$8 - Sunday, December 17. 1989 - North Shore News

KNOW WHAT MONEY TO USE, WHEN
Will that be cash, cheque or piastic?

MONEY — it makes the world go round — and gets YOU

around the world.

Assuming that you’ve ac-
cuniulated enough to get you
someplace, how do you carry it?

Cash:

You’ll need some but not hun-
dreds of dollars. It’s essential to
have enough of the currency for
the first stop to pay for a cab and
buy yourself a snack or a cup of
coffee. Carry bills in small
denominations — don’! rely on
vab drivers to make change.

Study the appearance and the
value of foreign cash. I: may all
look the same to you, so separate
bills in some way ~— paper clips?

If you aren’t too swift at coa-
verting sums, don’t leave it to
chance — carry a little caiculator
and practise before vou leave
home.

if you must carry a considerable
amount of cash, consider a money
belt -- the ones wern under
clothing are quite effective. I've
gone around with a hundred bucks
pinned to my bra but that was a
dire emergency. Luckily [ didn’t
have to fish it out.

Don’t leave cash — or anything
else of value — behir.d while you
tippytoe down the hall to the
shower.

He who flashes cash is re-
questing the vendor to double the
price (and maybe phone his
trother, the pickpocket).

It's unwise to leave cash and the
restaurant bill on the table and
leave. Wait for your change before
leaving the tip.

Coins are non-negotiable from
country to country so be rid of any
before you cross the border.

Traveller’s cheques:

The first question is always:
“What currency should I carry?"’
Traditionally, overseas travellers

bought American dollar cheques.
This is no ionger the best rule. Be-
fore making any purchases, check
with an international currency ex-
change such as Deak Internationa!
(Canada) Ltd. They have always
teen helpful to me over the phone.

From

Qn

The problem is that currencies
change hourly. Remember when
the Mexican peso was like
Gibraltar?

If you are buying cheques in

travel
wise
Barbara McCreadie

some uncommon currency such as
Swiss francs, give your bank plenty
of warning so they can have them
on hand.

If you are using some unfamiliar
currency AND intend to exchange
that for another (unfamiliar)
script, use a pocket converter. It
doesn’t matter if you teach
mathematics, it’s easy to make an
error when you're tirea or in a
rush.

I find it easiest to carry my che-
ques in the denomination of the
country I’m visiting, providing I'm
only gcing to one country. Thus, if
1 go to England, my cheques are in
pounds. They're a whole lot easier
to cash.

But, if my travels are taking me
to a lot of places I make that
phone call and follow the advice
Vm given.

Record your cheque numbers
and leave copies at home. Carry

UES. per person

West Vancouver
908 South Mall

Park Royal Shopping Centre

922-3361

your receipts separately from your
cheques.

Never sign a cheque until the in-
stant of cashing it and then, only
under the eyes of the clerk.

Carry mostly smal! denomina-
tions and never cash more than
you'll need. But, be aware of bank
closures as you can get stranded —
in many places cheques may only
be cashed at banks.

Keep a record of each cheque 2s
you cash it — date and place.

If you lock your cheques in a
hotel safe, count them and check
sequences both when you lock
them up and when you get them
back. Cheques from the middle of
the package have been known to
disappear.

Plastic:

Hiow did people get around be-
fore charge cards? | try to use
mine for emergencies only. Try is
the key word — you'll know you
failed when you get a two page list
of charges upon your return.

If your plastic money leaves
your sight, make sure you get the
right one back.

Keep every receipt in an
envelope and note any additional
information you may need to
decipher the biil later.

Tear up your carbons.

Remember that if you use plastic
you will be charged the highest rate
of exchange on the day the bill hits
the bank. I: is after possible to

negotiate a better rate if you use -

cash.

One benefit of plastic is that you
get an itemized statement of 2x-
penses which, if nothing else, can
act as a warning for future travels.

Be aware of some of the fringe
benefits offered by certain card
companies —- insurance, both car
and life, may be available free.

I'm often asked which card |
find the nzvst valuable.

1 only carry one — Visa — and
have had very few problums. It’s
wise to inquire before you check
into a hotel or order 2 meal.

14 Day Alaska Cruise

Cruise the spectacular Land of the Midnight Sun.
Sailing May 19, 1990 /

Prtces are sabycet ta
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double occupanes booking

BCAs fravel

When I travel, it’s almost always
on a shoestring. 1 behave like

can see my way home.
Remernber, it may take days to
get money wired trom home. Do

Scrooge for the first week, relax to
a miser the second week and get

reckless towards the end when | who might even send you some?

ristmas
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Stay any 3 nights including Christmas
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ink double
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* Feb. 17, 1990. Around Hawaii to San Diego
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Phone now to Jaaiine, Sue or Bev

-434

you have you someone in mind