Halfway through a Euro-holiday, it finally dawned on me that an international vacation has a lot more moving parts than a trip to Seattle or Las Vegas: passports, power converters, credit cards and currency.
It's one of those tough lessons that I learned more or less the hard way. So -- if you're thinking of heading out of the country, consider making a quick list to make sure you've got everything covered.
From deep in the Euro-zone (southern France), it's tough to get by without a Euro-phone. Not only does everyone have a phone (just like home), but everyone expects you to be able to receive directions or take a phone call. So, be proactive before you land in Europe and start ringing up the impossible roaming charges!
The folks at Cellularabroad.com have plenty of solutions for the modern communicator on the go. If you're going to several countries, you can get a phone that works in more than 200 locations, with free incoming calls from more than 70 countries. The GSM phones are available for as little as $18 per week, or you can buy one for $179, including a special SIM card. Or you can purchase a special SIM card that works with your own GSM phone for $49. There are separate plans available if you're just going to one country, including phone rentals, sales and SIM cards.
For spending money in Europe, here's a tip: Bring a bundle! Actually, the dollar is doing quite a bit better than last week -- or last year, for that matter. In the Euro-zone, one Euro costs about $1.23. It's a good idea to get a little currency prior to your arrival on the ground, in case you have to hire a taxi. Get your currency at the Wells Fargo bank in the Fifth Avenue Mall. You have to have an account at Wells Fargo -- and you have to have two pieces of ID. But that's just part of the picture. Instead of using a traditional currency exchange house once you arrive in Europe, just use an ATM/debit card to get money from the machine. You'll get a great rate, and there won't be a currency exchange fee. However, you have to let your financial institution know that you'll be traveling. Plus, it's a good idea to bump the default $300-per-day limit on your card. If you have other credit cards, be sure and call the banks and advise them that you'll be traveling.
One more thing on credit card transactions: More banks are fond of charging an additional three-percent charge on all foreign transactions. One card, Capital One, does not charge the fee. Here in the McMurren household, we carry the Alaska Airlines Visa from Bank of America. But when we're in Europe, I use the Capital One card to avoid the three-percent surcharge.
Many companies have specialized travel gear, but one company has a catalog devoted to the stuff: Magellan's. Looking around the cluttered desk of my room here at our b-n-b, I spy a handful of gadgets including a travel wallet that slips around your neck that you can keep under your shirt for passport, credit cards and currency. Magellan's has its own brand of luggage, specially-designed for the active traveler. They also market the popular "Scott-e-vest" line of pocket-filled jackets that hold iPhones, iPods, iPads (y-e-s, even iPads), sunglasses, digital cameras, travel documents, cell phones -- with room to spare. There's also a mish-mash of power converters, portable containers for your lotions and potions in TSA-compliant sizes -- plus several varieties of electronic phrasebooks, luggage scales and bug-repellant clothing.
Getting to and from Europe is pretty easy, if you're departing Anchorage or Fairbanks: Condor. There are three flights each week from Anchorage (Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday) and one flight each week from Fairbanks (Thursday). It's cheaper and faster than any service via the Lower 48 on Delta, USAir, Continental, American or any combination of Alaska Airlines with British, Air France or KLM. Unfortunately, Condor does not offer frequent flyer miles -- so there's no way to redeem or accrue points.
Oh, and don't forget your passport.
Although we will not have a car in Paris, it's been great cruising around in the countryside with a rental car. We opted for Auto Europe, which acts as a wholesaler, finding the best deal at any location. Picking up a car in Avignon cost us about $75 per day -- but we got a big car. You can get less expensive cars. In retrospect, we should have gotten a smaller car in order to get around the skinny streets in some of the hill towns.
Check with your credit card company to see if they offer insurance for international car rentals. Both Bank of America and Capital One offer primary insurance, so I was able to avoid the expensive European insurance that drives the cost up.
Chances are good that there is a host of travel experts out there offering online advice about your destination. For France, I started and finished with Bonjourparis.com. Karen Fawcett has been a wealth of timely, relevant information that has saved us a lot of time -- from renting an apartment in Paris, to lining up an airport pickup service, to optional tours in Provence. When traveling in Italy a couple of years ago, Kathy McCabe's Dreamofitaly.com was a similar wealth of information. For the record, both writers offer some information at no charge -- but more is available with the "premium" service at an additional cost.
Online resources:
Cellular Abroad. If your phone won't work (or costs too much) overseas, check it out.
Capital One. What's in your wallet? ACK -- sounds like a commercial. Learn about credit cards that don't charge a three-percent foreign transaction charge.
Magellan's. Go online and check out this comprehensive store for travel gear.
Condor. Faster and cheaper than any other service to Europe from Alaska.
Auto Europe. Shop for cars all over Europe.
Bonjour Paris. Karen Fawcett's know-all, see-all travel blog about France and all things French.
Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based travel marketing consultant who has lived in Alaska for three decades, spending much of that time traveling the far-flung corners of the state. Visit his website at www.alaskatravelgram.com.