Traveling? Never Exchange Currency at Your Local Bank

Why You Should Not Convert Currency at Your Bank

If you are converting currency at your home bank, you are losing a lot of money due to exuberant charges. I made the same mistakes many years ago.

But now, after checking online I convert just a little at a currency shop that has good ratings. This way, I will have enough cash for the first couple of days after arriving at my destination. And then I can convert more currency at a local shop as needed at a rate much better than in my home country.

For example, I was recently looking to convert Canadian dollars to Thai Baht and UAE Dirham for my upcoming trip. Here are the different rates I checked:

Location              THB    AED

NHVN Toronto   2600     263

Another Shoppe 2500    Not Available

TD Bank              2463     248

Bangkok              2700     Not Available

You can see that by going to a currency shop in Toronto and not going to a bank (all banks have very similar rates) I saved $4 per $100 Cad.

However, if I had going to TD then I would lose $8 per $100 Cad in conversion when compared to a local currency shop in Bangkok. That’s a huge difference.

So the lesson here is that you should convert a little amount just to get going for a couple of days at a reputable currency store in your country and do the rest of your exchange in your destination country, which always will have better rates. And never go to a bank to convert currency.

I have a video on this here: Best Place to Exchange Currency

Lounge by the Sea: Soundscapes Unwind – The Best Free Relaxing Chill Radio Station to Remove Stress

I Created the Ultimate Chill Out Radio Station for You – All Free

Are you stressed? From time to time, we all are. And to transport you to a state of pure relaxation, I created a perfect Chillout Radio Station, Lounge by the Sea: Soundscapes Unwind.

This radio station is your passport to the laid-back vibes of Ibiza, Café del Mar, CocoGroove, Buddha Bar, and similar locales. Embrace the eclectic mix of world music infused with both traditional and electronic sounds.

Whether you're lounging at home, hosting a gathering with friends, unwinding on the beach or at a café, or simply looking to escape the stress of everyday life, let Lounge by the Sea: Soundscapes Unwind be your sonic sanctuary.

If you have the Autoplay feature on while playing Lounge by the Sea: Soundscapes Unwind on YouTube or YouTube Music, the AI will keep playing continuously even after you finish listening to all the music in the playlist.

Better yet, if you like and dislike some music from the playlist, the AI will recognise your preferences and will keep playing music that is more matching to your taste.

I plan to update this playlist from time to time to give you more variety and better choices to relax and unwind. Save this playlist on YouTube, YouTube Music, as simply as a bookmark on your browser to come back and listen again.

Here is the link: Lounge by the Sea: Soundscapes Unwind

Where to Keep Your Passport When You Travel

How to Keep Your Passport Safe While Traveling

In a previous video, I discussed general passport safety on the go. Today, let's explore passport safekeeping within your hotel or Airbnb. I noticed some bizarre information being given online to keep your passport safe in hotels, such as clip it between the curtain creases, behind the mirror, inside a hanging T-shirt, and so many other weird tips. Following these tips can be dangerous as thieves also know about them and those recommendations are the first places they will look.   

1. Hotel Safe (with Caution): While not foolproof, safes remain a common option. However, there are some things to beware.

Default codes: Change the code immediately upon arrival.

Weak safes: Research online for reports on the safe's reliability in your specific hotel.

2. Locked Hard-Shell Carry-On: If no safe exists, a locked hard-shell carry-on becomes your best bet. Choose a TSA-approved lock for convenience during airport checks.

3. Secure Bag with Packing Cube: For soft-sided bags, opt for a secure, lockable backpack or use a small luggage lock. Employ packing cubes to conceal valuables discreetly within your clothes.

Remember:

Carry copies: Always have photocopies of your passport readily accessible.

Multiple locations: Distribute key documents across safekeeping options for added security.

Common sense reigns supreme: Exercise caution and avoid leaving valuables unattended, even in locked luggage.

Additional Tips:

- Consider travel insurance for loss or theft.

- Research common scams in your destination to stay informed.

- Utilize digital copies of passports and IDs stored securely in cloud storage.

By combining these strategies with vigilance, you can ensure your passport's safety during your travels.

Brim Credit Cards Discontinue No Foreign Transaction Fee

Brim Credit Cards Start Charging 1.5% Foreign Exchange Fee

I was one of the very first people to receive a Brim Credit Card when it launched. I cancelled my Brim World Elite Mastercard after the annual fee jumped to $199 (Brim now reduced it to $89). I saw no value in keeping it and switched to the free version of the Brim Credit Card just to have a MasterCard that does not charge any FX fee.

Fast forward to today, received a notice from Brim that starting May 18, 2024 all Brim credit cards will start charging a 1.5% foreign exchange fee (from 0%). This means there will be 2 less credit cards in Canada that charge zero foreign currency transaction fees.

My primary no foreign currency fee card is my Scotia Passport Visa Infinite, which is a VISA card. I always travel with a backup MasterCard, in case one card malfunctions or VISA’s network is down. This is where the free Brim Credit Card comes in as my backup card.

However, it is time to abandon this card. Both their free and World Elite Brim Credit Cards provide no value. No lounge access, no annual travel credit, no nothing. This is one of the reasons Brim was forced to reduce the annual fee from $199 to $89, as no one wanted to pay $199 for nothing.

The only other no foreign currency fee MasterCard in Canada available as an Amazon Prime member is the no annual fee Amazon Rewards Mastercard. Amazon Prime members earn 2.5% in Amazon points in any foreign currency purchase made with the Amazon.ca Mastercard, effectively offsetting the foreign transaction fee. Non-Prime members earn 1.5% in Amazon points in any foreign currency purchase.

Canada recently lost one of the best zero foreign currency fee MasterCards, which was the HSBC World Elite MasterCard. And now another free zero foreign currency fee card, MasterCard Brim, is gone.

Beat Jet Lag: 5 Simple Tips for a Smooth Trip

How to Deal with Jet Lag After a Long-Haul Flight

Jet lag occurs when you travel a long distance and your circadian rhythm is thrown off by your body’s internal clock clashing with the external clock due to a time zone change. Jet lag includes dreadful feelings like fatigue, sleepiness, sluggishness, stress, and not being yourself.

Today, I will give you a few simple tips to help you with jet lag.

- This is probably the most difficult tip to follow, but if possible, try to adjust your sleep pattern based on your destination one to two weeks before traveling.

- Drink plenty of water before and during your flight. Yes, you may need to use the washroom more often, but water or fluids help your body cope better with jet lag.

- When you arrive at your destination, try to take a walk or do light exercise in your hotel. Don’t just stay in your room.

- Try to get some sun at your destination. Sunlight exposure helps regulate your melatonin production and your body gets a message that you are at a different place and gets adjusted to the new circadian cycle.

- And this is my favourite tip that I follow religiously. This one is very effective where you have completely opposite time zone shifting and day becomes night or night becomes day. For example, when I go to Asian countries like the Philippines, Thailand, or Bangladesh, their time is just the opposite of Canada.

Most of the time when my flight lands in the morning or afternoon, instead of going to sleep or nap right away, I wait till actual sleeping time at night. Sometimes it is difficult to not sleep after a 24- or 36-hour journey without sleeping (I can’t sleep on a plane), but I wait for the night.

After the full night sleep, I catch my destination’s cycle and get adjusted to the new time zone quickly. Also, you can consult a doctor about using melatonin supplements to further aid sleep adjustment.