Tips and Tricks - US travel

Saturday, January 01, 2000
Cordova, Tennessee, United States
In no particular order:

Take an ethernet cable along - sometimes the WiFi signal isn't good but sometimes there's also an ethernet connection you can use.

Take a power strip. Hotels / motels usually don't have enough plugs to charge 2 phones, 2 cameras and a laptop.

Take a book light. Some hotels / motels only have a light on one side of the bed.

Stop at the Welcome Center of each state and get the hotel coupon magazines. Usually these offer great deals. You can't book ahead usually, you just have to walk in and register, but you can call ahead and see if they have rooms available. This only works if you are on an interstate. 

Drury Inns - they include a hot breakfast and also dinner and 3 free drinks including beer and wine. Even if their rates are a little higher, figure what the cost of dinner and drinks would be if you had to pay.

If you use credit cards, be sure to take a Visa or Master Card. A lot of places do not take American Express. We found that our Delta American Express does not charge a fee if we use it in a foreign country, but not everyone will take it. It's a good idea to photocopy all your cards so if you loose them you will have the information to contact the card company.

Make copies of your passport - if you loose it, a copy of it will make it easier to get a new one.

Don't take travelers checks (if you can even buy them any more). No one wants them and they are a big hassle to cash in foreign banks. Take your ATM card and take a little cash with you for emergency.

VERY IMPORTANT: Notify your credit card and ATM card issuers that you will be traveling. If you don't, they very likely will cut you off, thinking your card is stolen.
 
Keep your phone on airplane mode unless you really really have to use it. Roaming charges in other countries are VERY expensive. And even if you aren't calling or texting, your phone is constantly updating your email, your Facebook, your apps. You could get home and find a very unpleasant surprise - a HUGE cellphone bill. Install whatsapp on your phone and have your friends and family do the same - you can then call or text over WiFi. Put your phone in airplane mode and then turn WiFi back on.

If you use your phone as your GPS you are probably going to have huge charges on your bill. Renting a GPS with a car rental is expensive ($16-20 per day). We bought a TomTom on Ebay with Europe maps for $40 - cheaper than either rental or phone bill, and we can use it in our car at home too.
 

 

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