Vacations! We ALL need one these days! The last thing you want to be thinking about when you go on vacation is money! It defeats the entire purpose of a vacation, where the goal is to have some serious fun, adventure and restoration. So, in order to have a vacation free of money worries, here are my best tips, tried and true!

Estimate How Much Your Vacation Will Cost and Save For It!

Wherever you are going, it’s important to plan out your trip’s expenses to make sure you are staying within the budget you set for yourself. Here is a list of common expenses that come up. See if you have anything to add.

Use a Money Belt Instead of a Purse Especially When Traveling Abroad.

A money belt is a small, silk-zippered pouch that fastens around your waist under your pants or skirt. Many women find it most comfortable to wear the pouch part in the small of the back. Money belts keep your money and vital papers on your person rather than in a purse or backpack, both an easy target for thieves.

Money belts are more functional than stylish and most of all they offer peace of mind. I wore one when I was in Italy last year and it worked well. I was able to relax and enjoy the full sensory experience of being in a new place without being hypervigilent about my money. My mind was free to daydream rather than to be occupied with thoughts such as, “Did I zip up my purse?” and “Where did I leave my purse?”

Carry Emergency Cash

Lots of cash usually isn’t a great thing to carry, but if you are traveling in a remote area or abroad, it’s nice to have cash as back up. Rick Steves, my traveling guru, suggests carrying $400 in your money belt if traveling abroad. You can use cash when you are in a pinch.

In the Cinque Terra, at the train station in Monterossa, an American woman approached me to ask if I knew of anyone in the town who would take her credit card for an overnight stay. She told me she had a total of $200 in her American bank checking account and thought she could do Italy “on credit.” The merchants in this little town didn’t take credit cards for lodging, they wanted cash or euros. This is one example of when cash can come in handy.

Join IAMAT if Traveling Abroad

If you have a chronic health condition and there’s a chance you might need a doctor, for about fifty dollars you can become a member of the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers. By joining you will receive a list of English speaking doctors in the countries you are traveling in. In Italy, these doctors would come to your hotel room for a visit if you were ill.

Communicate to Your Bank That You Are Traveling Abroad

It’s important to confirm with your bank that your debit/visa card will work abroad. Let your bank know you will be traveling, otherwise they might “freeze” your card if they detect unusual spending patterns. They might think someone stole your card.

If traveling to Europe, you may also need to change your American PIN # to a four digit number for European keypads. When I went to Italy, I changed my PIN # from five digits to four so that it would work in Europe.

You may also request from your bank to have your daily cash withdrawal limit increased. I believe my “normal” daily limit was $300 and I increased that limit to $800 while I was on vacation. After my vacation was over, I reduced the daily withdrawal limit again. Even if traveling in the U.S., you might want to increase your daily withdrawal limit while on vacation.

Use Your Debit/Visa Card When Traveling Abroad

When you arrive at your destination, find the ATM machine at the airport. Take out the largest amount of currency that you can. Each time you take currency from the ATM there is a charge. When I traveled to Italy, this charge was $5.00 each time I withdrew euros.

If you use a credit card abroad, not only do you get charged a fee for using the card, you get charged another fee which is about three to five percent of the purchase you make. This can really add up. It’s more economical to use your debit/visa card.

When it comes to travel, “be prepared.” Explore how to best “do money” in the country you are traveling to. Ask your bank lots of questions until you fully understand the differences between using your debit / visa card vs. credit cards. Choose what works best for you. And remember to use a money belt, for the simple reason of not having to be so mindful of your purse or wallet!