Whenever you travel, you risk falling victim to travel scams. While such scams can affect anyone, knowing what to look for might help you avoid getting ripped off. You’re more susceptible to trickery in unfamiliar settings, after all, and scams usually have been perfected over years of trial and error.

The Most Bizarre Europe Travel Scams

Gelato in hand, you’re strolling down a street in Italy when suddenly, a woman starts loudly arguing with a street vendor. A crowd gathers as he accuses her of shoplifting. To prove her innocence, she starts to strip: Once she’s down to her underwear, the vendor apologizes, the woman leaves, and the onlookers disappear—but so have their wallets, thanks to a team of pickpockets who were working the show.

This is just one of the bizarrely inventive ways that European scam artists operate. The good news is that if you’re wise to their tricks, you can just marvel at their ingenuity. The sneakiest pickpockets look like well-dressed businessmen, generally with something official-looking in their hand. Lately many are posing as tourists with fanny packs, cameras, and even guidebooks.

No matter which country you’re in, assume beggars are pickpockets and any scuffle is simply a distraction by a team of thieves. If you stop for any commotion or show, put your hands in your pockets before someone else does (or, even better, wear a money belt).

Set-up scams are time-tested and popular. On the busy streets of Barcelona, Berlin, and Florence, you’ll find the shell game: Players pay to guess which of the moving shells hides the ball. It looks easy, but the winners are all ringers, and you can be sure that you’ll lose if you play.

The most rampant scams are more subtle, such as being overcharged by a taxi driver. Some cabbies will pretend to drop a large bill and pick up a hidden small one, then tell you that you didn’t pay enough. Others will select the pricier “night and weekend” rate on their meter, even on weekdays. To decrease your odds of getting ripped off, call for a taxi from a hotel or restaurant, or use your phone to order a rideshare instead. If you do hail a cab, choose one with a prominent taxi-company logo and telephone number. Either way, insist on using the meter, agree on a price up front, or know the going rate. If, for whatever reason, I’m charged a ridiculous price for a ride, I put a reasonable sum on the seat and say goodbye.

Whenever cash is involved, it pays to be alert. If someone offers to help you use a cash machine, politely refuse (the person wants your PIN code). If a cash machine eats your ATM card, check for a thin plastic insert with a little flap hanging out—crooks use tweezers to extract your card. Cashiers, and even bank tellers, thrive on the “slow count,” dealing out change with odd pauses in hopes that rushed tourists will gather up the money early and say “grazie.” Also, be careful when paying with large bills in restaurants and stores, and always inspect your change—in Italy, the now-worthless 500-lira coin looks like a two-euro coin.

Some thieves hang out at train-ticket machines, eager to assist you in buying tickets with a pile of your quickly disappearing foreign cash. And skip the helping hand from official-looking railroad attendants at the Rome train station. They’ll lead you to your seat, then demand a “tip.”

In Spain, women offer you sprigs of rosemary (as if in friendship) and then grab your hand, read your fortune, and demand payment. Don’t make eye contact, don’t accept a sprig, and say firmly but politely, “No, gracias.”

Just because someone looks official doesn’t mean they are. In Italy, “Tourist Police” may stop you on the street, flash bogus badges, and ask to check your wallet for counterfeit bills or “drug money.” You won’t even notice some bills are missing until after they leave.

Never open your door to “hotel inspectors.” One waits outside while the other comes in to take a look around. While you’re distracted, the first thief slips in and snags valuables off your dresser.

In Vienna, official-looking women decked out in long velvet capes roam famous sights, claiming to work for the opera house and offering to sell you tickets. The tickets are fakes, and the only seats you’ll be buying are the ones on the bus back to your hotel.

Common Travel Scams in Europe by Country

And there are still more travel scams to know about if you’re visiting Europe. Here are eight of the most common travel scams, organized by country where you’re more likely to encounter them. Study up so you don’t fall victim to “highway pirates” or bogus police officers on your next trip.

Italy, Puncturing Tires: Beware of “highway pirates” in Italy who will puncture your tires in a parking lot and follow you until you’re forced to stop. They will then pretend to help you while robbing you at the same time. If you do get a flat tire, be cautious about who offers to help you—especially around Naples—and never leave your valuables and luggage in your car.

France, False Petitions: Be wary of children who pretend to be disabled and claim to represent an accredited charity. They will ask for your signature—and then your money. Ignore them and report the scam to police. Organized scammers like this receive a 1 million euro fine in France.

Spain, Fake Entry Fees: Scam artists are posing with fake IDs at the Spanish border and asking for an “entry fee” into Gibraltar. There is no entry fee to pass through, so ignore anyone asking for money and keep your valuables out of sight.

Czech Republic, Impersonated Police Officers: In this grand scam, a group of “police offers” will appear and accuse you of committing a crime. They will ask to see your wallet and passport, which is against the law, so you should refuse and ask to be taken to the nearest police station instead. This will most likely make them go away. Be sure to report them to the local authorities after.

Hungary, Counterfeit Money: Taxi drivers and dingy currency exchange booths commonly pass on counterfeit bills to unsuspecting tourists. Make sure to exchange your money only at a bank or in the airport, and double check that the bills you receive are the correct currency.

Netherlands, Distraction Scams: Pay particular attention to this at restaurants in Central Amsterdam. Someone might come into the restaurant and either pretend to look for a friend or cause another distraction. Instead he or she will steal your bag right in front of you. Make sure you keep your possessions in your line of sight, and don’t leave bags or coats hanging on the back of your chair.

Croatia, Extortionate Bills: Some Croatian bars and restaurants—especially gentleman’s clubs—will add an unexplained surcharge to your bill, expecting you not to have enough cash. If you are short on funds, they’ll take you to an ATM and demand that you take out more money. It’s best to research restaurants, clubs, and bars before going, and ask your hotel (rather than taxi drivers, who may be in on the scam) for recommendations.

Poland, Phony Taxis: At airports and major tourist attractions in Poland, many unregulated drivers will pick up unsuspecting tourists and claim their meter is broken. Avoid this overcharge by only using official taxis; check for the name and number of the company on the car. Another way to check their legitimacy is by looking for a rate card.

We don’t mean to paint Europe as a dangerous place. In fact, it’s safer than America. Muggings in Europe are uncommon. Thieves want to separate you from your money painlessly. Europe travel scams are easy to avoid if you recognize them. But remember: Even the most vigilant traveler can get conned. If this happens, don’t let it ruin your trip. With the right attitude and lighter bags, you can still have a wonderful time.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2016. It’s been updated to reflect the most current information. Rick Steves, Ashley Rossi, and Ed Perkins contributed to this story.

The post Europe Travel Scams Every Tourist Needs to Know appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Prime Day, Amazon’s biggest sale of the year will run July 11th through July 12th for 2023. To help you make the most of this mega savings event, I’ve put together a few tips and tricks to help you get the best deals.

If you’re not already a Prime member, now is a great time to sign up. If you haven’t been a Prime member in a while, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial and cancel after Amazon Prime Day with no charge.

Now you’re ready to shop. Here are a few Amazon Prime Day secrets to consider:

1. Download the app to see the “sneak peek deals” and add your must-haves to your list to get notified when they go on sale during Prime Day. (Here’s how to do it.)
2. Monitor Amazon’s deals page for the latest discounts.
3. Enter the daily giveaways leading up to Prime Day through the Amazon app.
4. Shop early deals from small businesses leading up to Prime Day.
5. Clip digital coupons to save even more on purchases.
6. Split the cost of a Prime membership by adding multiple people to your “Amazon household,” which allows you to share the benefits of your membership.
7. Check out new Just for Prime deals that are exclusively available to Prime members.
8. Easily find the best Prime Day deals by asking Alexa, “Alexa, what are my deals”?
9. Amazon Prime users can get one year of free delivery with GrubHub
10. Prime Members can earn a $15 Amazon Credit when uploading their first photo to the Amazon Photos app.

Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

The post 10 Amazon Prime Day 2023 Secrets That Will Save You Even More Money appeared first on SmarterTravel.

New numbers from the Consumer Price Index by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show just how much prices have risen recently. Here’s what you can expect, along with tips for saving money.

Airfare

According to the BLS, airfares in April 2023 were an average of 9.6 percent higher than they were pre-pandemic in April 2019.

How to Save: Consider taking a road trip this summer instead. Data shows that gas prices have dropped 12.2 percent year-over-year, and rental car prices have also decreased by 11.2 percent.

Hotels/Vacation Rentals

The BLS measures inflation across a variety of accommodation options for travelers, including hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals. All of these overnight accommodation types are compiled into a category called “lodging away from home.”

Room rates for lodging away from home have risen 3.3 percent over the last year, and 23.6 percent over the last two years.

How to Save: Booked a refundable reservation? Keep an eye on rates at your hotel to see if prices drop before your arrival. If they do, you can rebook at a cheaper rate for no additional cost. 

Don’t forget to search for a hotel on SmarterTravel Hotels, where we offer big discounts on properties all over the world.

Dining Out

Eating away from home, whether it’s in a fast food cafe or a fine dining restaurant, now costs 8.6 percent more than it did one year ago.

How to Save: Try not to eat every single meal out when you’re on vacation. Booking a vacation rental or hotel room with a kitchenette can make it easy to prepare a quick and inexpensive breakfast. Or, try hitting the local grocery store and picking up ingredients for a picnic in a scenic spot for a cheap (and memorable) lunch or dinner.

The post New Data Shows Travelers Are In For An Expensive Summer appeared first on SmarterTravel.

In addition to the option of booking directly with your airline, there are dozens of flight booking websites, also known as online travel agencies (OTAs), to choose from. The uncomfortable truth is that no one flight search engine can guarantee the best price 100 percent of the time, but using a mix of the right resources can help ensure you’re not overpaying.

The Best Flight Booking Sites

The Best Flight Booking Sites

One important thing to remember about booking sites/OTAs is that Southwest fares are not sold on them. Some other airlines have also pulled their fares from some booking sites, but most airlines do make their fares available.

Here’s why these 14 are the best flight booking sites and metasearch options out there, and the best defining feature of each. Since it’s impossible to know which site will provide the best price for your particular trip, you should always compare fares from a few sources before you book.

Best Flight Search Site for Comparing Flight Types – Travelocity

It should be noted that Expedia owns Travelocity, so this flight booking site basically gives you Expedia price results with a different color scheme and organizational preferences. Travelocity’s homepage is streamlined but doesn’t offer a flexible-dates search. On the results page, bag fees are revealed by clicking a drop-down for each fare, which makes it a little difficult to compare fees (you will likely have to scroll a bit). Travelocity rates each flight itinerary with a score on a scale of 10, which takes into account the duration, type of aircraft, and “quality of amenities” available onboard from “Very Good” to “Satisfactory” to “Fair.” Travelocity charges booking fees for some but not all flights.

Best Feature: The out-of-10 flight rating assigns each itinerary a clear score, so you’re a lot less likely to mistakenly book a long layover or miss out on a better itinerary with Travelocity.

Best Flight Search Site for Comparison Shopping- BookingBuddy

Editor’s note: BookingBuddy is owned by SmarterTravel Media, SmarterTravel.com’s parent company.

Compare multiple airfare sites with one click to find the best flight deals on BookingBuddy. This metasearch site lets you easily compare prices from other sites (like Priceline) without having to do a bunch of different searches. You can choose which flight search sites you want to compare, and BookingBuddy opens up a new tab with your selected flight dates and destinations already filled in.

Looking for a flight and hotel? BookingBuddy offers a combination flight and hotel search that can save you some decent money by bundling.

Best Feature: Sign up for a price drop alert, and BookingBuddy will email you when costs drop on your route.

Best Flight Search Site for Transparency- Expedia

As previously mentioned, Expedia is nearly identical to Travelocity, but fares did vary between the two sites on some of my searches. As with Travelocity (and to be fair, a number of other OTAs), Expedia will try to up-sell you on adding a hotel to your itinerary. This can save you money, but be sure to compare prices before you book. On the results page is a “Show flexible dates” option so you can see whether cheaper flights are available if you shift your trip a day or two. Expedia charges variable booking fees (and they are not always the same fees that Travelocity charges). When you select your fare from the list of options, there’s an interstitial step that displays what is and isn’t covered in the fare, including seat selection, cancellations, changes, and baggage rules.

Best Feature: Like its subsidiary Travelocity, Expedia basically double-checks that you understand what sort of fare you’re choosing before you click “select” again. It’s a helpful bit of transparency in today’s cluttered airfare landscape.

Best Flight Search Site for Nonstop Flights- CheapOair

Much like Travelocity and Expedia, flight search sites CheapOair and OneTravel are versions of the same product, owned by Fareportal Inc. CheapOair charges the same booking fee as OneTravel: from $0 to $35 per ticket. Though the sites are owned by the same company, the fare results are not always identical, so it’s worth checking both. CheapOair shows some “Super Saver Fares” for which you don’t find out the airline you’ll be flying until after you book—which means you also don’t find out what baggage fees apply until after you book. However, the savings might be worth it.

Best Feature: CheapOair prioritizes nonstop prices over itineraries with stops, organized in an easy-to-read chart that’s organized by airline.

Tripadvisor Flights

Tripadvisor is known for its hotel reviews, and now travelers can apply their ratings to airlines, plus search for airfare on Tripadvisor Flights. On testing this flight booking site it’s clear that Tripadvisor doesn’t always serve up the cheapest fares, but sometimes it did. It always, however, gives you the option to surface Expedia, Travelocity, and other flight booking sites’ results, so you can compare right away with one click. Tripadvisor Flights also has some helpful search options up front, like a checkbox for prioritizing nonstop flights.

Best Feature: Tripadvisor’s flight search tool is unique from others in that it offers review-based FlyScores of airlines alongside their fares, so you’re less likely to book with an obscure, poorly rated airline without realizing it.

Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a popular metasearch site that works with hundreds of other travel providers to find the best fares. You can specify nonstop-flights-only right from the homepage, and there’s also a handy “everywhere” option if you don’t have a particular destination in mind and want to see what’s available. Search results show the “best” option (based on a combination of price and speed) as well as the fastest and cheapest, and you can filter by airline, alliance, number of stops, and flight times. When you select a result, you’ll see a variety of places to book that particular flight. Skyscanner casts a wide net, so you’ll often see very cheap fares from booking sites you’ve never heard of; to help you figure out how trustworthy they are, Skyscanner shows user star ratings for each.

Best Feature: For flyers concerned about the environmental impact of their travel, Skyscanner has a unique “Greener flights” filter, which shows only itineraries with lower-than-average CO2 emissions based on your search. The site also highlights certain itineraries in your results as a “greener choice.”

OneTravel

OneTravel borrows its interface from Google Flights’ calendar search feature. When you enter your departure and destination airports, the dates field brings up a calendar with prices pre-populated. This is a helpful feature for immediately honing in on the travel dates with the best prices if and when your dates are flexible.

One major drawback: OneTravel charges a steep service fee of up to $35 per ticket. OneTravel also offers different (and in my opinion, sometimes worse) itineraries than most at the top of its results page. Many highlighted itineraries, upon closer inspection, include an extra stop. It’s important to make sure you’re comparing the same exact flights by looking at the flight number, or at least by keeping track of the different options.

Best Feature: The calendar organization that’s hard to find on other flight booking sites is the most ideal format if you’re flexible on travel dates.

Travelzoo

Travelzoo is quite different from the other sites listed here. Instead of booking specific itineraries, you can search broad timelines (this week, next month, this summer, etc.) for deals in your desired destination by either month or season. This makes Travelzoo a good fit for people with a budget and time frame, but no firm idea of when or even where they want to go. The downside is that if you do have specific plans in mind—for example, you need a flight to Omaha in March—Travelzoo is not likely to be helpful.

Best Feature: Travelzoo’s flexibility requirement can afford some great deals you won’t find elsewhere, like cheap business-class flights and multi-city itineraries that will make a dream trip a lot more affordable than you’d think.

Google Flights

Google Flights is a powerful, simple metasearch site that comes free of ads and distractions. After you enter your departure and arrival airports, the calendar pre-populates with prices so you can target dates with lower fares (OneTravel uses this tool). Once you have your results, you can track fares on your selected dates and receive updates by email. You can also view fares over various dates using the “Price Graph,” which shows you a bar graph that makes it easy to see when the lowest fares are available.

Best Feature: Instead of putting in a certain city as a destination, you can put in a larger region such as Europe or South Africa. You’ll then see fares to various cities within that region displayed all at once on a map. This can be helpful if you want to go to Europe in April, for example, but don’t have a particular destination in mind.

Kayak

Often imitated and frequently duplicated, Kayak was a game-changer when it launched back in the mid-2000s. And it’s still one of the most powerful metasearch tools available. You can also set up fares alerts to track prices over time. The interface is noisier than Google Flights thanks to a preponderance of ads, but still easy to use. Like Google, it has a flexible search feature that lets you search for good deals to a region like Europe or even simply put in “anywhere.” Another handy feature available on many itineraries: an “Our Advice” box that lets you know whether you should buy now or wait, depending on whether Kayak thinks fares will go up or down over the next seven days.

Best Feature: Its Hacker Fares claim to piece together separate one-way tickets, potentially saving you money compared to similar itineraries, and its wide range of filters, sorting options, and predictive technologies put a lot of tools at travelers’ disposal.

Momondo

Like Kayak, Momondo is a metasearch site that takes you to other sites to make your purchase. One plus: Momondo surfaces results from Southwest, including flight times and other details from the carrier … but no prices. Only by clicking through to Southwest could I see the fare. Still, it’s nice to have a reminder that Southwest is an unlisted option. Another plus: Momondo searches for fares from a ton of smaller OTAs, which could lead to a deal that other metasearch tools miss.

Best Feature: The mention of Southwest is unique to Momondo. It gets kudos for flagging a reminder to check a competitor for something it doesn’t offer.

Nomad from Kiwi.com

Kiwi.com is an OTA like many others; you book directly on the site (as you would on Expedia) rather than being linked off to a different site (as you would on Kayak or Momondo). But what sets it apart is its Nomad search engine, which lets you find cheap itineraries for multi-destination trips. You enter the starting and ending places of your journey as well as the cities where you want to stop along the way, including how many nights you want to spend in each place. Hit “find routes,” and the site will put together an itinerary that mixes and matches airlines and routes for the lowest possible price. (For example, I was quoted a route involving four flights—New York City to Rome to Moscow to Tokyo and back to New York—for a measly $1,031 round-trip.) You can filter your results to weed out routes with multiple layovers or flights that don’t include checked baggage.

Best Feature: This is by far the easiest tool I’ve used to research around-the-world and multi-stop itineraries.

airfarewatchdog

Full disclosure, airfarewatchdog is a sister site to SmarterTravel, so we are slightly biased with this one, but promise it is worth your while. Airfarewatchdog is the best for flexible travelers who are just looking for a great deal on airfare. Search fares from a city, to a city, or you can “choose an adventure,” which will show you fares from your city to various hotspots depending on what you are looking for – castles, caves, coffee, you name it, airfarewatchdog will point you in the right direction. Their blog features great travel tips, and one of the best features is the fare alerts you can sign up for. If you know you want to travel somewhere, but all you want is a cheap price, sign up for an alert, and you’ll find out as soon as the price dips so you can book it right away.

Best Feature: The fare alert- it allows you to stop searching daily for that perfect price! Let airfarewatchdog do the work for you.

Hopper

Hopper is actually an app for your phone, not a website, but it is worth putting on here just the same. Have you ever been scared to book a flight because it might go down, or afraid to not book it in case it goes up? One of the features of Hopper that makes it shine is its price predictor, which means you never have to worry about making the wrong booking decision. Another bonus is it shows you the price with all of the fees and taxes included, so there is no sticker shock when you finally go to book. After you search, if you aren’t ready to book, you can set up an alert to watch that trip, dates and all. 

Best Feature: Hands down the price predictor. 

Which Flight Booking Site is Best for Me?

In determining which of these sites are the best ones for you to compare prices with, it’s helpful to determine which sites meet your trip-booking needs. Do you want to clearly see bag fees up front? Do you want an easy “flexible dates” function, or are your dates firm? If your travel plans are loose, do you want to see prices for multiple destinations? Different flight booking sites have different capabilities.

Once you determine which site is worth your time depending on the trip, compare prices with a few to make sure you’re getting the best deal. And always check the airline’s own site: OTAs are good at displaying fees associated with an individual flight, but it’s trickier to compare fare options (classes like basic economy vs. economy) on that flight.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that this list can be separated into two main types: booking sites (also called OTAs) that you book directly with as a third party, and aggregators otherwise known as metasearch sites that’ll send you to a booking site to make your transaction. The latter are better if you want to use any frequent flyer programs you might belong to and acquire points.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2019. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Sarah Schlichter and Megan Johnson  contributed to this story.

The post The 14 Best Flight Search Sites for Booking Cheap Airfare appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Let Flight Deals Decide Your Destination

If you don’t have your heart set on a specific destination, you can save a ton of money by letting flight deals influence where you travel to. You’ll be able to fly for even cheaper if you can be flexible on the dates you travel as well.

Google Explore is a great tool for finding amazing flight deals across the globe. You can put in your home airport and travel dates (which can be specific dates or as broad as a “one week trip in the next six months”) and you’ll see a map showing cheap flights to a wide range of destinations. 

Explore Alternative Modes of Transportation

Flying may seem like the fastest way to travel between destinations, but when you factor in getting to and from the airport, waiting in security lines, and checking in, sometimes other modes of transportation can turn out to be quicker—and cheaper.

Before you book a flight to get to your next destination, check out Rome2rio. The site will show you all of the available options for transportation between two spots, including buses, ferries, flights, and driving. It’s especially useful if you’re looking to book a multi-destination trip. 

Pick Destinations Where the Dollar Goes Further

It’s easy to spend less when you travel somewhere where the dollar goes further. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to see how pricey a destination is before you travel. Known as the Big Mac Index, this list ranks countries by how cheap a standardized item is to purchase. The list uses McDonald’s Big Mac, as it’s something that’s available in almost every country in the world. 

Avoid Unnecessary Fees

Inflation is bad enough—don’t make your trip more expensive than it already is by paying foreign transaction fees. These are sneaky fees (of up to 5% of the purchase price) that many banks and credit card companies charge consumers for using their credit or debit cards abroad to pay in foreign currency. 

There are plenty of options for cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees (or even ATM fees), so be sure to use one of those when you travel. You can find good lists of no foreign transaction fee credit and debit cards at NerdWallet.

Price Out the Whole Trip Before You Book

Find an amazing flight deal? Make sure you quickly check prices for your entire trip before you press “buy.” Any savings from the flight could be eaten up by the costs on the ground if you choose an expensive destination.

Price out the cost of a hotel, rental car (if needed) and average cost of meals to get a better idea of how much your trip will cost to be safe before you book anything non-refundable.  

The post 5 Money Saving Secrets for Traveling During Inflation appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Focus on Safety First

One of the easiest and most important items on an overseas travel checklist is also arguably the most ignored. Travel insurance and State Department alerts can be incredibly important in emergencies abroad, but many tourists bet they won’t become part of the small percentage of travelers who require evacuation assistance or protection from hotel or flight cancellations.

Subscribing to the State Department’s STEP alerts for your destination can help you stay up to date on upcoming and current travel restrictions, strikes, and areas of political unrest. Any alerts you receive will let you know whether or not to plan for some unexpected obstacles in advance.

Travel insurance can cost as little as a few dollars per travel day and cover anything from replacing a broken camera to emergency medical attention, potentially saving you hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars.

Get Your Travel Documents and Credit Cards in Order

Make sure your passport and any necessary travel visas are up to date. Some countries require a passport to be valid for at least six months after your scheduled return, so make sure you won’t be turned away or delayed at customs because of an old passport. Not sure if you need a visa? See this list of every country that requires a visa for Americans.

Keep physical and digital copies of your passport and all your paperwork in case anything is lost, and give copies as well as your itinerary and contact numbers to family and friends whom you can contact in case of an emergency.

Notify your bank and credit card companies about your travel dates so they don’t deny your purchases, and ask about international ATM fees so you can find out which ones won’t charge you. It’s always a good idea to bring multiple cards in case one stops working.

Don’t underestimate how helpful a cell phone photo of your passport can be. Whether you have to go to the consulate and report it lost, or are just filling out a customs card and need your passport number, it will likely come in handy. Email the image to yourself to have an extra digital copy in case your phone runs out of batteries or goes missing. You may also want to bring a spare copy of your passport photo on your trip; having it handy will speed the processing of a new document.

Get Vaccinated

It’s best to get the necessary vaccinations out of the way as soon as possible since it can take a few weeks to build full immunity. Some also require multiple doses, which may need to be administered over days, weeks, or even months. Talk to your doctor about getting the CDC-recommended shots, as the protocol for vaccines varies by country. For example, dozens of countries require proof of a yellow fever vaccination if you’ve been to at-risk areas. A travel clinic can help you sort out which vaccinations and medications you might need.

Keep your vaccination certificate in your carry-on in case customs requires you to present it when entering the country.

Study Up on Your Destination

Whether you’re a travel app connoisseur or more of a paperback guidebook person, having some source of knowledge about your destination is invaluable. Read about the region you’re traveling to in advance to gain insight into important information such as currency exchange rates, useful phrases, tipping norms, appropriate clothing, and cultural/legal customs. It’s best to be prepared so you don’t land yourself in a compromising situation.

Make Sure Your Home Is Cared For

There’s nothing worse than realizing once you’re six time zones away that you forgot to stop your mail delivery or ask someone to water your expertly cultivated house plants. Make sure your daily tasks are covered before you leave, or appoint a trusty friend to do them for you.

You can find a house or pet sitter to do your chores if you’re willing to list your home on TrustedHouseSitters.com. Plus, you could find lodging through the site for your trip abroad if you’re willing to spend some time with someone else’s furry friends.

Stay Connected

Want to stay in touch while traveling abroad? If you haven’t taken your phone overseas before, call your mobile provider to make sure it will work in the country you’re visiting and to ask about international phone plans that might be available. If your carrier’s plans are expensive, a mobile hotspot can be a cost-effective alternative.

Download the Necessities

Sometimes the most important thing you’ll pack is in your smartphone rather than your suitcase. Offline maps are your best friend when it comes to traveling with limited data or battery. You can find Wi-Fi in many places, but downloading offline maps through Google Maps or CityMaps2Go will allow you to follow your GPS without using up battery life and roaming data.

Downloading in-flight entertainment could also save you if your TV malfunctions on the long-haul flight. Streaming won’t be available without consistent in-flight Wi-Fi (which you shouldn’t ever depend on) but you can pre-download movies and TV shows through Amazon Prime, and music streaming service Spotify allows paying users to download tracks for offline use with the press of a button.

Don’t forget a portable backup charger. Watching hours of your favorite TV show is sure to drain your battery life, and there’s nothing worse than finally finding a Wi-Fi spot only to have your phone die.

Check Your Destination’s COVID Policies

Make sure you’re aware of your destination’s most up-to-date policies regarding COVID and vaccination status. Check with the State Department website well before your trip to make sure you meet the requirements, and check in periodically to monitor for potentially changes. Similarly to the US, mask-wearing policies may be left up to the discretion of an event or venue, so its a good idea to have a few masks on hand when out and about.

Pack These Essentials

While the contents of your checked bag will largely depend on the climate you’re visiting, you’ll want most of your trip’s essentials on hand in your carry-on. Start with this international travel checklist of items to pack:

• Passport and visa
• Medications
• Insurance and ID cards
• Cash, debit cards, and credit cards
• Pen to fill out customs forms
• Portable charger
• Earplugs, eye mask, and sleeping pills
• Electrical converters and adapters specific to your destination
• Headphones
• Antibacterial wipes
• Sweater/scarf in case the plane is chilly
• Cell phone and charger

For more ideas, check out our essential international packing list.

Consider taking photos of your packed suitcase (both inside and out) in case it gets lost. That way, airline employees will know what to look for, and you’ll know what was inside in case you don’t get it back and need to file a claim.

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An important item to check off the list: make sure you have a place to stay when you reach your destination! Book your hotel for a great rate with SmarterTravel Hotels.

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Editor Shannon McMahon writes about all things travel. Follow her on Twitter @shanmcmahon_.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2016. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

The post The Ultimate Checklist for Traveling Abroad appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Check with your credit card to see if it offers any of these perks—and remember, you have to actually book your trip on the credit card for it to be covered. 

Editor’s note: Specific credit card policies were correct at the time of writing, however, perks are subject to change so always check coverage with your card before traveling. 

Travel Insurance

Most travel credit cards (even ones without annual fees) offer some type of travel insurance. The most common benefit is rental car insurance. If your card offers insurance for accidents and thefts, you can pay for your rental with it, and then safely waive the expensive insurance offered at the rental car counter. 

Other common insurance benefits offered by travel credit cards include baggage delay, lost/damaged baggage, and trip delay/interruption/cancellation insurance.

The Chase Freedom Flex card, for example, has no annual fee but still includes trip cancellation/interruption and rental car insurance. 

Coupons on Travel Gear

Shopping for a new suitcase or backpack? You might be able to get it cheaper if you let your credit card help you shop. Many credit card companies offer special shopping discounts to their clients.

Capital One, for example, has a free browser extension that will automatically apply the best coupon codes at checkout and also let you know when prices drop on products you’ve purchased or browsed. 

Download Chase’s mobile app and cardholders can activate deals at select stores. 

Airport Lounge Access

Free airport lounge access is a perk that you’ll typically only find in a travel credit card that has an annual fee (such as The Platinum Card from American Express, which grants access to Centurion Lounges but charges a $695 annual fee). Benefits range from two visits a year to select lounges to unlimited free access for the cardholder and multiple guests across a wide network of lounges. 

If you’re considering signing up for a credit card for lounge access, make sure you check which lounges are included as well as any other rules—some cards have strict rules about lounge access (such as only granting lounge access within a certain number of hours before your flight’s departure or not allowing access upon landing).

Free Checked Bags

Hate paying a fee to check your bag? Most airline credit cards allow cardholders (and companions booked on the same reservation) to check a bag for free. 

Some non-airline-specific travel credit cards will reimburse you for a set amount of travel purchases charged to the card each year, and you could use this to offset checked bag fees. 

You’re likely to find the free checked bag perk on airline credit cards that charge an annual free—for example, you’ll have to have the JetBlue Plus Card (which costs $99 a year) and not the free regular JetBlue Card in order to get this benefit. 

TSA PreCheck/Global Entry Credits

If you’re planning on signing up for (or renewing) your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership this year, check and see if your credit card will reimburse you for the application fee. This is a perk that is only found in credit cards with annual fees, but it could be worth it to get the card for a year if you’re already planning on purchasing a membership.
The Capital One Venture Rewards and Bank of America Premium Rewards credit cards are two of the cheapest cards that offer this perk (at the cost of a $95 annual fee).

The post 5 Secret Travel Benefits Your Credit Card Might Already Have appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Membership now costs $139 annually (or $14.99 monthly); for that price, you get well-known benefits like free two-day shipping, access to exclusive deals, and Prime Video. But the real boon for travelers are the lesser-known Amazon Prime perks that deliver trip-ready extras like entertainment, last-minute delivery, photo storage, and even frequent flyer points. Here’s how to use Amazon Prime perks to become a more prepared and happier traveler.

How to Use Amazon Prime Perks for Travel

Want to give it a go? Try the Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial.

Already a Prime member? Sign up here to receive a weekly member-benefits newsletter and make the most of your membership.

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Prime Reading and Audible

As an Amazon Prime member, you can read books like The Handmaid’s Tale and classics from Jane Austen or Louisa May Alcott for free with Prime Reading. The feature offers over a thousand free books and magazines to download on any device with a Prime membership. Amazon also offers readers access to one pre-released book per month through Amazon First Reads. I think it’s one of the best secret Amazon Prime perks out there, especially for frequent travelers. As a Fire Tablet user, I browse this section before any long flight and download at least one free book for my trip.

Offline Downloads for Entertainment

One of the best lesser-known Amazon Prime perks perfect for travelers is offline downloading for TV shows and movies. You can even search for this feature on the Amazon Video app. Just go to the Library icon, hit “Refine,” and filter by the “On Device” option. All downloads will go to a download folder on the app, or you can watch directly from the show’s or movie’s page.

Shipping Benefits: Prime Now

Yes, most people know free two-day shipping comes with a Prime membership, but did you know about the Amazon Prime perk that offers free same-day delivery? This feature is available in 10,000 cities (you can check availability by zip code here), and it’s perfect for travelers. Whether you’re packing last-minute and need a specific item or you forgot something and need it delivered to your hotel room, Prime Now is a great benefit for travelers. In select areas, Prime Members can get secure in-home, in-garage, and even in-car deliveries with Amazon Key.

Insider Tip: Did you know that you can earn rewards for future purchases with free, no-rush shipping? If you don’t need your Prime order right away, select No-Rush Shipping and receive a discount or reward for a future purchase. Prime members can also select an Amazon Day, which means you can have all of your orders arrive on a specific day of the week.

Access to Exclusive Products and Deals

An Amazon Prime membership grants access to a variety of products and deals that can save you money on travel-related products and clothes. Prime members have early access to Lightning Deals (also called Prime Early-Access Deals), Prime Exclusives, and a whole day or two dedicated to member shopping deals, Prime Day, which this year falls on July 12th and 13th.

Another one of the lesser-known Amazon Prime perks is a service called Amazon Elements. This Prime-exclusive line is limited right now, but the idea behind it—a dedicated store that uses customer feedback and reviews to create better products—has the potential to become an invaluable tool for travelers who only have enough suitcase space for high-performing products.

Amazon is also providing discounts at Whole Foods for Prime members: Get an additional 10 percent off sale items and special deals on select items.

Insider Tip: If you order through Alexa-enabled voice shopping, you get access to even more deals and discounts as a Prime member.

Prime Photos and Drive

With Amazon Prime, you get unlimited photo storage via Amazon Photos, which is perfect for backing up your vacation photos and storing your favorite memories. Photos are easily organized, you can share photos in a “Family Vault,” and you can even order prints directly from Amazon.

Prime members also get 5G of free storage for files, videos, and anything else you want to store on the cloud with Amazon Drive.

Prime Music and Video

With Amazon Prime, you get unlimited, ad-free streaming on Amazon Music. And while Prime Music has over two million songs, Prime members also get a discount with Amazon’s other music streaming service, Amazon Music Unlimited.

Another one of the lesser-known Amazon Prime perks is Prime Video streaming, which grants you access to award-winning original movies and TV shows like Manchester by the Sea and The Man in the High Castle. Amazon also hosts other network TV shows like Mr. Robot and The Sopranos. Prime Video also has a library of popular shows and movies to rent and buy.

Insider Tip: You can add premium network subscriptions to your Prime membership via Amazon Channels. This allows you to watch channels like HBO, STARZ, and Showtime without having a cable or satellite account.

JetBlue Affiliation

JetBlue passengers can earn three TrueBlue points for Amazon purchases made in flight. Just make sure you understand which products are excluded from the offer—this includes things like subscription Kindle products and Amazon Fresh.

Amazon Credit Cards and Points

Making the most of every dollar you spend is another Amazon Prime perk. Prime members have exclusive access to certain credit cards: The Amazon Prime Store Card and Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card.

The Visa card gives you five percent back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases and two percent back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, with no annual fee. You can redeem your points for Amazon purchases, and the card also has travel benefits like no foreign transaction fees, baggage delay insurance, and travel accident insurance.

The Store card lets Prime members receive five percent back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, has no annual fee, and gives access to promotional financing.

Some credit card companies let you “Shop With Points” on Amazon, though you won’t get Prime benefits.

Food Delivery: Amazon Fresh

If you want to schedule a delivery at a vacation rental or to have items waiting upon your return home, check out Amazon’s grocery delivery service, Amazon Fresh. Amazon Prime members have access to free delivery or pickup above a certain order minimum. Similarly, customers can place an order for delivery or pickup at nearby Whole Foods locations. Check your zip code to see available stores near you.

Discounted Memberships: Student and Family

If you’re ready to join Amazon Prime, look into some of the discounted membership services first to see if you qualify. Right now Amazon offers Amazon Family and Prime Student at discounted rates.

Amazon Family costs $119 per year with a free 30-day trial, but lets you create a household—meaning multiple users—for shared family benefits. Amazon Family also comes with discounted prices on Amazon Kids+ (previously FreeTime Unlimited)—a subscription service for kids’ entertainment—as well as special discounts on household products and diapers.

Prime Student comes at the discounted rate of $59 per year with a six-month free trial to start and a special student page filtered for college-specific needs.

Editor’s note: SmarterTravel.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

The post 10 Secret Amazon Prime Perks You Probably Aren’t Using appeared first on SmarterTravel.

The Big Mac Index uses a standardized product (McDonald’s Big Mac hamburger) that is available in almost every country in the world. “The idea of the Big Mac Index was to give an idea of each country’s power purchase parity,” says HelloSafe. “The Big Mac hamburger is among the world’s products the most widely distributed and can, therefore, serve as a reference. Same product, same brand, but different price.”

Editor’s Note: Russia and Ukraine respectively ranked as the number one and number six destinations where the U.S. dollar goes furthest in 2022, however, we did not include them in this list as they are not options for tourists at this time given the ongoing war. 

Turkey

Big Mac Price: $1.85

One U.S. dollar can be exchanged for approximately 16.77 Turkish Lira, meaning a vacation to Istanbul or Cappadocia can be quite affordable. There are great deals on flights from the U.S. to Turkey at the moment, with fares under $500 from New York City and even Los Angeles. 

Combined with Istanbul’s cheap hotel prices (you can find a 4-star hotel for less than $50 a night), Turkey is a dream destination for the budget traveler.

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Indonesia

Big Mac Price: $2.35

Made up of over 17,000 islands, Indonesia offers plenty of variety for the adventurous vacationer. Head to Sulawesi for pristine white beaches and colorful dives, or Bali for a party scene. Flights to get to this far-flung destination will be pricey, but low on-the-ground costs will make up for it.

This famously affordable vacation spot offers 4-star hotels for as low as $12 per night, so why not stay awhile? 

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Malaysia

Big Mac Price: $2.38

Diverse Malaysia has a destination that will suit every type of traveler. See skyscrapers in glittering Kuala Lumpur and then head to the jungles of Peninsular Malaysia in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the elusive Malayan Tiger.

You’ll be able to sample Malaysia’s globally influenced cuisine without breaking the bank, as a meal in a restaurant generally costs less than $10. Hotels are equally cheap, with a night in a 4-star hotel available for under $20.

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Romania

Big Mac Price: $2.39

Romania has been an under-the-radar destination for a while, but the secret is out—the country’s stunning castles, gorgeous mountain hiking trails, and affordability draws a steady stream of tourists looking for European charm without the high prices and crowds. 

If you can be flexible with dates, this is another destination on the list that will be cheap to fly to as well. When you arrive, a 4-star hotel in Romania’s vibrant capital city, Bucharest, can be found for only about $50. 

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India

Big Mac Price: $2.54

With 4-star hotels available for $65 a night, and a meal costing less than $3, India has been drawing budget travelers for decades. One USD is equivalent to approximately 77 Indian Rupees, putting the currency conversion squarely in your favor. From busy Mumbai to chilled out Goa, there are so many different regions to explore in India. Fortunately, domestic transportation is also cheap, whether you choose to take the train or fly.

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South Africa

Big Mac Price: $2.57

Splurge on a luxury safari in Kruger National Park or have a cool and cheap urban getaway in Cape Town—South Africa can cater to every budget. With a big focus on outdoor activities and nature, you can spend your vacation days doing things that won’t cost you a penny, like a hike up iconic Table Mountain. After, a celebratory Castle Lager will only set you back $2.

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The post 6 Places Where the U.S. Dollar Goes Furthest in 2022 appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Why You Should Always Check Your Credit Card Statement After Stay in a Hotel 

Almost all hotels will put a mandatory hold on your credit card when you check in. This hold is usually for the amount of one night’s stay, plus an extra $50-$100 to cover any incidentals (like minibar charges) or damages that may be incurred. 

The hold is typically released from your credit card within 24 hours after checking out, but you should always make sure it’s actually been removed. Although 24 hours is the standard time for a credit card hold, some financial institutions take longer to remove holds, so you may have to check back again within a week if the hold is still pending after a day.

You want to make sure that the hotel actually removed the hold, and that it hasn’t become an actual charge on your credit card. There could have been a glitch in your system where the hold didn’t get removed, or you might have been incorrectly charged for something you didn’t do—like smoking in your hotel room. Be sure to ask for an itemized receipt when checking out so you can verify that these charges were not valid. 

It’s important to catch this error quickly so that you have time to call the hotel to have the charge removed, or, in the worst case scenario, to dispute the charge with your credit card company before your bill is actually due.

Don’t think you’ll remember to check your credit card? Some banks offer the option to sign up for alerts when charges go through, so you can take advantage of this feature to automatically see any post-trip charges.

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