that weight limit and it can really cost you! Checking extra bags will cost you. And for some airlines, even that first checked bag will have a charge coming with it.

Airline Travel Services - Take Off -Author MarekV, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Also, some are charging for the use of headphones, even onboard food, and standard, non-alcoholic beverages. One friend of mine flew from Jamaica home to Raleigh. When he found out that he had to pay seven dollars for a measly cheese and tomato sandwich, and extra besides that for a beverage to go with it, he was so furious that he refused. Result? He arrived home thirsty and very hungry, after not having eaten anything of consequence for an entire day.

Yes, I know that most people don’t think seven dollars is very much. But add on drinks, add it coming and going, and add the costs of any other family members you are paying for, and believe me, that then becomes a substantial cost. What’s that old saying; “watch your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves?” The airlines, hotels, and everyone else are sure doing it, so you had better think about doing it, too, if only as a defensive measure. You don’t want to become the proverbial “plucked pigeon,” monetarily speaking, just because you want to travel abroad.

So Rule Number 1: Call or go online and find out what all air flight charges are going to be. I mean the TOTAL charges for that flight, including the return trip; from fuel surcharges, taxes, and costs for extra baggage,to prices for headphones, food, and anything else for which they may want extra money from you. That “low” advertised price for a ticket will have expenses added to it; believe me, and sometimes, a lot! To know the total price, you must take the time to inquire up front. Otherwise, you could be very unhappily surprised and only after you’ve purchased your ticket.

Author, Sfllaw, Hong Kong International Airport Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Check to make sure that things you assume are free are in fact, still without a charge. And, try to think BYOB, if you want to save costs and cut corners. That is, bring along with you whatever you can legally do so to defray costs. If they charge you for food, this can include some easy-to-eat food or prepackaged snacks. Beverages are a problem because of liquid prohibitions on planes, but you can supply your own headphones and such, at least. And remember to do this for both legs of the trip, coming and going. If they are charging for that little pack of peanuts, bring a package of your own for you, and for your family members. Again, these so-called “nickel and dime” costs can really add up, if you aren’t careful. The airlines know this, and so play this game. If it wasn’t worth their while to “nickel and dime” you, they wouldn’t bother – trust me!

Rule Number 2: After you have purchased your ticket, pay particular attention to your baggage. Again, airlines now often charge for extra baggage, and many charge even for that first piece of checked luggage. Go over the weight limits (or even the size limits), and you could be paying a hefty extra fee.

So remember that old adage; “he who travels light, travels quickly.” And remember, in this case, “he,” or “she,” will also travel more cheaply. So take stock of what you are taking. Consider the items carefully. When traveling to Europe, I pack layered clothing. By this, I mean I pack undershirts, shirts, sweaters, and a light jacket. Combined, all these can come to less than the weight of a single full coat, and yet offer the same warmth, if necessary. Also, this method is flexible. It allows me more choice in what I choose to wear, how much I wear, and when.

Combination Suitcase And Chair Public Domain, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Think about what you really don’t need to take. Travel irons for pressing wrinkled clothes, hair dryers, even such sundry items as toothbrushes, razors, shampoo, soaps, and such, can usually be had at the destination hotel, most of the time for free. Almost all hotels I stay at (and these aren’t expensive ones, by any means), supply irons, hair dryers, shampoo, and soap. And if these aren’t to your liking, then local shops will supply them cheaply. Buy small quantities, enough to last your stay, so you aren’t wasting money in this respect. Better to do this than pay as much as $50.00 extra because you are just a pound or so over your weight limit. That would equal one very expensive bottle of shampoo! Even if there are two of you, airlines don’t average the weight of bags. If one is over a pound, and the other is still under by several pounds, it doesn’t matter. You will still pay extra!

Rule Number 3: Have a meal, if necessary, before going to the airport. Or, bring along a snack, even a beverage. You may not be able to take liquids on the flight, but if you haven’t passed through security yet, you usually can have beverages in the main terminal. Food and drink in airports can be enormously expensive, depending on the airport. And if you get hungry while waiting for your flight, or you are just in between flights, airline food can add on costs to your trip and in a hurry! For two adults, a simple meal with a beer, for instance, at some airports, can run you $60.00 or more. So try not to give in to temptation while at the air terminal. It can cost you. The simple expedience of bringing along a bag of trail mix, or a candy bar or two, could save you big bucks – coming and going!

GROUND TRANSPORTATION: When traveling to other countries, check ahead of time as to what ground transportation is available, where it is located (with regard to airports, points of interest, and hotels). Find out the different methods and ascertain which are the cheapest and most expedient.

Subways: Although subways are usually a great bargain just about anywhere, if you are lugging heavy baggage along, climbing and descending numerous flights of stairs, struggling to get suitcases onto trains, pushing through rush-hour crowds, then subways may not be a good idea. (This is another reason to travel light, baggage-wise.) However, subways are usually very cheap and I use them. If you are planning to stay in one city for a while, you can usually get multiple-day passes, which are a real bargain. Do it.

Buses: I also use bus lines. These, too, often have multiple-day passes. In London, I buy a pass that allows me to use either the “tube” or the bus service for several days. It’s absolutely the cheapest way to get to just about anywhere in that city, and even some points beyond it. Again, lots of luggage can be a problem for this method, struggling on and off buses with heavy bags, but it’s still a very good and cheap way to go.

Taxies: Taxies in Europe or the United Kingdom, as well as other places, are usually the most expensive way to travel, and sometimes the drivers can be a bit shady, although I’m sure most are not. However, as an example, I came out of the “tube” (subway) at Notting Hill Gate in London. I hailed a taxi to take me to my hotel, which was nearby (where exactly, I didn’t know). He didn’t recognize the name of the hotel and so couldn’t find it. I told him it had to be within a few streets of the station at most, according to the description the hotel manager had given me over the phone. Nine British Pounds Sterling later, we arrived at the hotel. It was around the corner from the subway station, not more than 75 feet away. Was the driver being honest in not knowing the location of the place? I just don’t know. But in American money at the time, that cost me $20.00 to find out my hotel was less than a hundred feet from where I had hailed the taxi. Why did I hail a taxi? Because I had lots of luggage on that trip, that’s why. See what I mean about traveling light? Yes…I learned the hard way.

eurostar european high speed train Author, Leon Brocard, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Trains: Trains in Europe are generally a good bargain, and although not so much in the United Kingdom, they still are much better than here in the United States. Also, both mainland Europe and the United Kingdom have very good train systems. Although the British system over the last ten years has worsened some, in my opinion, they still travel to many places. Trains are often, and the rides are comfortable. You can “get there from here,” on them in mainland Europe, and the United Kingdom. However, as mentioned in the prior article, you might want to consider renting a car if you plan many long-distance trips, because train fares can really add up over time, especially if more than one person is traveling.

Car Rentals: First, please understand this; car rentals always cost more than the advertised price, almost without exception! This is true whether we’re talking about here in the United States, or abroad. Fees always are tacked on. These can include insurance fees, road use fees, surcharges of various sorts, extra charges for that “extra” driver, taxes, and fees for any type of navigational devices, among others.

So, here’s that BYOB rule again; if you have a navigational device, pay for a map of your destination before leaving home. Download it, and use it when you get there. Even though maps for such devices aren’t cheap, as I’ve found out, they are far cheaper than renting that navigational device from a car rental agency. On my trip last year, I was charged the equivalent of almost $32.00 USD a day for the device! And you know, it was still worth it. I saved countless hours of time in not getting lost and in gas savings. Europeans just are not great on posting street signs, or at least not where one can see them in time to be of any use. All that extra saved time went to see more things. But do check out car rental costs carefully. Know the total amount. It can be high. Still, for a family, as mentioned in the prior article, a car rental could very well be the way for you to go.

KNOW THE CURRENCIES: This is essential. Whether you are flying to locations that use different currencies, or your trip just involves one different one – know the currency! You need to know it by sight, so you don’t use the wrong bills for tips and such (as I did in Austria), and you need to know its current rate of exchange. If you don’t know that, then you don’t know what those meals, tourist sites, gasoline prices, hotel fees, souvenirs, and all are really costing you. And if you are using a credit card, well, upon your arrival home, and when that bill arrives, it can be an awful surprise. So again, know the currency, know its current rate of exchange, and be able to calculate costs so that you can translate them into your own money. This will save you money!

Currate.com: To be able to do all of this, I recommend Currate.com. It has images of almost all the world’s currencies; you can familiarize yourself with your destination ones. It has regularly updated conversion rates, so you will have timely information on what the exchange rate is. It has a Google Earth style map where you can point and click to your destination. Also, it has a currency converter calculator. Want to know what that souvenir is really costing you? Just use the currency converter calculator to find out. And with regard to that, if you are traveling and have a mobile phone with Internet browser capability, just go to http://currate.com/mbasic.php. For phones with more advanced features, use http://currate.com/menhanced.php. This way, you will have instant access to everything you need with regard to matters of currency conversion. Believe me, knowing this will save you money! And in the current worldwide economic situation, this is always a good idea.

We live in an age where corporate greed has turned craftier than ever. Again, it is the age of hidden fees, of having airlines, banks, credit card companies, hotels, and others trying to “nickel and dime you to death.” So take my advice and fight back. And one of the best ways to do this is to know what all the costs are going to be up front. Then, you can at least try to defray them in some way. Otherwise, you are just a helpless victim. And really consider this approach, because these fees not only aren’t going away in the near future, they are going to get worse! Trust me. It will happen. And you don’t have to look into a crystal ball to know this. The future, in this regard, is sadly all too obvious.

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor
Robert Rademacher, Currate.com Editor-in-Chief

References:

Ten Money-Saving Travel And Vacation Tips
http://goflorida.about.com/od/couponsdiscounts/a/moneysavingtips.htm

CNN 9 Money-Saving Travel Tips
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/traveltips/01/20/money.saving.tips/index.html

Money-Saving Travel Tips
http://www.parents.com/fun/vacation/planning/money-saving-travel-tips/

Money Saving Tips the Travel Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know
http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/2008/jun/19/money-saving-tips-travel-industry-doesnt-want-you-/

The Wend Perrin Report
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/traveltips/11316

Amazing Money-Saving Tips
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/feb/07/budget-travel-guide-credit-crunch

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ATM Costs Around The World – What Banks Really Charge

admin — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:23:58 +0000

This is the next article on hidden costs we started last month. This time, we’re discussing costs of using ATM (Automated teller machine). And, as we have mentioned here a number of times, that probably is the cheapest way for a traveler to obtain currency in another country, by accessing it via an ATM with either a debit or credit card. We want to discuss the real costs of such a transaction, because there are hidden fees here, as well. And because these do differ from bank to bank, we picked a large sample of banks. Also, from what I’ve been able to discover, these fees are pretty much the same everywhere, whether Tokyo, London, New York, or Sydney.

Mobile ATMs installed in a van with guards, User PrimroseGuy, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

But let’s take a typical transaction abroad. Let’s say you are an American in London, don’t want to carry too much cash with you, so you want to withdraw the equivalent of $1,000.00 from an ATM. (Yes, ATMs don’t usually allow so large a withdrawal, but the dollar versus pound rate has fluctuated greatly over the last two years, with the rate at one point being more than 2:1.) Well, the first thing you have to do is select an ATM from which to make a withdrawal. The good news is that as long as your bank is a member of VISA, CIRRUS, MAESTRO, PLUS (some banks list them in these ways), you can do this just about anywhere, and with few exceptions. Slovenia, as of the writing of this article and based on one source, is one of those exceptions, because only Slovenian citizens are allowed to do this. Also, based on another source, a Bank of America card worked fine in Hong Kong, but not in Brazil. So research your destination carefully before you go there!

**Worldwide ATM Locations** (ATM Locator)
Mastercard	http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/atmlocations/index.html
Visa/Plus	http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp
Amex	http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,13195,00.asp
JCB	http://www.jcbinternational.com/plazatokyo_eng/e_plaza.htm
AEON	http://www.aeon.com.hk/wps/wcm/myconnect/aeonweb/EN/main_creditcard/cash_advance/

So; rule number 1: When traveling abroad, especially to multiple countries please be sure you have some of the local currency on hand and a credit card as a backup. This way, in places such as Slovenia, you won’t be caught short. Also, use the links above to locate ATMs that work for your particular card.

Now to continue with our scenario; let’s say you’ve found such an ATM in London (and these are usually no problem to find there), what’s next? Well, unless your bank is a member of the Global ATM Alliance, you are going to be hit with fees to use that ATM. Your bank could charge a flat rate of anywhere from $1.00 to $5.00 (e.g., Wells Fargo is $5.00), plus you will probably be charged by the bank that owns that particular ATM, as well, the so-called “host bank.” Again, this fee varies widely from bank to bank, but can run close to your own bank’s fee in costs. So, total cost of just using that ATM could be as much, or at least the greater part of, $10.00. If your bank is a member of the Global ATM Alliance, then the machine charges are waived. However, the currency conversion charges are not waived. Those still remain intact.

So; rule number 2: If your bank is a member of the Global ATM Alliance, be sure to use their affiliated ATMs. For Bank of America, for instance, this would be Barclays in the United Kingdom. If your bank is not a member of this group, you might want to consider opening an account with a bank that is, that is if you travel a lot, because over time, these fees can really cost you.

Okay, back to our scenario. So now we’ve found an ATM, and we’ve made sure as to whether or not it is a member of the Global ATM Alliance. In our example, it isn’t. We want to withdraw some cash. Rule number 3: the best idea here is to draw as much money as you feel you may need, to the maximum amount you are comfortable having on your person. The reason for this is that if your bank is not a member of the Alliance, every time you withdraw money it is going to cost you significantly. Also, in addition and regardless of which ATM you use, you are going to incur those transaction costs which we are now going to discuss.

Banks charge a transaction cost for money conversions. There is the fixed rate of one percent that everyone pretty much has to pay if using the Visa/MasterCard systems (there seems no way around this unless you use American Express or Discover, because they apparently don’t use these systems, but there are still charges), and then there is whatever the bank decides to tack onto this. Why do banks add on to it? Well, the answer seems to be because they can. They want the extra money, so they charge extra.

ATM Screen Courtesy Wikimedia Commons, User Katrin Grünthal

If you are thinking this is a bit of a rip-off, you are absolutely right. It is just another way for banks to make money off of their customers. They are getting quite innovative in this ability of late, to their own customers’ distinct disadvantage.

The normal added on charge can be anywhere from another one percent of the total transaction to even more. Wells Fargo (like many banks), and according to one source, has upped its charge from two to now three percent of the total amount of the transaction. This is on top of the one percent that is always charged by the international clearinghouse, according to one irate customer’s website. So, we’re talking four percent of a total transaction here. That’s a cost of $4 dollars for every $100 dollars involved in the transaction, and don’t forget those possible ATM fees added into that if it’s a non-Alliance ATM you are using. Now remember, different banks charge different percentage amounts. A few still don’t charge anything at all.

According to the “Bargaineering” website, http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/foreign-currency-transaction-fees-list.html, Foreign Currency Transaction Fees List, this is what some banks are charging their credit card customers (directly quoted from “Bargaineering”):

Credit Card Issuer/Offer Fee for
Foreign Currency Transactions
Capital One	0%
Discover	0%
Wachovia	1%
Washington Mutual	1%
American Express	2%
Bank of America	3%
Citibank	3%
JP Morgan Chase	3%
Wells Fargo	3%
US Bank	3%

And according to the website, Money Blue Book, (http://www.moneybluebook.com/list-of-credit-card-foreign-currency-transaction-fees/) these fees are charged by these banks, and this is all directly quoted material from that site, as well:

Credit Card Issuer/Offer Fee For
Foreign Currency Transactions
Capital One	0%
Schwab Bank	0%	Schwab Bank Invest First Visa
Standard Federal Credit Union	0%	SFCU Visa Card
Affinity Federal Credit Union	1%
NASA Federal Credit Union	1%
Pentagon Federal Credit Union	1%
USAA (Military)	1%
American Express	2%	Limited Oversea Locations
Discovery Card	2%
Advanta	3%
Bank of America	3%
BB&T Bank	3%
Chase	3%	(JP Morgan)
Washington Mutual	3%
Citibank	3%	CitiCard
HSBC	3%
PNC (National City)	3%
SunTrust Bank	3%
TD Bank	3%
US Bank	3%

And at Credit.com, they list these sample fees for banks:

**Credit Card Issuer/Offer Fee for Foreign Currency Transactions**
American Express	2.5%
Bank of America	3%
Capital One	0%
Citibank	3%
HSBC	1%
JP Morgan Chase	3%
MBNA America	3%	(Note from Currate.com Editor: This bank is acquired by Bank of America)
Providian Financial Corp	1%	(Note from Currate.com Editor: This bank is acquired by JP Morgan Chase)
Wells Fargo	3%

Costs Going Up With Profits? Foreign Exchange Market Turnover Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

These include the 1% base transaction cost where applicable. However, doing some independent checking of this, I’ve found some of these numbers, though fairly recent, are already out of date. Changes are occurring rapidly and often since the current financial crisis. As stated, Wells Fargo, for instance and according to one source, has raised its rate again since the above articles were posted. So besides the 1% base charge, they went up to 3% recently on top of this figure (as listed above for them), to a total of 4 percent, instead of 3% according to that one website and same irate customer. American Express is another example, having raised their fees another .5% already, apparently. HSBC, according to another website, has raised its fees another 2% to a total of 3%.

Notice a trend here? Yes, the fees are going up, and quickly! And also yes, in these tough economic times, such figures change so rapidly as to be almost obsolete by the time we get them. However, the rest of the numbers still do seem to stand as of the time of this article. But always check with your bank just before going on a trip to see what they charge at that point in time. I’m betting these rates will continue to change in the near future, rapidly, and steadily upward.

But using these numbers, as an example, let’s get on with that equivalent to a $1,000 dollar transaction we were talking about earlier and let’s see what it will cost us. We will use Wells Fargo as the bank involved. Please remember, this is just an example only and again, most ATMs have limits on withdrawals that are well below this $1,000.00 figure. However, this amount has been valid in the recent past. Right now, in England, a withdrawal of ₤400 pounds sterling, would be roughly equivalent to a withdrawal of $660 US, but a little over a year-and-a-half ago, that figure would have been $840, so that’s another reason why I’m going with the $1,000 figure, to allow for normal exchange rate fluctuations. In any case, here’s how $1,000 breaks down:

**Breakdown of Transaction Costs to withdraw $1,000 cash**
Transaction	Bank Conversion Fee	ATM Fees	Extra Fees
Wells Fargo	3%	$5.00 plus host ATM fees	1% (levied by Visa/MasterCard)

Calculations for Total Costs for ATM Currency Transaction:
4% of $1,000.000
Transaction, plus $5.00 = $45.00 on $1,000.00
Note: Not including host ATM costs, if applicable, which could raise the figure closer to $50.00.

This is not cheap! And every time you withdraw this amount, this is what it will cost you.

Again, these fees seem to apply the same across the board, whether in New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Prague, Frankfurt, Beijing, Tokyo, Moscow, Cairo, Rio, or any other major city, since it is the banks themselves that charge them. Variables include if you are not using a Global ATM Alliance member, in which case, this again means the host bank for that ATM can add on fees for the use of their machine. The upper limit, seems to be right around $5.00 for this.

So there you have it. Overall, you will pay considerable fees for the privilege of withdrawing money from an ATM while abroad, although this is still considerably cheaper than using foreign exchange services or bureaus that cost even more. And also remember that our example of $1,000 was just that – an example. Most banks won’t allow you to withdraw near that much. So, as in the Wells Fargo example, if you were just withdrawing $100.00, this would come to about $9.00 in costs and that is nine percent! The more often you withdraw and the smaller the amounts you withdraw, the greater the percentage comes to for the cost of doing this. That’s why it’s important to withdraw as much as you can, and as seldom as you can, to keep these costs down.

Cover Cartoon of Puck (magazine) titled: "The Central Bank— Why should Uncle Sam establish one, when Uncle Pierpont is already on the job?" Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

As I’ve mentioned in a prior article, I’m planning a month’s stay in the United Kingdom this coming spring. That, for me, means a number of trips to the ATM while there, because I don’t like carrying huge amounts of cash on me. But rest assured I will be withdrawing the maximum allowed. I will split that between my father and me, and we will be using money belts. It’s the cheapest and safest way to go. And I say “cheapest” with reservations, because it is only the “cheapest” of a number of expensive ways to obtain the local currencies. In my estimation, banks have seen to it that there are no longer any really “cheap” ways to get cash. Well, maybe for them by getting it from us through charging so many fees, hidden and otherwise…you think?

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor
Robert Rademacher, Currate.com Editor-in-Chief

References:

Currate.com World Currencies Map
http://currate.com/map

MasterCard Locations
http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/atmlocations/index.html

VISA/PLUS
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp

Yahoo Answers, Can I use my Bank of America debit card to withdraw money from any ATM?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080218154826AAUF7sU

Elliott, How to get rid of a foreign transaction fee on your bill
http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-a-foreign-transaction-fee-on-your-bill/

Independent Traveler.com, ATMs Abroad
http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=41&category=8

ATM Conversion Fees
http://europeforvisitors.com/europe/articles/atm_conversion_fees.htm

Money Blue Book
List Of Credit Card Foreign Currency Transaction Fees

http://www.moneybluebook.com/list-of-credit-card-foreign-currency-transaction-fees/

Credit.com Foreign Currency Conversion Fees are an Unwelcome Companion, by Shane Romig
http://www.credit.com/credit_information/credit_cards/Foreign-Currency-Conversion-Fees.jsp

USA Today
Pre-vacation research can reduce currency-conversion fees
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2006-05-29-currency-exchange_x.htm

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Renting Cars In Europe – The Adventure Begins!

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:43:42 +0000

We Americans are very used to flying around our country to get from point “A” to point “B.” In fact, it is our preferred method for long-distance traveling, even sometimes from city-to-city within states. I’ve frequently flown from San Diego to San Francisco. Why? Because it’s an eleven-hour trip to drive it, that’s why, and that’s each way!

Europcar Counter – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

And that’s one of two major reasons why we fly so much. The matter of time; we never seem to have enough of it. We often have to get where we’re going in a hurry. The second reason is distance. Our country spans the entire width of North America and beyond. You have few travel choices if you want to get to Hawaii, for example. It’s either by plane, boat, or swimming, and I don’t like sharks. And boats make a lot of people seasick (not me…). So to belabor an obvious point, that means having to fly there.

But truly, the scale of our country is remarkably large compared to most European countries. Have you ever considered the distance from Miami, Florida to Anchorage, Alaska, for instance? It’s 4,005 miles!

Maui Uaoa Bay Hawaii – Authors, Forest and Kim Starr Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

I did a month-long tour of Europe that included England, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and it came to just about the same mileage as that trip from Miami to Anchorage. And that was the complete loop in Europe. Here in America that mileage only gets you to Anchorage, but doesn’t get you back. So, there’s no doubt about it, flying is often a necessity here.

Transportation In Europe - Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

But not in Europe; once you’ve arrived there, flying is definitely not the way to go in my opinion. Being so much smaller an area, having such incredible diversity in cultures and geographies all crammed so close together, Europe calls to the traveler to actually traverse it by some surfaces means. So if you have the time, want to really see things, you should travel in this way. Europe has a marvelous train system, as well as great subway infrastructures in most major cities, and equally impressive bus networks in most countries.

But being Americans, and having had a long love affair with our cars, we do love to drive as well. Here, many people drive across country just for the fun of it. This sort of thing has been popular since the days of “Route 66,” and even before then. We Americans do love to drive when we can. And driving in Europe allows the traveler to get off the beaten path, to explore areas otherwise denied to them. So I highly recommend renting a car while abroad, but with some caveats.

Route 66 Road Sign-Fabio Pozzato Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

First, there is the problem of insurance. It can be expensive. And, reserving you own car by Internet, although often a good way to go, can be tricky. When going to Portugal, I rented a car online in advance, through National. Upon arrival at the Lisbon Airport I went to pick it up, only to find that they insisted upon my either posting a large sum of money as a “bond,” or paying over $200 for extra insurance. Nothing on the website had warned me of this. What I thought was a cheap deal turned out to be not so cheap! What could I do? I ended up by paying the extra money.

So when reserving your car, make very sure you know the full price of that rental. Also, be explicit about the car you want. Europeans seem to prefer standard shift. I don’t. So if you want that automatic, reserve early, assume you will pay more for it, because you usually will. I was too late and so had to have a stick shift. Not having driven one in 25 years, and having to do it in a foreign country on steep hills – not so great. I’d forgotten how those cars can roll – backwards! So again, reserve your car early on to make sure you get that automatic if you want it.

Another point about insurance; get the full package. Do check with your credit card company, as well, because many automatically give you supplemental insurance when you use them. But the full package really is necessary. Remember, you are driving in a strange land, with unfamiliar signs, rules, and methods of doing things. Roundabouts (traffic circles) have rules you may not be familiar with and in Europe they do use a lot of them. In the United Kingdom, there is always the added fun of doing it on the left side of the road instead of the right. Plus, because you aren’t familiar with the car’s dimensions, it’s easy to scrape a hedgerow, or stone wall. Roads in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe can be incredibly narrow! I scraped a car on my last trip to England. It was only my left mirror, and very minor, but scraping it against a concrete wall of a covered car park didn’t do much for its look. So, full insurance is a very good idea, because that mishap didn’t cost me a thing.

Secondly, I strongly advise some type of navigation equipment, such as Garmin, Tom-Tom, or whatever please you. In Portugal, I had brought along an elaborate and expensive road atlas. It was great to use for traveling on their major highways, but the minute you leave those, enter any village or town, you can forget the maps. Road names are rarely posted in real life in these places. Once in a while, I spotted one at an intersection, inset into a corner building, but for the most part, they just seemed nonexistent. So a road map with names doesn’t help in a town without them. And there are lots of such towns.

For example, I became utterly lost in Lagos, Portugal. Again, there were very few street signs in town. Upon entering the place, within about five minutes, I didn’t know where I was. I kept trying to find my way “out,” only to find I was lost in a maze of smaller and smaller streets, some so narrow my car practically brushed the walls and it was a small car!

Casa di Cura Cottolengo, Meugliano, Turin, Italy – Laurom, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Finally, when one street became so narrow as to be impossible to see ahead, I stopped the car. My father got out (only he could, because my door was within mere inches of a wall), and walked in front of the vehicle to see where the road led. That was nowhere, as it turns out. The road became, abruptly and without any signs or warnings of any kind whatsoever, a steep staircase down a hillside. It was very quaint, no doubt, but also very dangerous. Imagine if I had kept going a few more feet. I had to back all the way out. Not a pleasant experience, especially not after hours of driving south from Lisbon, and feeling desperately tired.

The next time I traveled and rented a car, I also rented a Tom-Tom. This was for nineteen pounds a day in England, which right now figures out to about $31.54 at current exchange rates. This was not cheap by any standards, but it worked beautifully for me, saved me tons of time and loads of frustration. England, like Portugal, seems very short on street signs once you are in a village or town. But with my trusty Tom-Tom, I always found my way. I even convinced an English friend of it’s worth. He bought one. Even the British have problems finding their way around villages, it seems.

There is also the matter of buying gasoline or “petrol.” Because my car was strange to me (a Mercedes), I had no idea how to release the gas cover. I asked two English people who were filling up to help me, but neither of them knew how either, although they really tried. Twenty minutes later, my father “stumbled” on the secret. Oh, and knowing the real price of gas isn’t easy either. In Europe, they sell it by the liter. Just trying to figure out how much that is a gallon was difficult, and then to try to convert the cost from euros or pounds to dollars in my head was even worse.

So besides that piece of navigation equipment, here is something else you should consider taking with you to Europe. If you have a mobile phone with Internet browser capability, bring it! With it, you can access Currate.com at http://currate.com/m.php. for their currency conversion features. If your mobile phone use more enhanced features, try going to http://currate.com/e.php. That way, you will always have, right at hand, the means to figure out just what that liter of gas is really costing you. And make no mistake, whether euros or pounds, their fuel stations can have very different prices. And also remember that Currate.com has actual images of over 180 currencies. This is a great feature for any traveler who finds they are moving from country-to-country with different currencies. Currate.com also has a Google-style world currencies map where you can just point and click to your destination and its currency.

USD EUR Italy World Currencies Map - Currate.com

Traveling requires preparation and that’s just as true for renting that car you want to use. And although most of us don’t like paying more, sometimes it is worth it. So, rent that car. Make sure one way or the other you have full insurance, and either bring along, or rent a navigation device to go with your car. And do remember that if you don’t like stick shifts, you should reserve an automatic well before your trip. And that expensive road atlas – well, they can be handy, but nothing replaces my Tom-Tom! I bought one as soon as I came home, and I’m downloading the European map into it for my next trip this coming March. To paraphrase, “I won’t leave home without it.” No more staircase streets for me!

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor
Robert Rademacher, Currate.com Editor-in-Chief

References:

Currate Currency Tools:
http://currate.com

Travelmath
http://www.travelmath.com/flight-distance/from/Anchorage,+AK/to/Miami,+FL

How To Rent A Car Abroad
http://www.ehow.com/how_135792_rent-car-abroad.html

Renting A Car Abroad
http://www.greatgapyears.co.uk/renting-a-car-abroad.html

Road Signs In Europe
http://www.reidsguides.com/t_au/t_au_road_signs.html

Unhelpful Road Signs
http://blog.ivman.com/unhelpful-road-signs/

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EXCHANGE RATE LOCATIONS –The Woes of Finding Those “Money Trees”

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:20 +0000

Gargoyle at the tower of Notre Dame de Paris France - Courtesy of Wiki-media Commons

Having trouble finding a place to exchange money when you travel? Have you arrived in another country only to wonder what you were going to do for local currency, where to go to get it? Have you stood in the middle of a crowded airport terminal with a pile of luggage, wondering which way to go to find a place to get local cash?

I’m betting you have, at least once in your travels. Truth is we all have at some point. Even for the perennial traveler, this can be a big problem. Strange airports or new cities – it’s all confusing at first, and we are all “newbies” there. And once we’ve extended ourselves by going some place new, going beyond our old “comfort zone,” we may discover it’s very difficult to locate the “currency zone” in these new destinations. This means we may just “settle” for a convenient, but high-cost currency exchange kiosk.

Of course, we could always just bring what we need of the local currency with us. But obtaining that before we go abroad can be expensive and time consuming. Then, too, there is the problem of carrying all that money around with you in the form of cash.

Moreover, we’re told not to do this, but instead to get our local currencies from the destination country’s ATMs, using debit or credit cards to get the best deal. We’ve even made that point here, at Currate.com. And it is a truly valid point.

Downtown Chicago WaterFront - Courtesy of Wiki-media Commons

So the consensus on currency advice is that you should wait until your arrive at your destination to convert currency. But then there is the question of exactly where do you get that money? Where are the physical locations of these places for currency exchanges?

New York City Financial District - Courtesy of Wiki-media Commons

From one who has wandered around Heathrow, Washington’s Dulles, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, and many other large airports, believe me when I say it can be a difficult and time consuming task! This is often due to the sheer size, complexity, and number of terminals at various airports. Forget currency exchange locations, I’ve even had trouble finding the exits at some airports. Then, when I enter the nearest city, I’m at a complete loss as to where to go.

London Eye London, United Kingdom

So, with this first in a series of four articles on the subject, we’re going to give you physical locations of five major currency exchange services and also of five major banks for the “top ten” destinations worldwide. Now, you may not see the service or bank of your choice listed here, but rest assured more will be covered in later articles when we list AT M locations for these same destinations. Our overall goal is to try to cover as many of these as we reasonably can.

Now, what are the “top ten” destinations worldwide? Well, that seems to be a matter for considerable conjecture and debate. Everyone has an opinion on this, it seems. And, they can vary widely.

Water Foundation Berlin Germany Deutschland - Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

So, I’ve decided to base my choices on the newly released book, Time Out. This book relies heavily on various authors living in the subject cities, and the subsequent list is based on their choices. Such things as the look of a metropolis, the “style” overall, the amount and diversity of the city’s cultural offerings, it’s fame as a place of “good eats,” and of course, the position it occupies in the hierarchy of the world’s greatest cities, are all factors. And all these writers are considered experts in their fields, accomplished, and up-to-date world travelers. Do remember that negative points, such as poor or often inoperative public transport systems, crime rates, etc., had strong effects on which cities they ultimately chose, and what levels they occupy on the final list.

Gaudi’s Casa Batllo, Barcelona, Courtesy Wiki-media Commons

So you may find the book’s choices interesting as a result. There are the usual cities right near the top, but there are also a number of “ties” for cities we might not have normally considered as “top ten” destinations.

Here’s the list as Time Out details it:

New York (USA)
London (United Kingdom)
Paris (France)
Berlin (Germany)
Barcelona (Spain)
(5) Chicago (USA) (Yes, it is tied with Barcelona for fifth.)
(5) Tokyo (Japan) (Also tied for fifth.)
Istanbul (Turkey)
Rome (Italy)
(9) Sydney, Australia (Tied with Rome.)

If you would like more information on how and why each of these cities were chosen for the “top ten,” please use the reference link at the end of this article to check it all out for yourself.

Below the body of this article, you will also find our list of five exchange services and their various locations in these cities, as well as five major banks with their branch locations. For the exchange services, all locations (as shown on their own websites) are listed. However, for banks, sometimes there were just so many, that I limited it to a maximum of ten locations for these for each city. Also, some are branches with ATMs as well, but I concentrated on actual physical offices.

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina Roman Forum Rome, Italy - Courtesy of Wiki-Media Commons

What criteria did I use to select these particular services/banks? Well admittedly, it was somewhat arbitrary, because there are lots of them. And again, some others will be listed later in this subject’s series, such as Western Union. Western Union is seen by the majority, it seems, as principally for “wiring” money to various destinations. Actually, they do far more than that, and so again, will be covered in a later article. For exchange services, I went by those which seemed to have a large presence, either in the general public’s mind, or on the Internet, where most people now first turn to for this type of information. One surprising result of this is that although some had a substantial Internet presence, they had no phsyical locations at all to go to, but instead rely upon sending the money by various methods to their customers. Needless to say, this has some drawbacks for the fast moving traveler.

Shinjuku Street Downtown Tokyo, Japan - Courtesy of Wiki-Media Commons

As for banks, these are based, again, on their presence in the American public’s mind and news of late, as well as being major banks here in the United States. You may find it surprising how some of them have so little in the way of branches abroad. Bank of America, for instance, although a powerhouse here in America, relies principally on “allied” banks and their ATMs in most countries to allow its customers to get local currency. There will be more on this subject, as well, when we discuss ATM locations abroad in a later article.

Sunset over the Golden Horn Istanbul Turkey - Photo by Bertil Videt 2003, Courtesy Wiki-media Commons

Please be aware that the locations are based on these corporations’ websites, and/or other sites that listed such. We cannot, of course, guarantee their absolute reliability, since branches open and close, and the current worldwide economic conditions have had a strong impact on the financial sector. I noted that some branches, now open, will be closed early in 2010, so I deliberately did not include them in the list. Therefore, before you go abroad, double-check that these locations are still accurate, still open, and still providing the services you need. Finally, also notice that in many cities, the major services seem to “cluster” in the same locations. If you want to know where the financial centers are, just use these clusters as your guide.

Sydney Opera House Sydney Australia - by Anthony Winning, Courtesy of Wiki-Media Commons

And as always with currency exchange matters, before you even begin to worry about when and where to go to get that destination’s money, remember to first go to Currate.com. At Currate.com’s website you will find a “one-stop-shopping” approach to all the currency exchange rate information you need. Currate.com lists currency exchanges rates that are reliable because they are regularly updated. It has a great, easy-to-use currency converter calculator, as well as a Google-style world map with “point and click” to your destination capability of over 240 countries. And, if you have a mobile phone with Internet Browser ability, you can just go to http://currate.com/basic. If your mobile phone use more enhanced features, try http://currate.com/enhanced. If you do this, you need never be without reliable exchange rate information close at hand, even when traveling abroad. And finally, Currate.com has actual images of over 180 currencies. This is a great feature for the new traveler, as well as for any traveler who finds themselves in a country with an unfamiliar currency.

Now, here’s that list of locations for the “top ten” cities, as we promised:

TABLES OF MAJOR CURRENCY EXCHANGE SERVICES AND BANKS

-CURRENCY EXCHANGE SERVICES-

Note: Western Union offices are not included due to excessive exchange costs.

New York, United States of America – USD Dollar Currency
American Express (4)	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange (2)	Travelex (4)
200 Vesey St. New York, NY 10281	N/A	JFK International Airport Terminal 1 (2) Arrivals and Departure Jamaica, New York 11430	1271 Broadway/32nd Street New York, New York, 10001
151 W 34th St. Fashion District, NY 10120			590 Broadway/48th Street New York, New York, 10036
822 Lexington Ave. 63rd St. Lenox Hill NY 10021			29 Broadway New York, New York, 10006
374 Park Ave. Midtown NY 10022			30 Vesey St. New York, New York, 10007

London, United Kingdom – GBP Pound Sterling Currency
American Express (4)	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex (7)
30-31 Haymarket London SW1Y 4EX	51 Moorgate London, EC2 R6BH	Earl’s Court 181 Earl’s Court London SW5 9RD	9 Russell Square London, WC1B 5EH
60 Buckingham Palace Rd London, Greater London SW1W 0RR		Euston Rail Station London NW1 2DU	Basement, Selfridges 400 Oxford Street London, W1A 1AB
84 Kensington High Street Kensington London W8 4XP		London Gatwick Airport South Terminal Railway Concourse West Sussex RH6 0RD	Royal National Hotel Woburn Place London, WC1H 0DG
Belgrave House 76 Buckingham Palace Road London, SW1W AX		London Heathrow Station Heathrow Airport Hounslow Middlesex TW6 2JA	Tower of London Tower Hill London, EC3N 4AB
		London Luton Airport Terminal Building Departures Concourse Luton Bedfordshire LU2 9LR	Airside Arrivals / Departures Landside Departures (Main) London City Airport (3) Royal Docks, Silvertown London City Airport London E16 2PX
		241 / 339 Oxford Street London W1R 1AA / W1C 2JB
		Paddington Station London W2 1HB
		56 / 86 Queensway London W2 3RY / W2 3RR
		Waterloo Station EuroStar Main Concourse London SW1W9TP
		Westfield Shopping Centre Unit 2119, Ariel Way London W12 7GE

Paris, France – EUR Euro Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
Paris Airport (10 locations) Roissy Charles de Gaulle Terminal 1 (3) - Transfer Level (Satellite 3) - Arrivals (Public Zone, Gate 16) - Departures (Public Zone, Gate 10) Terminal 2A – Departures (Gate 5) Terminal 2B – Departures (Gate 7) Terminal 2C (2) Gate 6 & Customs Zone Terminal 2D – Departures (Gate 6) Terminal 2E – Departures (Gate 6) Terminal 2F1 – Arrivals (Gate 6) 95741 Paris	N/A	01 Rue Auber 75009 Paris	125, ave. des Champs-Elysees 75008 Paris
5, Rue Scribe 75009 Paris		140 Av. Des Champs Elysees 75008 Paris	194, rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris
		91 Boulevard de Strasbourg 75010 Paris	25, boulevard des Capucines 75002 Paris
		9, Rue Berger 75001 Paris	36-42, rue Rambuteau 75003 Paris
		Gare du nord Terminal Eurostar Station 75010 Paris	4 boulevard St. Michel 75006 Paris
		Quai Transversal Rue de Dunkerque 75010 Paris	45, avenue de l’Opera 75002 Paris
		Train Blue – Gare de Lyon 20, Boulevard Diderot 75012 Paris	52, avenue des Champs-Elysees 75008 Paris
			8, place de l’Opera 75009 Paris
			84, boulevard de Clichy 75018 Paris
			Gare du Nord 18, rue de Dunkerque 75010 Paris
			Gare Montparnasse Niveau Departs Grandes-Lignes 11, blulevard de Vaugirard 75015 Paris

Berlin, Germany Deutschland – EUR Euro Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
Fasanenstraße 81 10623 Charlottenburg Berlin	N/A	Berlin-Schönefeld Airport Airport Terminal 1 Terminal A – Arrivals 12529 Schönefeld	N/A
Bayreuther Straße 37 10787 Berlin		Berlin Tegel Airport Terminal A (Gate 0) 13405 Berlin

Barcelona, Spain – EUR Euro Currency

American
Express

Currencies
Direct

International
Currency Exchange

Travelex

Passeig de Gràcia 101
08008 Barcelona

——N/A——

Barcelona Airport
La Caixa
Currency Exchange Bureau
de Change
Terminal 1

——N/A——

La Ramblas 74
08002 Barcelona

Barcelona Airport
La Caixa
Currency Exchange Bureau
de Change
Terminal 2 (Food Court)

Carrer del Rosselló, 261

08008 Barcelona

–

Diagonal/Proveca
Barcelona Metro

Chicago, United States of America – USD Dollar Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
5209 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60640	N/A	Chicago O’Hare Airport Terminal 3 or International Terminal Des Plaines, IL 60018	19 South La Salle St. Chicago, IL 60603
1501 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60622			360 N. Michigan Ave. (Inside US Bank) Chicago, IL 60601
605 North Michigan Ave. Suite 105, Entrance East on Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

Tokyo, Japan – JPY Japanese Yen Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
30-16, 4-chome Ogikubo Suginami-ku Tokyo 167-8530	N/A	Tokyo Narita Airport Greenport Agency (GPA) Terminal 1 4th Floor Departures Tokyo	1-1 Kanda-Hanaokacho Chiyoda-Ku Tokyo 101-0028
		Tokyo Narita Airport Greenport Agency (GPA) Terminal 1 3rd Floor Departures South Wing Tokyo	141 Building 1F 1-4-2 Nishishingjuku Shinjukuku Tokyo 160-0023
			15F, Akasaka Twin Tower East Building 2-17-22 Akasaka Minato-ku Tokyo 107-0052
			c/- Keisei Tabi Room, Narita Airport Second Build Station 1-1 Furugome, Narita City, Chiba Tokyo, 282-0004
			c/- JR Tokyo Station Gransta Concierge 1-9-1 Marunouchi Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 100-0005
			c/- Keisei Tabi Room Narita Airport First Building Station 1-1Goryobokujyo Sanrizuka, Narita City, Chiba Tokyo, 282-0011
			c/o Keisei Railways Keisei Ueno Station 1-60 Ueno Koen Taito-ku Tokyo, 110-0007
			Haneda International Terminal Haneda Airport 3-4-4 Otaku Tokyo, 144-0041
			Toho Towin Tower 1F 1-5-2 Yurakucho Chiyodaku Tokyo, 100-0006
			Yaesu Shopping Mall No. 2 Yaesu 2-1 Chuo-ku Tokyo, 104-0028

Istanbul, Turkey – TRY Turkey Liras Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
Maya Akar Center New York State Banking Dept. Kat 5 – Daire 23, Büyükdere Caddesi Central Bank (Turkey); No. 100-102, 34394 – Esentepe, Istanbul	N/A	Atatürk Airport Terminal B International Döviz Bürosu Office Arrival Hall	N/A

Rome, Italy – EUR Euro Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
Piazza Di Spagna 38 Rome, 00187	N/A	N/A	Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (4) Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci di Fiumicino Arrival Luggage B & C Gate B & C Rome 00050
Cinecitta Largo Caduti Di E1 Alamein 9 Rome, 00173			Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci di Fiumicino Partenze Rome 00050

Sydney, Australia – AUD Australia Dollar Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
Level 17, 175 Liverpool Street New York State Banking Dept. Sydney NSW 2000	N/A	Sydney Airport ANZ Foreign Exchange International Terminal 1 Sydney	c/- Citibank 2 Park Street (cnr George Street) Sydney NSW 2000
50 Pitt Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000		Central Railway Station Sydney Terminal 13 Eddy Avenue Ramp Sydney NSW 2000	c/- Citibank Haymarket 695 George Street Haymarket Sydney, NSW 2000
275 George Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000		Springfield Avenue & Darlinghurst Rd junction King Cross Sydney	c/- HSBC 28 Bridge Street Sydney, NSW 2000
275 George Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000			c/- HSBC 724-728 George Street Sydney, NSW 2000
296 George Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000			c/- HSBC 92 King Street Sydney, NSW 2000
341 George Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000			Multi-Currency ATM Departures Level Landside (pre-customs) Sydney, NSW 2020
673 George Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000			Shop 15C, Lower Ground 2 Queen Victoria Building 455 George Street Sydney, NSW 2000
			Sydney International Airport (2) Multi-Currency ATMs - Departures – Airside (post-customs) - Arrivals – Airside (pre-customs) Sydney, NSW 2020

-BANKS- (to be added shortly)

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor
Robert Rademacher, Currate.com Editor-in-Chief

References:

Time Out’s Top Ten Greatest Cities In The World
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/holiday_type/breaks/article6818787.ece

American Express Offices, CitiDex New York City
http://www.citidex.com/30.htm

American Express, London
http://www212.americanexpress.com/dsmlive/dsm/int/gb/en/personal

American Express Europe, Asia
http://www.amextravelresources.com/

American Express Australia
http://www.americanexpress.com/australia/personal/te/fes/locations.shtml#NSW

Travelex USA Branches
http://www.travelex.com/us/locations/default.asp?step=2&lang=ENG

HSBC USA Branch Locations
http://www.banking.us.hsbc.com/HICServlet?cmd_GetUSMap=

HSBC International Branch Locations
http://www.us.hsbc.com/1/2/3/personal/inside/about/hsbc-worldwide

Currencies Direct
http://www.currenciesdirect.com/common/contact_display_au.aspx

Currencies Direct (About Us)
http://www.currenciesdirect.com/uk/aboutus/keyfacts.aspx

ICE Branch Locations – United Kingdom
http://www.iceplc.com/branchlocator/uk.shtml

Foreign Currency Exchange Services
http://fceservices.com/

Bank of America (Worldwide Branch Offices)
http://locators.bankofamerica.com/locator/locator/LocatorAction.do

Bank of America (Chicago Branch Offices)
http://locators.bankofamerica.com/locator/locator/CHICAGO_IL/branch_and_atm_locations/locations.html

Capital One (New York Branch Locations)
http://maps.capitalone.com/locator/BranchSearch.action?search=&_sourcePage=index.jsp&address=&city=New+York&state=NY&zip=&searchType=branchSearch&Search.x=28&Search.y=14

Capital One (Contact Info for United Kingdom)
http://www.capitalone.com/contactus/uk.php

Chase
https://www.chase.com/

Chase (Contact Info)
https://www.chase.com/ccp/index.jsp?pg_name=ccpmapp/shared/assets/page/findus

Wells Fargo (Branch Locations)
https://www.wellsfargo.com/locator/

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Travel Warnings And Alerts For Travelers: Don’t Beware – Just Be Aware

admin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:33:44 +0000

Travel warnings and alerts; these are not something the average traveler is usually very aware of, except in the most obvious of instances. We all know, for example, that Iraq and Afghanistan are not safe places for travelers these days. Sudan, Iran, and Somalia are not, either. But how many other countries can you name right now that you probably shouldn’t go to on your holidays? I’m betting you can’t name more than half of those remaining ones.

Terrorists Roaming The Neighborhood - Image Provided by Loyal Currate.com Reader

So, why is that? Why do even seasoned travelers not concern themselves more about this issue? Well, there are a number of reasons for this, one of them being a certain complacency these days that we live in a “global village,” and except for a few problem areas, everything is pretty much “okay.” Also, let’s be honest here, it is a subject travelers tend to avoid. Admittedly, it is a rather depressing topic, but for those traveling abroad, it is something of which they should be aware. After all, going to the wrong place at the wrong time can make for a very unpleasant trip indeed!

First, what is a bona fide travel warning and why are they issued? Well, according to the United States Department of State such warnings “are issued to describe long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable. A travel warning is also issued when the U.S. Government’s ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.”

This means that even if you aren’t hurt or in danger, but you happen to lose your passport or need some other type of help; you may not be able to go to an American embassy or consulate to get it. They may be either closed, or so short on staff that they just don’t have the facilities to aid you in a timely manner, or even at all.

So, which countries currently have travel warnings issued for them by the United States Department of State? Which ones do travelers really need to be aware of and to avoid?

Well, according to their website at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html, as of October 7, 2009, those countries are:

**Long Term Travel Warnings Issued by U.S. Dept. of State (2008-2010)**
Country	Date Issued
Guinea	10/01/2009
Lebanon	09/29/2009
Cote d’Ivoire	09/22/2009
Philippines	09/17/2009
Democratic Republic of the Congo	09/01/2009
Mali	08/31/2009
Central African Republic	08/19/2009
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza	08/14/2009
Kenya	07/24/2009
Afghanistan	07/23/2009
Burundi	07/22/2009
Nigeria	07/17/2009
Haiti	07/17/2009
Iran	07/01/2009
Sri Lanka	06/26/2009
Yemen	06/26/2009
Saudi Arabia	06/26/2009
Uzbekistan	06/16/2009
Iraq	06/15/2009
Pakistan	06/12/2009
Chad	06/02/2009
Nepal	05/22/2009
Georgia	04/09/2009
Sudan	04/08/2009
Colombia	03/25/2009
Algeria	03/04/2009
Syria	02/12/2009
Somalia	11/15/2008

This Information Is Courtesy of
the United State Department of State,
Current Travel Warnings

You can just click on the country and this will link you to the most current information on the warning for that nation. This information may include where in the country there are problems (if they are localized or not), the type of trouble, and to what degree of severity these problems are. Also, there will be information as to the status of the American Embassy there, and other matters that must concern a traveler’s safety. These sites often also give the would-be traveler valuable information on how better to stay safe.

This is the list as of the time of writing this article. Since this list is subject to change and often, always check the above-listed website of the United States Department of State, “Current Travel Warnings,” for the most recent updates.

However, this isn’t all. There is still the matter of “Travel Alerts.” The United States Department of State also issues these. How do they differ from “Travel Warnings?” Well, again according to their own website at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1766.html, Travel Alerts are: “issued to disseminate information about short-term conditions, generally within a particular country, that pose imminent risks to the security of U.S. citizens. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, coups, anniversaries of terrorist events, election-related demonstrations or violence, and high-profile events such as international conferences or regional sports events are examples of conditions that might generate a Travel Alert.

So the main difference between a Travel Warning and a Travel Alert is that the former is a long-term warning, but the latter is a short-term one. Don’t think that these are any less important, because they are short-term. Situations change rapidly and can be volatile, so they are just as vital. Current Travel Alerts exist, as of October 7, 2009, for the following countries:

**Short-Term Travel Warnings Issued by U.S. Dept. of State (2009-2010)**
Country	Date Issued
Mozambique	10/01/2009
Germany	09/29/2009
India	09/22/2009
Uganda	09/17/2009
China	09/01/2009
Mauritania	08/31/2009
Tanzania (including Zanzibar)	08/19/2009
Mexico	08/14/2009
Honduras	07/24/2009
Hurricane Season	07/23/200

This Information Is Courtesy of
the United State Department of State,
Current Travel Alerts

Do notice that the alerts include, among others, Germany, India, China, and Mexico. Who would think Germany, a country in the heart of Europe, could be so potentially unsafe? Mexico, of course, has been much in the news of late. And by the way, there is even an alert about the Hurricane Season. So again, there is a lot of worthwhile information for travelers at these sites. Just click on the country to link to the information about that travel destination. And remember, these are constantly updated, so you should check out the website shown above, just before planning your next trip, and again before you actually leave. Do this for both such sites.

The point of this information isn’t to scare the traveler, to shout, “BEWARE,” at you, but rather to inform travelers of current conditions at various destinations. To be informed is to be aware, and the aware traveler is a safer one in this case.

Do remember, though, that alerts can come at any time. So, you must be flexible in your travel plans. If, even while traveling, an alert comes out that one of your destination countries may be unsafe for the moment, consider alternate destinations. Be ready to change your plans in a hurry, if need be.

And different destinations can mean different currencies, which have different exchange rates. With sudden plan changes, you may not be prepared for this eventuality. So if you have a mobile phone with Internet browser capabilities, take it along with you on your trip. It may be of invaluable service, because with it, you can access Currate.com, where you will find reliable and up-to-date currency exchange rates for most currencies.

Currate.com even has a Google style world map currency conversion where you can just point and click to your destination. It’s as easy as that. And this way, you can quickly find out the most recent exchange rate for a nation’s currency, have access to the easy-to-use currency converter calculator there, and can even see actual images of over 180 world currencies. So, not only will you know how much it costs to convert, what the destination currency actually looks like, but you will also be able to access such information any time as long as you have that mobile phone with you. You can just use your mobile phone to go to http://currate.com/m. If your mobile phone has more enhanced features, then try http://currate.com/e .

This way, you will always have quick and easy access to the best and most recent information on currency exchange rates. And as with travel warnings and alerts, it’s best to be aware of the latest currency exchange rates, rather than have to “beware” of making costly errors in your currency transactions all the time. Currate.com is a necessity for the “aware” and “flexible” traveler. And these days, all travelers need to be this way.

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor

References:

U.S. Department of State, Travel.State.Gov Website
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html

DallasNew.com, U.S. travel alert for Mexico no help to tourism
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/travel/thisweek/stories/DN-mexalert_0308tra.ART.State.Edition1.48f1ea8.html

USA Tourist Community
http://community.usatourist.com/blogs/alerts/default.aspx

US Renews MX Travel Alert Today: What about that?
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/billiegreenwood/borderexplorer/1208303160/tpod.html

Berlin rejects travel alert for foreign tourists
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4719133,00.html

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