Jimmy Atkinson at Ask the Advisor sent me a note on his recent article on personal finance tips for oversea travel. As I have just back from a long trip, I understand getting everything ready, especially safety and financial prepared, are extremely important. He suggested 27 tips around safety, health, and financial issues:

• Make two photocopies of any important papers.
  
  
• Travel light (clothing-wise) and forget the bling.
  
  
• Find answers to your questions before you leave Home.
  
  
• Safeguard your health.
  
  
• Purchase travel insurance.
  
  
• Purchase travel medical insurance and death insurance.
  
  
• Continue to cover your assets.
  
  
• Get phone numbers.
  
  
• Purchase an international phone card and open an accessible email account.
  
  
• Plan your itinerary before you leave Home.
  
  
• Travel light (financially) and carry a spare card.
  
  
• Decide whether you want to use traveler’s checks.
  
  
• Check your ATM, credit and debit cards before you leave.
  
  
• Inform credit, debit, and ATM card banks and companies about your travel plans.
  
  
• Get information about fees and charges for overseas card usage.
  
  
• Consider a new card for an extensive trip.
  
  
• Check for overseas partner banks and consider a debit card.
  
  
• The overseas ATM and your debit card.
  
  
• Consider pre-paid debit cards.
  
  
• Consider a money belt.
  
  
• Learn to loop.
  
  
• Learn about the Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) process and avoid it.
  
  
• Purchase some foreign currency at your local bank just before you leave.
  
  
• Avoid Cash-to-Cash machines.
  
  
• Use cash whenever possible.
  
  
• Hotel rooms between the second and seventh floors.
  
  
• Public transportation saves money.