Have Fun Abroad without Breaking the Bank: Travel during COVID
Staunch loyalists will tell you America is the place to be during a global crisis, but with our pathetic handling of the pandemic, other parts of the world may as well be safer than the US. So if you plan to travel during COVID regardless, learning these international travel myths upfront may help you cut on costs. Myths can scare you and put a damper on your traveling plans. But worst of all, they can make you spend in the clouds and lose money. Even worse, you won't realize you are wasting cash until you dig into your pockets, check all credit card balance, and oops! The tour must end abruptly because your budget is a mess. Instead of saving on costs, you went for pricey items, accommodation, food, transport, data roaming charges, and souvenirs. Little did you know that all these are money-wasting habits that cause considerable losses in the end. Travel myths can ruin your tour experience.

Travel during COVID: Avoid These Costly Myths
What have you heard about flying outside the United States? Well, most of it isn't true. Others are exaggerated, and some are just the experiences of one or two unlucky people. Below are common myths, some of which could cost you thousands of dollars.

Guidebooks are a must-have, you need to carry one
Most of us have been told to rely on large travel guide books when touring places. But unless you are a culture enthusiast who doesn't mind carrying around an archaic guidebook, you must not necessarily have a trip guide. More to the point, with invariable changes and progress in the tourism world, guides fail to offer the latest data, for example, changes in prices and details on new options available in the market. For the record, travel blogs are a more reliable source of info and offer more honest insight into your desired destination. Furthermore, blogs are up-to-date, which is particularly useful for travel during COVID.

Data roaming charges aren't costly. Also, why call or text at home while overseas? It's expensive
You have to remain online, but you have to save on internet costs. And because you are away from home, you have to worry about extra roaming charges. Yes, you need to; you could waste money if you use your homeland SIM card. Do your math right; activating roaming charges is costly compared to other options. For example, you can purchase an international SIM Card that offers users enjoy free data roaming worldwide.

To enjoy the best flight deals, you have to book your vacation a few months earlier
Sometimes it's true, but the best advice is to keep an eye on the flight rates and conduct continuous research. Check on the fluctuation of prices and any other offers if present. This is useful, especially if your schedule is flexible. You might want to go for the new last-minute offers provided by airlines these days. Furthermore, some all-inclusive packages are a better deal compared to booking a month or two ahead.

All souvenirs you purchase are locally crafted
Souvenirs are an excellent way to remember a foreign land. But not everything you buy overseas is locally crafted. The issue of 'authenticity' of the souvenirs you stock up during a tour is still a sticking point. You may think some are too precious only to meet them in a market back at home. To get original and locally made keepsakes, conduct thorough research, and avoid buying in markets. Instead, go straight to the artisan's workshop and insist on having a look at the latest, start-of-the-art pieces they have worked on. This way, you stand a better chance of getting authentic souvenirs.

Carry along a traveler cheque for emergencies.
Today, traveler checks are nothing but a pain in the neck. Merchants no longer accept check payments. And what's worse, you'll have a long wait at the bank because no one wants to approve them. Nobody wants to spend a whole day of their vacation in a queue. How about you carry your ATM card? Withdrawal points are virtually everywhere these days. Along with your credit card, ATMs can be an excellent source of financial security. But the best advice is; have a couple of local currency notes well hidden in your bag to manage travel during COVID emergencies.

All locals are out to overcharge and rip you off
It's only right that such stereotypes be shunned with truth, yet the opposite has prevailed. Overpaying is a common fear among all tourists. Just because an individual told a story aboutan awful experience in a foreign country doesn't mean every citizen in that nation is out to swindle your cash.

Convert your currency at your home bank; they offer the best rates
The truth is your home banks will offer high conversion rates and add on extra charges as well as commissions. Sometimes, using your credit card overseas will allow you to enjoy low conversion rates. Only it's wise to call your credit card company to confirm that they do not have surcharges for transactions made out of the country (others charge 2 to 3 percent per transaction). It would help if you also watched out for dynamic currency conversion rates, where foreign salespeople charge sky-scraping rates to convert your bills into your home currency.
Be careful when exchanging in terminals and airports. Their rates are a little bit higher. Preferably, convert your money at a safe, licensed dealer on the high street. It's advisable to convert only the amount you want to use as soon as you set foot in a strange city. Here's the best way to go about it— find a nearby ATM and withdraw the desired amount from your account. More often than not, the rates are as reasonable as what your home banks offer, and at times even better. However, beware of additional fees if your bank has different charges for overseas ATM transactions.

If you can't speak the native's lingo, you cannot communicate
Utterly false; speaking the native's language will indeed ease things during tours and give you the chance to dig deep into the locals' way of life. But you can still communicate by other means. Non-verbal cues like pointing at an item, sign language, facial expressions, and many others make it possible to be in touch. And more often than not, it makes the trip even more thrilling; it's something you don't get to do daily. If you travel during COVID, try to master a few local language terms for easy communication.

• Please
• Hey
• How much?
• Sorry
• Goodbye
• Thanks
• Can I have a drink?

All these short words and expressions will prove handy when bonding with the locals. But not being able to speak the language is almost no reason to avoid going on your dream trip.

English is common language everywhere
This is a myth that has grown with us, and we have always believed that English is an international language. Well, it's true, English is unquestionably the most spoken dialect around the globe, but the number of those who don't understand English is overwhelming. Travelers like to assume that English is a common language all over. But if you are visiting places like China or Asia, it's sensible to learn common terminologies. This is useful in giving you a head start communicating with locals effectively, especially in cases that call for an emergency.

Eating local food or drinking the water will get you sick
First, if the locals drink the water and consume the food daily, how then is it unhealthy for you? However, there are countries where locals bottle contaminated water, and therefore you are never sure if the water is potable or unsafe. The only wise thing to do is to be careful before eating anything and to ensure complete safety. If possible, carry along a SteriPen, which will allow you to reuse your portable water wherever you go. The same caution should apply when dealing with foods. Since eating at marketplaces and taking street junk is common in most nations, you might be tempted to try. And why not, if the food is tasty and healthy for consumption, pretty much the same as what you pay for dearly in 5-star hotels yet very cheap. However, be sure to check for obvious things like kitchen hygiene. If the place is all dirty and no one wants to go in, avoid it.

If you are American, traveling to some parts of the world may get you killed
Really? No, perhaps you should walk the earth and get a feeling of how friendly human beings are! Unless you go around announcing how American you are, no one will rub shoulders with you. But if you suggest to have some extraordinary superhuman privileges, then you may risk your life. There's wisdom in silence. And even if it's a dangerous terrorist situation targeting tourist from your motherland, your good rapport with neighbors may save your life. Unless you suffer from superiority or inferiority complex, there's utterly nothing wrong with being American or Briton. But surely: who would sit down all day to listen to nothing but a man or woman speak boastfully of their homeland? Forget the anti-American opinions you might come across when traveling? Some people speak out of ignorance and misinformation. For such comments, you can choose to either set the issue straight in a polite tone or simply ignore.
What Now? Being able to distinguish truth from lies is a skill you must practice to survive most tours. Now that you know possible money-wasters, you can make better decisions to minimize your spending yet still enjoy a fantastic time. Finally, in a world where everyone has the freedom to express themselves, you don't want to be naïve as to believe everything you hear or read anywhere, even online. And since some of these myths originated from real-life stories, don't lose your good sense and partial judgment. Think twice before making a move!

Top Ten Things that Tourists Overpay For
Most tourists don't care to study or get the wrong reading of locals. As a consequence, they end up overpaying for some goods or services. At times, it happens out of unfamiliarity and lack of skills to negotiate a win-win. Other times, naivety- when you start to think locals will offer you a good deal just because you are an alien. Rule number one; don't go spendthrift; throwing money at everyone who asks for it as if they need it more. Well, money experts believe this can unsuspectingly cripple your budget and threaten to end your trip, more so if you plan to travel during COVID when times are tough. So, we've put together a useful checklist of areas you need to watch out for and how to avoid running into an open trap. Let's dive right in;

1.Souvenirs
All that glitters is not gold— some of the jewelry local merchants display and market as the best are counterfeits. Tip: To avoid paying more than the fair price, visit a few markets and stores that have been recommended by reliable sources. If you run into identical items, a small amount of research to figure out how to identify fake souvenirs will sort you. But when you don't see your choice of souvenir anywhere and still wish to purchase it, hone your negotiation skills. While there are no hard and fast rules that work for every negotiation, learning a few business slang from the natives may help you pin down the vendor.

2.Currency Exchange
Currency exchange charges and commissions are unavoidable. The good thing is that you can reduce avoidable expenses by circumventing currency exchange counters at airports or using your credit and debit cards wisely. Ensure the seller doesn't process your payments in your home currency (this usually comes with extra hidden fees). To evade extra foreign transaction fees, you can carry along local currency in hard cash to carter for your day-to-day spending. But since you can't carry all your holiday money in cash for security reasons, it's prudent to take a credit card with low ATM withdrawal charges just in case you choose to pay in ready money. But are there any risks to using your credit card for travel during COVID? Yes. Additional currency conversion charges may vary up to 10% between the least-priced and worst-priced credit cards depending on your credit card. Always be careful to study the fine print. Tip: Be cautious of dodgy vendors who try to "double-swipe" credit cards or secretly keep your card number for later fraudulent uses.
Don't lose sight of your card, and always insist on receiving a receipt after any purchase. You also want to avoid merchants who charge extra (up to10%) if you pay for goods or services using credit cards. In such cases, you are better off using your debit card at a nearby ATM to withdraw the cash and then pay for whatever you want. Unlike credit cards, debit card transactions do not incur interest, and in most cases, you can conduct a withdrawal without having to pay a cash advance fee.

3.Taxis/ Car Rentals
For most tourists, taxi drivers are the first service providers you bump into as soon as the plane touches down. Some dodgy ones will take the longest route, especially if you're paying by the mile and not familiar with the surrounding. If you travel during COVID, use the tips to reduce money spent on car rentals. Tip: Speak up— ask a native or staff at the airport to brief you on the fare rates of a taxi to your destination and the average time or distance it should take you to get there. This way, you can pre-negotiate fees with the taxi driver or have a rough estimate of the distance you'll need to travel for a metered taxicab. And of course, to save more bucks, use public transport. If the locals realize they are renting to a foreigner for car rentals, they'll swindle your cash. Consider alternatives like car-sharing or use a vehicle delivery service. In case you have to rent a car, negotiate the rates to ensure a more reasonable price. Don't waste much of your vacation money paying in the clouds for everything you want. That way, you will spend all you have on peanuts—conduct thorough research before paying for anything.

4.Guided Tours
Guided tours are often overpriced than necessary. Find out the cost of regular tours before you travel, and if you are looking to have a more local adventure, go for local options. Remember that some cities, particularly in Europe, offer more or less "free" guided walking tours where guides take tourists for strolls only for small tips— which means they are incentivized to ensure you have fun.

5.Hotels
Be careful not to pay highly for mediocre quality and overpriced foodstuff delivered to your room. Why stop at such hotels if you can get better meals at affordable prices in your hotel restaurant or buy at a local canteen. Again, who pays $40 to get their shirt cleaned? Not me, not when I can still chuck some shampoo in my bathroom sink and hand wash a sweater or two. Or better yet, pack as much as necessary clothes to make laundry a non-issue. After all, no one would like to spend their vacation fighting stains. Lastly, hotels are not your last option for accommodation. Try hostels; they are cozy with unique features like private rooms. What's more, you get a more local experience, e.g., free housing, home-sitting, house exchanges, and more.

6.Foreign ATM withdrawals
When using ATM cards in a foreign nation, watch out for these two charges to avoid paying through the nose. - Extra charges— Use bank-affiliated ATMs to avoid incurring additional fees (in the range of $1.50 to $5) deducted by private ATMs. - Withdrawal charges— avoid withdrawal fees taxed by your home bank (typically $5 per withdrawal). Some banks will automatically repay ATM fees or provide free ATM withdrawals for foreign cards. Be conversant with your bank's terms, and if possible, upgrade your bank account to allow free foreign ATM withdrawals.

7.Airplane Meals and Airport Junk
Most travelers assume that meals are catered for in the fare, yet this isn't always the case. It is wise to confirm if your ticket fee includes meal service. If not, buy a meal at the airport. Even though you still pay more, you save more than you would if you waited until you've boarded the plane. Junk freaks can testify that most shops in airports tend to hike their prices. After going through security, they know they have you, hostage, eagerly waiting for your flight, so if you don't want to board the plane on a hungry belly, to them, the junk remains your only option. But since you are smart enough and a step ahead of them, why not eat to your full before leaving for the airport, or carry some handy foodstuff? Additionally, bring a bottle of water, so you don't have to pay dearly for one at the airport.

Have fun without breaking the Bank
Vacations are best enjoyed if every moment is terrific, isn't that what you want?-To enjoy your travel during COVID. Don't fixate your mind on getting ripped off and forget to have fun. Give tips to friendly locals and avoid wrangling over little money that you can pay without a hassle. Remember, the local people are part of the place and part of the tour. Going overboard with your negotiations will only ruin the magnificent adventure for you. On the other hand, you don't want to throw away your money by falling for everything you hear. Now that you know all potential money-wasters, next time you go touring the world, make sure you benefit from all essential amenities without spending extravagantly. And there's a good reason to be cautious and have the facts at your fingertips. Only that way will you be a hard target for tricksters.