Frequently Asked Questions

No.  Go to an ATM when you reach your destination country and withdraw cash there.  The conversion rate is likely to be better than what your local bank will offer you.  And, last time I tried, it took weeks for my local bank to obtain the foreign currency I wanted.  Why bother with all that?  Get a debit card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee (more on that in a moment) so you can withdraw cash abroad as inexpensively as possible.  There are typically ATMs in most airports, in case you’re worried about having cash for a taxi to your destination.  

Choose one that’s affiliated with a local bank in your destination country.  Avoid those universal ones (like Euronet in Europe) because their transaction fees are outrageous.  You don’t want to spend $7 to withdraw $100 worth of foreign currency.  Those universal ATMs are also dicier if the machine happens to eat your card.  That happened to me while I was in Albania, which is kind of a disaster when you’re in a cash-centric country like that.  Although I called immediately, I never did get the card back – and they only empty the machines once a week, whereas a real bank can likely access them on a daily basis.  Luckily, at the time it happened, my daughter was traveling with me, so I was able to use her debit card for the rest of the trip.  

There are a number of credit cards that don’t charge international transaction fees, but far fewer debit cards.  When banks DO charge international transaction fees, it’s usually a surcharge of 3% of your purchase price.  Again, why pay $103 for a $100 item?  To avoid the fees, I use Charles Schwab, which not only is free of international transaction fees, but they ALSO reimburse you for any ATM fees you incur.  Wise and Revolut are online banks that offer both physical and digital debit cards that you can use to withdraw cash.  Note that Wise and Revolut don’t reimburse you for your ATM fees, however.

ALWAYS choose the local currency of the country you’re traveling in.  Why?  Because the credit card processors will give you a lousy conversion rate.  Your credit card’s bank is far likelier to give you a reasonable conversion rate.  Save money, pay in local currency.

Similar to #4 above, decline their offer to convert it for you.  Just like the credit card transactions, the ATM will likely charge you a crummy conversion rate; your home bank will do better.  Be cautious here: often, you have to decline their “dynamic currency conversion” offer twice before you escape, and the language they use is deliberately confusing.  Read the screen carefully, and decline their offered conversion rate.  

This one is a big “it depends”.  If you’re going for a relatively short trip with a single type of anticipated weather (e.g., summer) and you don’t need any specialty clothing (e.g., formal wear, business clothes), a carry-on is great.  You avoid the checked baggage fees, the time spent at the luggage carousel, and there’s less to schlep around as you travel.  

If you’re a golfer/skier/whatever carrying large equipment, then obviously checked baggage is gonna be the only way to go.  Just try to keep the weight reasonable.  

Now, it gets trickier.  If you’re traveling in the winter months and need bulky clothing, if you’re a savvy traveler, maybe you can squish everything into a carry-on.  Compression packing cubes might help here with sweaters and down jackets to downsize them to a more manageable size.  If you’re just doing one flight out and back, and not doing a lot of transfers while abroad, I’d say to heck with it and just check my bag.

There are always fierce debates on traveler forums about carry-on vs checked bags.  There’s no right or wrong answer.  You do you, I’ll do me, it’s all good.

Even then, some people swear by carry-on only. I know one lady who travels around the world with what looks like a 40L backpack (no wheels) which includes five (yes, five!) jackets.  I don’t know how she does it, but it works for her.  Another lady I know carries what I think is an inordinate amount of luggage, but I notice that she usually stays in one place for a month or more, so she’s schlepping it less often.

I happen to be team checked bag on this one.  In my case, I’m packing for four seasons and I’m living out of this suitcase.  My goal was to fly only when I had to cross large bodies of water, so checked baggage fees are less of an issue because I travel most of the time by train or bus.  I use an Osprey 60L rolling backpack for year-round travel.  It typically weighs in at 16-17kg, which I’m still capable of lugging around at the age of 69.  Although I roll it most of the time, I still need to go up and down train station/subway steps, and on and off trains – or maybe up several undisclosed flights of stairs at my short-term rental (e.g., AirBnb).  But I have four seasons of clothing with me, and everything mixes and matches.  I get kinda sick of looking at the same clothes all the time, but if you’re gonna be a permanent nomad, that’s basically par for the course.  So, my main advice here is to only pack what you can easily carry up and down stairs – because you WILL be carrying it up and down stairs somewhere along the way.

The United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Taiwan run their electricity on 110-120 volts.  Everywhere else uses 220 volts.  This will wreak havoc on your electronic device if you’re not paying attention.

A CONVERTER converts your device from 110 to 220 (or vice-versa if you originate in a 220 volt country).  However, it’s likely not necessary to buy a converter.  Cell phones, tablets, and most laptops are dual-voltage today.  That means they work seamlessly on either 110V or 220V.  But check your device.  The electrical plug or the device itself will likely say 110-130 or 220-240.  If it says 110-240, you’re good to go.  If it’s not dual voltage, and you have your heart set on using your good camera or an African safari or to capture the Northern Lights, you’ll need a converter.

An ADAPTER simply makes the plug on the end of your device fit into the socket of your destination country.  America uses a plug with two flat pins, but Europe uses two round pins – except for the UK and Ireland, which use a hefty plug with three angled prongs.  One of the easiest things to do is to buy a universal adapter that handles all three of these main plug types.  

Don’t listen to your friends.  The idea that your dual voltage device will “burn up” is complete and utter bullshit.  If it’s dual voltage, it will be fine.  I travel around the world with a dual voltage hair dryer and dual voltage curling iron that I bought while I was still in the United States.  They work flawlessly – as they’re designed to do!  

Some older models had a switch on them that you had to move from 110 to 220 (or vice-versa) as you changed countries, and I admit that I fried a hair dryer by forgetting to change the switch, but that was user error, not the device’s fault.  So, if you have a hair styling tool that heats up but is dual voltage, you’ll be fine – just remember to change the switch if it has one.