I am learning so much as I gather information for the trip. It's been nearly ten years since Mike and I have been to Europe and things have changed. Well, life has changed and technology has changed. There are so many wonderful resources out there (blogs, web sites, podcasts) and I love sifting through them.
Visas
During our road trip through Missouri, I happened upon a podcast called Budget-Minded Traveler. I loved it and listened while driving. One of the things the podcast host mentioned is the importance of checking into visas before traveling somewhere. I hadn't thought about this and, as it turns out, I don't need to. France (and a host of other countries) participate in a program that grants visas upon arrival.
Likely this means we will have to just hop in another line at the Paris airport after we get off the plane and complete some paperwork. I'm not worried, but I'm glad I heard this because Mike and I will be heading to catch a train to Normandy and I want to make sure we account for the extra time it will take to deal with the visa situation, along with luggage.
Foreign Transaction Fees
For both our Chase debit card and Bank of America credit card, there is a 3% foreign transaction fee. I didn't realize this until I called to notify them that we would be making purchases while we travel. Chase has a wonderful fraud detection program. However, we've been contacted about our accounts when we purchased something out of the ordinary or in unexpected locations. I do not want our accounts frozen while we are gone because they suspect illegal activity. What a nightmare that would be!
This extra fee wouldn't dissuade us from travel, but I do think it's something to be aware of. When you take into account the exchange rate that devalues the dollar and then high prices in a metropolitan area like Paris, then add a 3% charge to every purchase... well, it all adds up.
Speaking of currency exchange, there is a wonderful XE app that allows you to calculate the exchange rates. I downloaded it onto my phone and as I booked our hotel and tour service in Normandy, I could easily determine what the cost in American dollars would be. Ah... the year 2014. Thoroughly modern, I tell ya!
Phone Usage
I spent about 15 minutes on the phone with Verizon customer service, trying to determine if and how our iPhones would work abroad. The good news is that we have the newest version, which is has global compatibility. We can add an international service plan for $5 a month and cancel it when we get home. As long as we're on wi-fi, it's free to make calls. However, a data plan costs more money. Even that cost was not unsurmountable, but I think we're likely to sign off from e-mail and just call home to connect with the kids.
I've still got a host of other items to look into, including:
1) purchasing train tickets ahead of time
2) neck pillow of some sort for the plane
3) create a list of french pharmacy beauty supplies I want to pick up (such fun!)
4) figure out how we will wear our passports (do folks still wear them around their necks on one of those pocket things?)
What else? There are probably a million other things I should be thinking about... The good news is, I'm not stressed, I think it's fun figuring it all out. The only thing that has me a bit nervous is that I don't know one word of French. But I've got a couple of tricks up my sleeve for dealing with that one...
Any advice out there that you'd like to pass on to me? Please, please, please, send it my way!
Welcome! We're just your average family, trying to maintain our sanity and keep our sense of humor while raising two beautiful children and surviving suburban life. Contact me at hithereMaggie@gmail.com
7 comments:
Scan a copy of your passport and email it to yourself. That way, if you DO lose it or something happens to it, you can get a copy of it on any computer you can log into gmail. Someone told me that trick years ago and I thought it was pretty genius!
One trip, I called my CC company ahead of time to tell them I'd be traveling and they could expect charges. Towards the end of my trip my card was frozen. I was quite annoyed since I had called them , but I had my back-up card on hand, so I just switched to that one. BUT, when I got back to the states, I found out there actually had been a fraudulent charge on my account and that is why they had frozen it! CC Companies are really on top of that stuff!
Ok. We need to talk. And girl, get a credit card that waives those fees. Capital One, Bank of America, and others have international cards for this reason.
I've gotten an earful about my lack if credit card knowledge recently and I'm definitely ready to dive in. Would love to hear what you think is best for racking up international flight miles.
Very smart! I will scan them in before we leave!
I think I have an inflatable neck pillow you can borrow if you want - that way it doesn't take up space when not in use.
I will also look to see if I still have my super slim fanny pack thing that you can put your passports in and wear. It's slim enough to fit underneath your shirt tail/pants, not on top where it's visible. Of course, this is all a valid offer only if I can locate these items!
Lots of hotels also have in-room safes for this purpose. I can't remember if ours in Paris did or not.
Checking visas is definitely necessary. I actually just went to Brunei and I was shocked to find that I was the only person in the queue from my country who realised they needed one - no one else had bothered to find out!
I have never worn my passport around my neck so I find that completely unnecessary. i keep it tucked away in a backpack or in a hotel safe.
Good advice ! I'm thinking hotel safe is the best route now...
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