Ten Tips For A Tech Problem Free Vacation

Heading off for vacation? Here are my top 10 tips for a trouble-free high tech vacation — things to do before you leave and what to do while on vacation to protect and enjoy your gizmos and gadgets:

1. Unplug. Yeah, I know. That's what you hope to do on your getaway. But give your gadgets a break, too. Unplug your computers and printers. This protects them against power surges or nearby lightning strikes while you're away. Same with your cable modem, router and wireless hub.

2. Auto-respond your work e-mail and phone. If you use Microsoft Outlook through an exchange server at work, go into options and compose an auto response that tells people you will be out of the office for a while and won't be answering them. Give them someone at work they can contact in your absence. Do the same with your voice mail at work.

3. Don't advertise that nobody's home. Work is one thing. But don't put a "we're not here" message on your home phone. Just like piles of mail in the mailbox tell thieves nobody's home, so can a home answering machine that tells anyone who calls that you're on vacation. Instead, keep the same recorded message but make sure you have the playback code so you can check for messages from another phone.

4. Pack your chargers. For your cell phone, your camcorder, your digital camera and your iPod. Some people even bring along an extra power strip so you don't hog all the outlets at your vacation getaway.

5. Stay away from the water. Not you, but your gadgets. I have a friend who bought a camcorder for a Florida vacation. At Sea World, Shamu jumped and he thought he got a great shot of his kid getting splashed. The problem was, so did the camera. It was ruined.

Salt water is the worst for electronic devices. And while a mild fresh water or rain exposure may not be destructive, if your camera gets even a tiny amount of salt water inside, it's a goner.

6. Hold onto your cameras. Use the straps. I just lost a brand new digital camera. I was taking pictures of the grandkids and one of them ran by and bumped my arm. The camera fell to the cement, shattering the lens and the case. Use the strap that comes with the cameras. Wrap them around your hand or neck.

7. Think storage. Make sure you have a big enough memory card to store all the pictures you take. I'd suggest a minimum of 512 MB to hold around 125 good-quality pictures. A 1GB card holds around 250 images.

The only thing worse than forgetting the charger and running out of juice is not being able to take more pictures because the memory is full. With camcorders, bring along extra miniDV tapes.

8. Bring a laptop For one thing, you can transfer some of those photos to your laptop and free up more memory. But for another, the laptop is great for reviewing the pictures at the end of each day. Create a slide show of the day's highlights. Looking over the pictures is a great way to pass time on a rainy day. Besides, most resorts and hotels now offer free Internet hookups. If not, a library or Starbucks offers wireless access so you can send family and friends a picture or check e-mail.

9. Bring Ziploc bags for the beach. Sand can cause almost as many problems as water. When you take your iPod and mobile phone and other gizmos to the beach, keep them in those clear bags that can be sealed to protect the outside from getting in. And don't keep them in the sun for long periods of time.

10. Create a vacation blog. Remember when we used to go over to friend's homes to see vacation pictures projected on a screen? Now we blog it.

About The Author
Mike Wendland http://www.techtipstoday.com

The Best 28 Traveling Tips

I have compiled 28 of the best traveling tips out there into one simple article. Not only that, but I have organized them into small subjects, so finding those subject specific tips is no challenge. Lastly, there is also an added page of bonuses to make these tips even more worthwhile.

The topics breakdown in this order...

o Research
o Pre-Trip Reminder
o Packing
o Travel
o Activities
o Food
o Transportation
o Money
o Random... These are just a few that don't quite fit anywhere, but are still extremely important!

**Research**

1. Information can save you time and money! One of the best things you can do is research your destination of choice. Be sure to know what events will be going on while you are there, where the "hot spots" are located, and what other activities are available for you to enjoy.

2. Talk to people... They are a wealth of knowledge! Don't be afraid to talk to some locals to find out where good places are to eat, or good art, or good entertainment. It would only improve your vacation.

**Pre-Trip Reminder**

3. Make sure that your home and pets are taken care of while you are gone. When vacationing, you should have someone watch your house, check the mail, water plants, etc, and take care of your pets, unless you plan on housing your pets at a kennel of some sort. Also, make sure to leave them an itinerary so they can get a hold of you if necessary.

**Packing**

4. Shoes... Make sure that you pack worn-in shoes to avoid getting sore feet from exploring. Plus, you'll save money if you don't buy new ones!

5. Don't pack too much. Many travelers end up packing way more items than necessary on a trip. To achieve this pick items that are multi-use and multi-weather appropriate. Mix and match, durable, easy-care – all words that describe good items to pack.

6. Checklists can save you LOADS of time. Create a checklist of everything you need to take, and as you pack them, check them off. This will help you to avoid packing unnecessary items, and from leaving necessary ones behind.

7. Liquids + Plastic Bags = Genius! Make sure that any liquids are packed in plastic bags to avoid soiling all of you clothing before you even get to your destination!

8. Carry all valuables on your carryon. This is a good idea in case your luggage is lost, then you won't lose all your valuables with it. Valuables could also include some toilet paper and tissue!

9. Don't forget a camera! Disposable cameras and digital cameras are getting smaller and smaller. Don't forget this essential item in documenting your vacation.

10. Prepaid phone cards can save money while trying to keep in touch with those people at home. International calling fees can be insanely expensive, so to cut down on costs purchase a prepaid phone card.

**Travel**

11. Travel packages that are too good to be true? Great travel packages do exist, but make sure that you read the fine print such as cancellation fees, vacation insurance, and refund policy.

12. Seating arrangements can be crucial, especially when traveling with other people. Many ticket purchasing sites allow for you to choose your seating on flights, so choose wisely.

13. Check the details of your flight and leave yourself plenty of time. Security can be a huge travel hassle, so make sure that you arrive plenty early, and make sure you know what time your flight is at so you can know when "early" is. Another detail includes how much your luggage can weigh, so to avoid charges verify the amount of weight allowed.

14. The carry-on is essential for any traveler. Make sure to have some essentials including: clean change of clothing, reading material, plenty of water, and snacks. These will also really help you on those long-haul flights.

**Activity**

15. There are many different options for activities... No matter where you go! You could go on a walk, or a hike; you could go shopping in the central shopping areas and meet people. If you have no ideas, people are the hotels you are staying in are more than willing to share some insight with you.

16. Remember to leave yourself time to ENJOY your vacation. It is important to not have a jam packed schedule that allows you no flexibility. That way, you can fill free time with resting, exploring, or taking advantage of once in a life time opportunities.

**Food**

17. Snacks are very important to any traveler. When on tours, meals may be spread out over long periods of time so it is always a good idea to carry a few small snacks such as nuts or crackers with you.

18. Water, water, water! Make sure that you are drinking a lot of water. This will help keep you from wearing out during your travels.

19. Enjoy the cultural food while you have the chance. This cuisine is a treat for you, so enjoy it and take in some of the culture with the meal.

20. Don't forget that nutrition still applies on vacation. No one wants to gain weight while vacationing, so be careful about your food choices and don't skip meals. Also, if you have special dietary needs you will have to make arrangements for that in your budget.

**Transportation**

21. Don't forget your license! Being able to travel within a town is essential to doing what you want to do on a vacation, and you'll definitely need your license for that. Also, try to figure out the cheapest ways to get around by starting with your hometown and finding the cheapest ways to get around to all of the popular spots; then apply those money saving tips to your foreign country.

**Money**

22. Currency exchange information is vital. Be sure to check the current exchange rate so that you can plan your budget accordingly.

23. Traveler's checks are guaranteed funds, and REPLACEABLE! Traveler's checks can be a great way for people to keep their money organized when traveling, and they are accepted virtually everywhere. Plus, if they are lost or stolen, you can call the traveler check company and get replacements.

24. Always carry a little bit of cash, and a personal check or two. This is a strong suggestion for those times when traveler's checks are not accepted. Carry smaller bills and not very many because you can lose money when your convert them back into American dollars, and personal checks may come in handy because they don't have fees associated with them.

25. Credit and debit card fees can really hurt your travel budget. Watch out for these fees. They tend to add up quickly, and most people don't realize just how quickly until they get home.

26. Make sure to have some extra money budgeted for emergencies. What if there is a major rain storm on a tropical island and you don't have a jacket? That's where this fund would step in, for those incidentals that almost no one would think of.

27. Keep a spending log... That way you know for sure you won't go over budget!

28. Souvenir budgets are often overlooked and they shouldn't be! Buying those loved ones at home a gift should not be overlooked. Decide early on how many people you are buying for and your limit for each, and then stay within it! Even the smallest gift can mean the world to someone.

About The Author
Shelly Walther has written multiple articles on a variety of subject matter. She has most recently been writing series on traveling and leisure and has posted work on http://www.fieldtravel.com.

Guidelines for Safe Traveling

Guidelines for Safe Traveling

It's important to be prepared for any eventuality when you are heading out of town. You can never tell what kind of situation you might have to face. So, be prepared to handle situations like disease, crime, or loss.

If you're traveling out of the country, you want to check to see if there are immunizations that are required to enter. You can check with the country's health department to see if there are any recommendations. While you have to complete some, you might also want to look into those that are just recommended. Talk with your doctor as to where these are given and get them well before you leave in case there are side effects that you experience.

You will also want to talk with your health insurance company to see what their policy is in other areas. You may need to pay for additional coverage for foreign travel, so be sure that you are covered no matter what happens.

When it comes to health abroad, it is best to keep away from tap water when you're abroad like most people do. For the same reason, if you are served with tepid meals, ask that they heated through thoroughly. And try not to go for the raw or semi-raw foods, or those not cooked a hundred per cent for fear they might contain bacteria?including guacamole and salsa dips, unless of course they are fresh, made when you order them.

Remember to carry some anti diarrhea drugs in case you get food poisoning. And if you do get it, drink lots of water and other fluid to re-hydrate yourself. Don't take chances if your symptoms persist -- do see a doctor, or visit the local hospital for treatment.

You need to safeguard yourself against crime while traveling. Try not to carry too much cash with you, and avoid attracting attention by displaying your wealth. Do not bring all of your expensive clothing and jewelry to wear. It's better to wear travel clothes and remain low key so that thieves don't get interested in you.

Carrying traveler's checks in place of large check amounts is also better -- because you need to show your identification and sign them twice to en-cash them. If someone steals them, you just simply call the issuer of the checks to replace them.

Additionally, to make sure you don't lose out in case something does get stolen or lost, try your insurer first. You might be able to get a valuables insurance cover policy to cover you while you are abroad. It will insure your new purchases abroad as well as protect your rented car and the items you carried for your trip.

All it needs is a little planning to make your trip as safe as possible. If you take the necessary precautions you will enjoy your exotic trip as though you're traveling anywhere in your home town.

About The Author
Vern Paserge runs the website Y Travel Y which is the complete Travel research center providing easy access to absolutely everything you can possibly imagine Travel related. Please vistit http://www.ytravely.com for any questions or comments about this article.

Beware of Using Your Credit Card Abroad?

It's summer. And for some lucky Americans, this means going vacation to a far off land in hopes of relieving the stress of everyday life. In general, it is a very happy couple of months for the regular American family but it can also be an even happier time for credit card companies. This is because of the fact that credit card companies are making a killing off the money Americans spend on their foreign vacations through questionable fees.

Imagine this situation. You and your family are in Paris, France on vacation. Your wife sees a lovely pair of shoes that she "must have" and so being the good husband that you are, you purchase the $300 pair of shoes using your credit card. Two weeks or so later, your credit card statement shows up and instead of you seeing a charge for $300 dollars, you statement shows a charge for $309. How did this happen? The answer is that you were charge 1% foreign currency-conversion fee by Visa or Master to convert your foreign-currency purchase into American dollars and were also charged an addition 2% foreign transaction fee by your credit card issuer.

If you are form the U.S., when you make a purchase abroad with your credit card, your credit card issuer will convert the charge to U.S. dollars before it appears on your statement. Usually, this is done through the Visa or MasterCard networks, which charge a 1-percent foreign currency-conversion fee for converting your foreign-currency purchase into American dollars. According to Kristin Arnold, a writer for Bankrate.com, this is a good deal since changing your money in almost any other manner will probably cost you a lot more.

What is unsettling, however, is the additional foreign transaction fee which your credit card issuer charges. This fee can range from 2-3%. According to Linda Sherry, the editorial director for Consumer Action in Washington, "Banks have been making a profit off their customers for a long time, while providing no service." In Agreement, Ed Perkins, a syndicated travel columnist and author of "Business Travel When It's Your Money," says that these fees are "pure gouging that credit card companies know they can get away with". Foreign transaction fees do not relate to any service that the credit card issuer provides but instead is buried deep in the fine print of the credit card agreement between the issuer and the customer. So in retrospect, while Visa or MasterCard may have done you a favor by converting your foreign-currency purchase into American dollars for a fee of 1%, your bank's additional charges were driven by pure greed.

So what can you do to avoid these fees? The answer is to do your research. Currently there is no standard rate at which all banks and corporations charge, so you could possibly find a card that does not add on any additional fees for overseas purchases. For example Bank of America, Citibank, MBNA and JP Morgan Chase all charge 2 percent on overseas purchases while Household Credit Services, Providian Financial Corp and Capital One do not.

Another way that one can protect themselves from being overcharged is to know and keep up with the latest currency exchange rates. Visiting currency conversion sites like http://www.gocurrency.com is a great way to do this. Having a general idea of the exchange rate will help you make more informed decisions when you purchase goods and services from local vendors.

In the end, credit card companies are in the business to make money, however, it is up to you whether they get it from you honestly or through underhanded practices.

About The Author
Gerron Woodruffe is a contributing writer for GoCurrency.com. GoCurrency provides information on global exchange rates, movements and news related information.