Foreign Travel Insurance Center

When traveling to another country, there are several key ways to get the most out of your money. Among the most effective methods is timing your travel right: taking advantage of a favorable exchange rate can considerably enhance your buying power. In the real world, though, a plethora of arrangements to be made and tickets to be bought may inhibit the luxury of planning travel months in advance. But even if you’re planning your travel just a month or even a week in advance, there are still ways to be smart about your money. To minimize losses when converting to another currency, finding a good place to change your money is key.

Long-Term Planning

Plan to travel when your money is worth relatively more in the country you are visiting. Every country has a fluctuating exchange rate so that there is balance in the supply and demand of currency. Timing your travel correctly, therefore, can make a significant difference in the amount of spending you do.

A clear example of a fluctuating market is the euro to US dollar exchange rate. In year 2002, each euro was worth $.83. Now, in July of 2005, each euro is worth an upwards of $1.2059, meaning the euro increased more than 31% in three years. This favorable rate of exchange for the euros makes traveling to the US a much more favorable deal in 2005.

Two ways to see if traveling to another country is a good deal, then, are to look at historical data and anticipate the future. You can easily check the historical rate of a currency pair by visiting a foreign exchange news site and pulling up a yearly chart. A good website for this is DailyFX (www.dailyfx.com). Having an inkling about the future direction of the exchange rate may prove more challenging, but it is not impossible. DailyFX has fundamental and technical news reports to guide you in this respect.

Short-Term Planning

When travel plans are made in the short term, the key to maximizing buying power is finding the right place to change your money - that is, getting the best rate for the time that you are traveling. It is essential to do research in advance, namely, checking the rates at domestic banks, credit cards, foreign banks, and ATMs.

At Home

At home, you can contact your local bank teller and ask about changing your money to a foreign currency. Experts suggest to only change enough to cover travel costs until you are settled at your destination though, as the costs of exchanging money at home can be prohibitive. Another service available is an online money exchange, which will take your funds and send the converted money to your home. The risk posed in this service is the safety of your funds during transportation.

In most instances, asking your credit card representative about exchanging money is the best approach to getting a great exchange rate. Credit card companies have access to better rates than individuals and often deal in more than one currency. One precaution to take, nonetheless, is to check if your home currency is losing value, since not all transactions are converted instantly. Be cautious of the possibility of receiving a lower than expected rate several days later.

Abroad

While exchanging money after arriving to a foreign country is the most convenient option, the obvious risk is the lack of options. The quoted exchange rate given may be determined purely by supply and demand, meaning that you will end up with a price close to what is being quoted in the foreign exchange market globally. The government of the country you are visiting sets the currency exchange rate, which must be offered by anyone who is changing money; and a mark-up in the rate is inevitable. An easy way to see if changing money in a foreign bank is a favorable decision is to compare currency rates beforehand in a local newspaper.

ATMs of a foreign country may also be a convenient way to obtain local currency at a reasonable rate. Keep in mind, however, that your withdrawal may be subject to a fee from both the foreign and your local bank. Another precaution to take is to tell your bank of your travels, as they often freeze cards if out of the ordinary transactions take place. As an illustration, if you make withdrawals in four different countries over the course of a week, your bank may see this as a red flag and for security, immediately lock all transaction of funds.

Getting The Most Out of Your Money Now

Getting the most of your money is a tricky task if you are unaware of all the options, or have trouble finding good resources. A quick and easy way to decide which of these options are right for you is to firstly, talk to as many people as you can (such as your local bank teller and credit card company), and secondly, obtain rates from the listed options and compare the quotes with one another. As another alternative, you can compare your obtained rates with the market rates quoted at GoCurrency.com (www.gocurrency.com), a currency converter that offers up-to-date exchange rates for over 150 world currencies.

——————————————–

Victor Siu is a contributing writer for GoCurrency.com. GoCurrency provides information on global exchange rates, movements and news related information.

Share This

The most charismatic of all the animals that roam the savannas of East Africa are the big cats. Safari enthusiasts exercise great patience and go to great lengths to ensure a sighting. To behold the beauty and splendour of the big cats in the wild is a prospect that warms the heart of every nature lover. Among a number of the ancient civilizations - the Romans, Sumerians, and Egyptians- the big cats were held in fascination and in higher esteem than any other wild animals. Some were indeed taken as gods, and many are the kings who have set images of the big cats on their royal emblems.

The big cats have in the past been more widely dispersed in the world than they are today. In our time, the redoubts of the big cats are in Africa and small pockets of Asia. The cat family is known by scientists as felidae and refers to an assortment of animals grouped as small and big cats. The small cats are less well known and appreciated. In East Africa small cats include wild cats, sand and serval cats. The small cats are very widespread in almost all habitats in East Africa. But they keep their heads down and elicit little conflict with man- the ultimate enemy of all wild animals.

The big cats you find outside Africa include tiger, jaguar, leopard, cougar and Iberian lynx. The big cats are the most committed carnivores in the entire animal kingdom. They are mostly nocturnal and rather secretive in nature. In common with primates, they read a lot from facial expression and love to play. The big cats capture and kill their prey. To witness a lion on a hunt is truly fascinating- if for a moment you take your mind from the fate of the prey. For all the fame of the big cats of East Africa, there are just three of them: lion, leopard and cheetah.

The lion, so called the king of the jungle, is the largest carnivore in East Africa. The adult lion stretches between 1.4m to 2.2 m - excluding the tail. The male can attain a weight of up to 225kg, while the hefty female reaches 168kg. The lion is noted for its exceptional strength and has been known to bring down the much larger buffalo, which has about 4 times its weight. For this reason, kings have understandably sought to be associated lions. But they hesitate to be associated with its reputation for sloth- for the lion shamelessly spends up to 20 hours daily resting.

Lions are social animals and of the big cats, they are the only ones to live and hunt in family groups. The group or pride usually consists of a number of related females and few unrelated males. Young females usually join their mother pride, but young males venture into the outside world to seek female company. Females in a pride practice communal cub rearing and hunting.

Lions are highly territorial. Males enforce territorial integrity, by means of their characteristic fierce roars, scent marking and periodic border patrols.

Lions of the same pride develop strong social bonds and practice head rubbing and social grooming. Females give birth after a gestation period of 3.5 months. After only 6 weeks, the cubs are induced into a lifelong habit of meat eating. Cubs play in imitation of adults and this helps in the development of such useful skills as stalking prey. Though born to kings, cubs need protection from hyenas and leopard. And also from non-pride male lions- for the reason that females will not mate until cubs are about 18 months old. The cubs therefore stand in the way of a mating encounter.

Fighting off males bent on infanticide appears to be one of the reasons why females live in prides. The moniker “king of the jungle” is misleading, for buffalo and hyenas sometimes kill lions. Elephants too have no fear of the king - they will charge at lions to encourage them to move on. But man remains the biggest threat to lions and he has hunted the lion to extinction in most of the world. The lion population in Africa is today estimated at only 23,000 and the survival status is listed as vulnerable in international conventions.

In most parks and game reserves of East Africa, however, the lion is impressively visible. Particularly in the grassy plains and dry forests where the large plains herbivores they prey on thrive. You will easily see the king in Ngorongoro and Serengeti in Tanzania and Amboseli, Nairobi, Lake Nakuru, and Maasai Mara in Kenya. In some other locations- such as Lake Manyara in Tanzania, Tsavo, in Kenya and Queen Elizabeth in Uganda, patience and skill is called for.

Early the last century, lions received extremely bad press when they disrupted the building of the East African railway in the Tsavo area of Kenya by feeding on the workforce. The movie “The Man-eaters of Tsavo” has captured this macabre drama. It is in this atmosphere that Theodore Roosevelt, the American president who was a pioneer safari enthusiasts said of lions: “except when resting and in the breeding season, the whole career of a lion may be best summed up in the single word: rapine”.

Lions when deprived of their usual prey occasionally attack domestic animals and even human beings. Lions that are infirm- such as the old and the sick can easily attack humans and you are advised to exercise caution and take your photos from the safety of a car. So if you are out camping, watch out! All said, incidences of lions attacking humans are extremely rare. The image of the lion has recently been rehabilitated in the minds of many by the popular children cartoon drama “Lion King”, whose hero is Simba- Swahili for lion.

The future of the lion in the savannas of East Africa is not assured. The main challenge is conflict with man, his ancient enemy. People living in areas bordering parks, sometimes inflict the ultimate punishment to lions when they are caught preying on livestock. In the Serengeti plains of Tanzania, the king has recently experienced attacks by a viral disease know as FIV -Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. FIV, just like HIV in humans, results in lowered immunity making the animals vulnerable to other diseases. Unlike HIV, however, the primary means of transmission of FIV is bite wounds and not sexual intimacy.

Of the big cats of East Africa, the most elegant is the leopard. The leopard is the most naturally adapted of the cats. It can survive in almost in any habitat offering sufficient food and cover. That is why, of the big cats, leopards thrive in the most diverse range of habitats; and of land mammals they enjoy the widest distribution in the tropics. In East Africa, they have been found in the most unlikely of places- from deserts, to mountaintops and even in cities. That not withstanding, scientists were surprised, when in 1990 three leopards were found living in a Kampala city train station.

The full grown adult stretches between 1 to 1.5 m and can reach a weight of 60 kg. Man (and especially woman) has always been jealous of the leopards beautiful coat. Those of East Africa have round spots unlike the square spots of the southern African species. Leopards are solitary animals and you hardly ever find them in groups. The sexes associate only long enough to mate! Females are ready to breed at about 2 years of age, when they produce up to 3 cubs after a gestation period of about 90 days.

The leopard therefore faces less danger than either the lion or the cheetah. Notwithstanding that they are very widely distributed in East Africa, you are unlikely to see them in large numbers. In addition, this most secretive of cats is nocturnal. The traveler who is determined to see them must be very calm and patient, for only the most persevering are rewarded. Even scientists have such trouble spotting them, with the consequence that they are not as well studied as the other cats.

The leopard is the strongest climber among the carnivores. And they spend mostly their days inactive, draped over tree branches. So, to se them, set your sights to the treetops. You are further advised to take your game drives very silently and watch out at rivers and water holes. The leopard is a stalking predator and lies ready to pounce at such places where prey would seek food and water. Some lucky people also come across leopards basking on the rocks early in the mornings.

The cheetah is the smallest of the big cats of East Africa. It can reach up to 1.4 m in length; males can weigh up to 55 kg and females 40kg. For the inexperienced, it is difficult to tell apart from a leopard. But you can distinguish it by the long teardrop-shaped lines on each side of the nose, from the corner of the eyes to the mouth. It also has protruding and streamlined neck and thin legs. This animal is specially adapted for speed and it is indeed the world’s fastest mammal.

From a resting position, the cheetah can reach a speed of 80 km/h in less than 3 seconds. It can run a stable speed of 105km/h, compared to a man’s 37km/h. But take heart, it is not a man-eater. The cheetah lacks the stamina to be more than a short distance runner. It is not a very social species and lives either singly or in small groups. Females are ready to procreate from about the age of 2 years and after a gestation period of about 90 days give birth to up to 6 cubs. Hunting by day only, this solitary hunter relies on its famed speed and keen eyesight. It technique is to stalk stealthily and then take a short killer dash when prey is within 30 m.

The cheetah is mainly found in grasslands, woodland savannas and semi deserts. It survives best in vast ranges where prey is plenty. This cat has never enjoyed wide geographical distribution or high densities. And numbers have drastically fallen over the last few decades. Today not more than 12,000 remain worldwide, mostly in eastern and southern Africa. In East Africa, the only areas where you can easily spot cheetahs are Maasai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania. But the cat is also present, though in fewer numbers, in Tsavo in Kenya, Mkomazi in Tanzania and Queen Elizabeth in Uganda.

Scientists have classified the cheetah as an endangered species and think that it faces possible extinction. Only one species -jubatus remains today. The lack of genetic diversity, possibly caused by inbreeding, is yet another handicap in ensuring the long-term survival of this cat. In its daily life, the cheetah faces competition from other carnivores such as lions and hyenas. In some areas, Maasai Mara of Kenya for example, instances of lions killing cheetah cubs are very common; hyenas too eat them. The lion kills the cubs only to destroy and never eats them -an extremely disgraceful show for an animal that would be regarded as king.

Cheetahs are active only by day. In East Africa’s game sanctuaries, tourists interrupt critical activities like feeding and suckling of the young. There are incidences of mothers abandoning their cubs under the pressure of human curiosity. Considering the challenges facing the species, conservation options are yet limited by the fact that cheetahs do so poorly in captivity and almost never breed unless free. Spare a thought today for the cheetah, whose future is so uncertain. If you want to do more, talk to the Cheetah Conservation Fund(www.cheetah.org). And hope that such glorious days as when it was honored as a cat-goddess in ancient Egypt will yet come again.

East Africa is a year round safari destination. The rains come around April- May and November-December. This does not however, much affect the travelers’ ability to get around. In general the best time to go on safari to see the big cats is over the drier months when the grass is short and sighting animals is so much easier. But in areas such as the Maasai Mara, the animals are so plentiful that you are going to see lots of them regardless of the season. The peak tourist season falls around January to February and July to August. April to June is the low season and prices for accommodation in the lodges can be as much as 40% lower than in the high season.

Accommodation on safari varies from basic camping to luxury lodges and tented camps. Out there in the bush, you will be pleasantly surprised that there is a variety of East African safari lodges:-

- Kenya Hotels & Lodges

- Tanzania Hotels & Lodges

having all the trimmings of 5 star luxury. But if you want to rough it out,you will find campsites in almost all the game reserves and national parks. It is generally recommended to take an escorted safari package:-

- Kenya Safaris

- Tanzania Safaris

that includes transport, park fees and accommodation. The reason for this is that the tour guides are usually well versed about the animals, where to find them and how to get there and have other such useful local knowledge. But if you have a lot of time and need more freedom as you get around, then taking a rental car is an option.

On safari, wear light cottons and linen. Warmer clothing is needed for the evenings and for your early morning game drive. Some rainwear is advisable between March and June and October and December. You should bring along a decent pair of sunglasses. The glare you experience in bright tropical light is a new and uncomfortable experience for most. It is also a good idea to carry a pair of binoculars. They are very useful for spotting animals and will earn you the envy of your less
knowledgeable traveling companions.

Copyright © Africa Point

Andrew Muigai is the editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is part of AfricaPoint.com- the Africa travel website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on Tanzania safari and tours at the website.

Share This

One of the most spectacular and unspoiled places on earth, which attracts tourists worldwide, is lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world.
This lake is considered to have the purest and most tasteful water known to man. The water in the lake is so clean and clear that one can easily catch sight of fish some forty meters down (120 feet).

There is a legend, which tourists enjoy, that a boater lost his watch to the lake which can still be seen on the bottom.

There are thousands of lakes on this planet but we are speaking of no ordinary lake, but rather about one of nature’s miracles. One of the few unique places left of unspoiled beauty.

Here are some interesting facts about this lake:

1. Baikal’s basin is made up of three underwater depressions, which together holds more water than all five of the Great Lakes of North America. It holds one fifth of the earth’s supply of fresh water.

2. This Siberian miracle of nature is the deepest lake (1,700 m ) in the world.

3. The lake is so large that all of the rivers on the Earth combined would take an entire year to fill it.

4. At 25-30 million years old, it is the oldest lake in the world.

5. Baikal also hides a mystery.

The lake is home to the world’s only fresh water seal. It is still a great mystery how the nerpa (seal) appeared in the center of the Asian continent, when it’s relatives live in the northern arctic regions.

When standing on the top of any of the mountains surrounding Lake Baikal, the view affords you breathtaking scenery, especially the blue mirror of water that stretches as far as the eye can see.

This wondrous lake reflects the azure of the sky and the billowy white of the clouds.The view is so spectacular that one could not even imagine it in one’s wildest dreams.

The lake and the entire surrounding area is truly a paradise for tourists and an ideal area for engaging in an array of outdoor pursuits, including hiking, skiing, nature photography, climbing, and whitewater sports.

Baikal is one of the most attractive vacation spots in all of Asia; a place where people can reach out and feel the synergy of Mother Nature as well as enjoy the majestic and unearthly beauty.

It is a place where you can sit back and relax, listening to the soothing music caused by the waves lapping on the shore or swim in the crystal-clear water. Nowhere else will you feel so much at one with the nature.

Marina Smiley is the author of the popular eBook
“Cheap Ticket To
Russia” - Tips for budget travelers to Russia.