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Travel Tip
Jaipur
Collect or
exchange as much small change as practical, very few people
seem to have change, especially in rural areas.
Take a fair amount
of small denomination US money for airport (departure) taxes
and when you only need to exchange a small amount of
money-like when leaving a country. You can also often get
better prices in shops if you pay with greenbacks.
In general, cash
is better than traveler's checks. Cash can be easier and
quicker to exchange and command a higher rate or the
commission can be lower. In some places, the larger the
denomination of bills, the better the exchange rate. Many
merchants will take dollars and their rate of exchange can be
higher than the "official" rate.
Refer to your
guide book on the existence of any black market for currency
exchange and whether to or how to use it. Some countries are
more tolerant of black markets than others.
When you exchange money, exchange as much as you think you
will need for some time as it can be a real time consuming
task or the banks will have odd (and short) hours. You may not
be able to exchange money at all in small towns or in the
countryside. Money can also be exchanged in many hotels.
Take a personal
check and an American Express card. If you need more money,
you can go into an American Express office with your card and
write a check for traveler's checks. Cash machines are also
more common now in large cities.
Keep money and
valuables in a money belt or pouch under your clothes. If you
carry a bag for guide books, maps, brochures, etc., use one
with a zipper and hang on to it. Leave your wallet and purse
at home. Crimes that take place are usually crimes of
opportunity, like pickpockets, as opposed to violent crime
(unlike in the U.S. According to FBI statistics from more than
80 other countries, only the Bahamas has a higher than the
U.S. per capita frequency of robberies and violent thefts).
Unless you have an
audience with the head of state, leave all jewelry (and
engagement
ring) at home.
ALWAYS keep your
passport, plane ticket, money and camera with you.
If something
doesn’t go right, smile and be persistent in what you want.
Getting mad, yelling or fist pounding will only be met with
resistance.
As soon as you
arrive someplace, arrange your way on to your next stop.
Trains/planes/("first class") busses tend to get booked up in
advance. Travel agencies can usually get reservations for you
as they book blocks of seats well in advance.
Arrive early and
get aboard early any bus/train/plane etc. They can be oversold
and/or
fill up in a hurry.
When traveling by
regular bus, try to get seated close to the front as they will
keep packing people in until there is no room left inside.
Additional people then hang on the outside and climb on the
roof, when travelling in a ordinary bus.
Always settle on a
fare before climbing into an un-metered taxi. If metered, make
sure the driver will go by the meter or decide on a price.
Make sure the price includes everyone in your party. In some
countries, the meters can't be readjusted as fast as the rate
of inflation so the fare may be the meter price plus X%. Check
your guide book or ask someone if the driver won't go by the
meter. Rates are often higher in the middle of the night and
between an airport and town.
Reconfirm all
airline flights along the way. It is possible to show up for a
flight and not have a reservation because you did not
reconfirm.
Every time you
check in at the airport, check your tickets afterwards and
make sure that the agent did not tear out more tickets than
she/ he was supposed to.
When you step out
the door of an airport, be prepared to become the focal point
of dozens of taxi drivers and kids drumming up business for
busses. Know what you want to do before stepping through the
door. Check your travel guide or ask someone in the airport
how much a ride to town should cost and what the choices are.
When you step off
the bus or whatever in a new town and need a place to stay,
and some kids come up and offer to show you a place, go ahead
and use them. You can always take a look and say no. They are
just trying to drum up business for someplace and/or a
commission for themselves.
When asking
directions to someplace, ask several people, and keep asking
as you go.
Use a travel alarm
clock to wake you up in time for that early morning
bus/train/plane.
Medicines of all
kinds are usually available in local pharmacies with no
prescription necessary. Check expiration dates.
Unless you are in
an expensive restaurant, you will be charged for any bread,
butter, jam, cheese, olives, etc. on your table that you eat.
Check your
guidebook for taxi and restaurant tipping guidelines. In some
places the service is included, others it is not, and in still
others there is a combination of included service charges and
tipping. For tipping 10% of the bill amount is good.
If you wear shoes
that can be polished, watch for kids who will sneak up to you,
slap some polish on your shoes, then offer to finish the job.
Settle on a price first if you decide to proceed.
If you hand out
coins to children, you are likely to start a parade.
Above all, use
common sense! |
