How much is enough?

As you are reading, this I am standing in awe of the Taj Mahal. Since I just left for India a few days ago, I thought it would be a good reminder of what you need to do about money before you take off on your next amazing journey.

Clients always ask me how much money should they take or how much should they exchange before they go? My standard answer is, as little as possible. There’s no value in coming home with Euros that cost 1.5 dollars to take them back at another time when the Euro is a 1.1 dollar. Or even worse, to pay a transaction fee to change your dollars into Euros then pay to change it back again. In today’s world, plastic is the way to go. 

1. Credit cards and your ATM debit card are your best choices. 

But you must be smart about both cards. Use a no foreign transaction fee credit card for the majority of international spending (this includes purchases made through foreign-based companies while still in the United States).  That cute little Paris B&B you booked directly with the owner, before you left the US, could add 2-4% in foreign transaction fee. All your purchases abroad could cost you an additional 2-4% if you don’t have a foreign transaction fee credit card. In addition, why waste the time exchanging money and risk carrying it around, when a credit card gives the best possible exchange rates?

It’s common for international travelers, especially first-timers, not to feel ready to leave until they’ve got some of the hard currency used in their destination country. It’s just one of those things that have traditionally been recommended.

But with the banking system becoming increasingly digitalized, it makes sense for the easiest way to buy things in a foreign currency to be with plastic. Why waste the time exchanging physical currency and risk carrying it around when a credit card handles the process automatically and gives the best possible exchange rates in the process? You’re going to save relative to a bank or airport kiosk exchange no matter what card you use, but getting a credit card with no foreign fees is an easy way to reduce costs even more. Just remember to get such a card before booking anything through a foreign-based company because if the transaction gets processed outside of the U.S., it will trigger a foreign surcharge.

2. Bring a debit card with low international ATM withdrawal fees as well

You’re going to need cash at some point in your trip – whether it’s for a cab, tipping a bellboy, or something else entirely. The best way to accommodate that need is to bring an ATM debit card, as long as it doesn’t charge too much for international ATM withdrawals. This will enable you to not only get the same low exchange rate as with your credit card, but you’ll also be able to take out cash as needed and reduce the damage a pickpocket could do.

3. Notify your bank of your travel plans

Banks will suspend your credit and debit cards due to suspicions of fraud if you do not alert them to the fact that you’re traveling out of the country. This might actually be a good idea even if you’re traveling domestically because banks have been known to suspend accounts that display transactions outside one’s normal geographic area.

4. Get the phone number to call your bank collect

If your card gets lost or stolen, being able to contact your bank will not only help nip any potential fraud in the bud, but most banks will also overnight you a new card. The bank will pay for the call too, so you needn’t worry about international charges.

5. Steer clear of dynamic currency conversion

If a merchant offers to convert your purchase total from the native currency to U.S. dollars, they might be trying to help you out. Or they could be looking for an excuse to apply a high exchange rate and squeeze a bit more money out of you. It’s best not to find out, especially when you can use your phone or a small pocket calculator to make quick conversions and better understand how much things cost.

I'm going to do my part to support the Indian economy. I hope you'll do yours on your next trip.

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What's the difference between a Bistro and a Bistro?

As you are reading this I have probably just gotten off the plane from India or just walking through my front door. That being the case, I decided to share a colleagues' wonderful blog on how to navigate all the fabulous food options Paris has to offer. Thank you to Autumn Stettheimer Welborn, Jet Lag Please, whose favorite city is Paris for this enlightening and humorous lesson on French restaurants.

Clients ask Autumn “I know Paris has all this great food, but it’s like there are too many choices! Can you break it down to something a little easier?”

Of course, I can. Now, if you are one of my clients, then you know I always offer to supply my best dining suggestions based on the itinerary I’ve designed (and make any reservations for you). But some of you are determined to “fly by the seat of your pants”— in which case you will most certainly need to know (first and foremost) the difference between the different types of restaurants and food sellers. So, this may feel like you’re back in school, but my glossary has saved many a day in Paris!

Café: These little things are for coffee and don’t offer a ton of food options. Think of them as a good stop for breakfast (though I don’t know why you wouldn’t go to a boulangerie and get some fresh bread or pâtisserie for pastries). Cafés are easily confused with bistros if they contain a few tables, though the bistro is your better option for a cooked meal. My suggestion: stop by the neighborhood bakery (the one with the longest line) and pick out your breakfast. Then, walk to a neighborhood café with street tables, order up your preferred caffeinated beverage “to stay,” and take a seat at a table for some people watching.

Bistro: Ah, the Parisian bistro. Unfortunately, so many restaurateurs have confused and ruined the name and worth of a bistro. A true bistro is your best friend when looking for a great meal in Paris. These are the places that the neighborhood locals frequent. You’ll know you’re at a bistro because you’ll see one of these little beauties out front: 

LOOK TO THE CHALKBOARD TO FIND YOUR LUNCH. That bad boy right there is called the “plat du jour”—the daily special. You know you’re at a not-made-for-tourists spot when:

  • At least 15 of the 20 or so tables are full
  • Those tables appear to be pretty jammed together
  • There is a plat du jour on a chalkboard outside
  • People are speaking in French

When you find that place, eat there. Order the plat du jour. It’s there for a reason! And that reason is because the chef found all of its ingredients at the market that morning.

SIDEBAR: Bistros serve alcohol, BTW; cafés do not.

Now, let me explain an important distinction among bistros. There are these little cozy sidewalk bistros like I just described. You pop in there for lunch. But there are also bistros. These bistros are actually restaurants dressed up as bistros because they serve traditional French bistro food.

The difference??

You’re there for dinner, people look nice, and you probably should have made a reservation two days ago. This kind of bistro you should definitely eat at. It won’t be cheap, per se, but it will be divine. Take, for {an inflated} example, Benoît (in le Marais district). This little gem serves up Classic French fare as designed by THE Alain Ducasse. You’ll probably spend 60+ Euros per person on dinner here. I know, right. But it is quite different than a “restaurant” because, at an Alain Ducasse restaurant, you’ll spend upwards of 200 Euros per person. This is the case at his phenomenal Eiffel Tower restaurant, Le Jules Verne—worth every penny for the experience alone and double for the food. But at his flagship restaurant at the Plaza Athénée, get ready to spend 500 Euros! Per person! At lunch!!!! Suddenly fulfilling your Parisian foodie fantasies at Benoît is sounding pretty good, huh?

Brasserie: This one is much easier to describe. Generally (though exceptions abound), a brasserie is a bar—a nice one that serves good food all day long with quicker service and good prices. If you want to be all American about fast eating on your schedule, go here. They also offer a plat du jour and a good carte. Let me be clear. This is not Hooters. They are fancier than you expect, though you aren’t expected to come in dress clothes (but then again, Parisians always look nice, so don’t go in your yoga pants). Brasseries serve traditional French and Alsatian (like, from Alsace) food—but they do it in a more typical to Americans way. Think of a really fancy gastropub. Got it? The best of these usually have choucroute and saucissons. If they do, order that. One of my favorite authentic Alsatian brasseries is Chez Jenny, also in the Marais (there’s seriously so much good food in the Marais).

Okay, now we are all salivating from Autumn's descriptions. When are you going to taste these delights for real?!

Want to go to Paris? Call me. Let's talk.

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