Responding to a reader’s request (Oct. ’08, pg. 94), I know of a credit card with NO 3% foreign exchange fee. Any card from CapitalOne.com has this feature. My choice is the “No Hassle Cash Rewards Credit Card.”
This one also has NO annual fee plus an excellent cash-back program, which doubles for groceries and drugs at supermarkets as well as for gasoline.
AVI BASS
DeKalb, IL
Three of us from California went on a “Discover New Zealand” trip with Explore, March 2-30, 2008. We booked through Adventure Center in June ’07 based on the published brochure and website price.
Upon arriving in Bali, Indonesia, Americans, Canadians and Europeans are required to pay $25 for a Visa On Arrival (VOA). The visa will be applied to a page in your passport. Most travelers from Asian countries are spared this expense.
For the convenience of visitors, many money changers are available to convert dollars to rupiah. A word of caution from someone who has traveled often to Bali, most recently in May ’08 — many of these people are less than honest.
For purchases and obtaining cash while traveling, I use www.bankofinternet.com and have for years. The senior (50+) checking account gives me 3.4% interest, free checks and an ATM card where up to $8 a month is reimbursed for fees charged by other banks.
I also use this card for point-of- sale purchases, including hotels and restaurants, because the amounts taken from my bank account are based on the daily exchange rate without the fee of 3% or more charged by most credit card companies.
(Second of two parts)
The letter about crime problems in Barcelona (May ’08, pg. 58) brought back an interesting (and embarrassing) memory from when I was there in September ’07, traveling alone and independently.
For budget travelers to PARIS, we have some recommendations from a wonderful 4-day visit at the end of April ’07.
(First of two parts)
I found the following inexpensive but comfortable lodgings during a February-March ’07 visit to South America (see April’08, pg. 49). Each had private bath, cable TV and, where needed, A/C. The price given for each is the approximate dollar amount for my single room.
• Hotel Rosario del Lago (Padres at Costañera, Copacabana, BOLIVIA; phone 591 2 862 2141, fax 862 2140, www.hotelrosario.com/lago).
Plan to get local currency upon your arrival at the airport overseas before you have to tip anyone or hire a taxi.