Two to Travel Goes ...

Money Matters

Tuesday, 29 November 2016
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas

When one has plans to visit some 35+ countries, money matters are bound to come up. I don’t necessarily mean how much money. Sure that’s something that needs to be dealt with, but what I am really referring to is all the foreign currency (FX) one needs to be aware of … and where and how to get it.

We plan to use a variety of means …

Paying in USD is acceptable, and sometimes even preferred, in some countries. Some of the tour operators we have booked with have quoted their rates in USD, with the stipulation that the bills be brand new with no markings or blemishes. Other operators have indicated they will accept USD … provided the bills are 2009 series or newer. Mui picked up some uncirculated denominations to take with us … just in case. I should note that getting mint-condition bills isn’t always easy … banks sometimes require they be pre-ordered.

Credit cards can of course be used. We’ll have a couple of no-international-transaction-fee cards with us … all of which have a pin & chip, which is required in most countries around the world nowadays. But there are some countries where it’s not a good idea to use a CC — skimming of card numbers is a concern … as is the surcharge to use a card. Something else to keep in mind with CCs is that one must notify each card company of travel plans. We do so even if a particular card has already advised us that we do not need to provide them with travel details. The travel-notification process can be quite cumbersome with some companies. And others may query charges even after having been notified. With internet/phone access limited at times, getting these notifications can be a problem … hence our decision to use CCs sparingly.

Cambios or money changers are another means of getting FX. Sometimes they offer the best rate of exchange, but the downside is that one needs to carry sums of cash to use them. Not everyone is comfortable using these kiosks, but we’re used to it from our trips to Turkey. So if the popular practice is to use them, we will take that into consideration.

ATMs are an increasingly popular way of getting FX when in-country … especially if you have a no-fee card. Which we now do. We opened a Charles Schwab account recently that reimburses all international ATM and foreign transaction fees. Funding it minimally means we’re limiting our risk of loss should the card be compromised. We will follow the suggestion of our guides when it comes to choosing between using an ATM or a money changer.

Then there is the option of ordering FX locally before leaving the US. This can be costly if exchanging large sums. We decided to order small amounts for some of the countries … pocket change if you will. Mui placed that order today … pick-up from the bank in the next two or three business days.

I think we’ve got money matters covered now!

Happy Anniversary

Saturday, 26 November 2016
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas

As we wished each other happy anniversary this morning, we were reminded that we’ve been married 35 years. Wow! How time flies!

We don’t exchange gifts … we don’t send each other cards. Not for our anniversary, nor for birthdays, Valentines or Christmas, or any other holiday. We made that decision years ago. Instead, we give ourselves a trip or two throughout the year! Just as we were thinking we had not done that for this momentous occasion, it struck me that we had … and in a big way, too. The RTW is our anniversary gift to ourselves!

We’ll drink a toast to our upcoming voyage when we go out to dinner tomorrow night.

Australia … 7th Continent

Monday, 21 November 2016
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas

We don’t travel for the purpose of achieving milestones. Rather, they occur as a natural result of wandering around the world as we scratch the travel itch here and there and everywhere.

That’s not to say I don’t make note of milestones when they happen … I do. It would be remiss of me not to do so. I just don’t seek them out purposefully as some do.

It occurred to me today that our upcoming voyage is going to have a couple of milestones associated with it. One of them is that we will circumnavigate the world … in a meandering pattern to be sure, but we will be going round the globe. Another milestone is that we will be achieving our seventh continent. For most world travelers, Antarctica is usually the last continent they set foot on. For us that last continent will be Australia.

Technically, you could say we’ve already been to Australia … we had a short layover at the Sydney Airport on our way back from New Zealand to the USA last year. But that doesn’t count in my book. Six ports of call, on the other hand, do count towards adding that last notch on my belt … if I were prone to keeping track of such tallies, that is ;-)

NZ … Earthquake Devastation

Monday, 14 November 2016
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas

So, so sad … New Zealand has been hit by a major earthquake … make that three earthquakes in the span of two days … and countless aftershocks that will continue for the foreseeable future.

The first quake was on Sunday (Monday there) just after midnight … it was a magnitude 7.8 and it hit north of Christchurch … fondly referred to as ChCh. The second one, at 6.2, was a little less powerful, but major nonetheless … around 2:00a this morning. The third one rattled the country also this morning … around 7:00a … magnitude 5.8.

The only good news in all this is that the death toll is nothing like the aftermath of the earthquake that hit the country in 2011 … the loss of life was limited to two people this time. But the images of the devastation to roads and infrastructure in the countryside seems worse … maybe because we were in New Zealand for six weeks just last year, and many of the hard-hit places are familiar to us.

In a video I watched, Route 1 to Kaikoura, now completely blocked off by landslides, was immediately recognizable as the place where we stopped to check out a fur seal colony. Wellington port, where there are reports of liquefaction, was where we got off the ferry from Picton … the ferry terminals at either end are now closed pending studies to determine if they remain safe. ChCh, which endured so much destruction in 2011, was where we strolled the streets and saw for ourselves the results of the fury Mother Nature had unleashed on the city four years before.

It will take time and a whole lot of money — billions by initial estimates — to clean up and get things back to normal again. But the Kiwis are a hardy bunch. They will overcome this challenge as they have others. And we will help them with our tourist dollars when Insignia calls on seven ports in New Zealand in February.

Our “Gold Book” Is Here

Thursday, 10 November 2016
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas

Our Oceania Vacation Planner came in the mail today … one for each of us. The books were shipped to our mail service in Pensacola, so I’m not sure when Oceania sent them out, but we have them now.

It’s a booklet that includes all kinds of information … our guest registration forms; a welcome letter from the head honcho at O; the map of our itinerary and a list of the ports; a booking summary; details of our hotel package and transfers; available land programs and shore excursions; shipboard experience, with a customized deck plan showing the location of our cabin and the amenities that come with our cabin class; the ticket contract; and more.

All that’s fine and dandy, and it’s fun to browse through the information, but the books will be left behind when we leave for our trip … we don’t need the weight in our luggage. Besides, we will get an e-version of the important information about three weeks prior to departure.

What’s really important about the package we received … the luggage tags tucked inside. They are silver in color this time … which, as I understand it, signifies that we are in a concierge cabin.

I think I’ll stop writing, curl up on the sofa, and take a gander at the shore excursions … might get some ideas for the few ports for which I still have no plans.

Money Matters

Tuesday, 29 November 2016Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas

Happy Anniversary

Saturday, 26 November 2016Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas