It is said that you should never take anything with you on vacation that you are not prepared to lose.
However, if your possessions are lost or stolen while travelling it can be very inconvenient and annoying, even if you are able to replace them quite easily (often for much less than you originally paid).
There are people out there who prey on tourists and travellers, as there are at home. And just like at home there are simple precautions you can take to prevent yourself becoming a victim of crime or loss.
Most of them don’t cost you [...]
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There are a number of ways of carrying money, or at least getting access to it, as you travel.
However, there can sometimes be problems converting that money into the local currency in terms of excessive fees, terrible exchange rates, or even not knowing how much to change (for example, when converting too much in an attempt to save money).
The four main choices are listed below with their respective advantages and disadvantages. The fees and rates change all the time so don’t rely on any figures given, rather check the Internet for updates.
Keeping your money physically secure [...]
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Once, whilst returning from a trip to Italy, I met a man on a train who was travelling dressed only in a swim suit and a towel. He had left his bag on the beach for just a few moments to paddle in the sea. When he returned it was gone, along with his passport, money, tickets and all of his clothes (apart from his towel).
As well as a lesson on the importance of looking after your possessions as you travel, strangely enough this story also shows how little you really need to take with you. [...]
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