An Ounce of Prevention

If you're planning a trip abroad, don't forget to call your bank and credit card company before boarding the plane. Sudden changes in your account activity, such as frequent withdrawals or charges in a foreign country, can trigger a fraud alert and cause your bank or credit card company to freeze your account. To prevent being stranded without funds, be sure to make that important call before traveling. With my bank, I send an e-mail message to the customer service department alerting them of my travels. I tell them specifically where I am going and the dates of travel. If you have never before used your ATM card outside of the country, call your bank to ensure that your card is part of an international network such as PLUS or Cirrus. International ATMs only use a four-digit pin. If you have a longer pin, call the bank and convert it. And, if your pin is based on letters rather than numbers, convert the letters to numbers before you leave. Many foreign ATMs only have numbers on the keypad. Keep in mind that most ATM's abroad will only let you access the primary account on your card. My credit card company now has an option on its automated directory for leaving vacation information. Using the phone keypad, I entered by credit card number, security code and dates of travel in addition to speaking my name and countries of travel. The process took about three minutes. Finally, don't forget to get your credit card's international number for reporting a lost or stolen credit card.

Traveler's Checks or Debit cards?

Wolf Trekkers frequently ask me about purchasing traveler's checks for use during their adventures. While traveler's checks were once a necessity for international travel, the prevalence of ATMs throughout the world have almost eliminated the need for them. I urge travelers to carry a debit card (with a four-digit pin) and one to two credit cards. Notify the bank and credit card company that you will be traveling abroad, providing them the specific country or countries of destination. Use your credit card as much as possible for purchases in stores and restaurants. Use your ATM to get currency for smaller purchases from street vendors, taxi cabs or drug stores. There will be a charge for using the ATM, so don't make daily withdrawals. Anticipate your needs and withdraw $100 to $200 in local currency to see you through most of the trip. During your travels, do not keep your credit card and debit card together. You don't want to have both lost or stolen at the same time. I also urge travelers to take at least $50 per person in one-dollar bills (U.S. currency). Despite its current lower value, many foreigners like to be tipped or even paid in U.S. dollars. If you do choose to purchase traveler's checks, be sure to get smaller denominations. Restaurants and shops often will not or cannot cash larger denominations.

Walking Shoes

When Wolf Trekkers seek my advice about what to pack, the first thing I always mention is comfortable shoes. No matter what the destination, you're likely to do lots of walking, whether it's in a museum or down cobblestone streets. You're often climbing on and off buses and walking on uneven terrain. Comfortable shoes with fexible soles are paramount. Nothing can ruin a trip faster than blisters on your feet. Men accept this advice readily, but women sometimes balk, favoring fashion over comfort. With a little effort, women can find shoes that offer both comfort and fashion. Several shoe companies make stylish mary janes that are attractive, lightweight and versatile. They can be worn with khakis during the day and a skirt in the evening. For women, check out Born, Clark, Birkenstock, Merrel, Finn or a good brand of athletic shoes. Kelby Carr of France Travel suggests these shoes. For men, Hush Puppies, Rockport, Timberland, Ecco, Clark and Born are often mentioned. Of course, Crocs, as ugly as many people consider them, are always comfortable. But to keep yourself from standing out in crowd, choose a more subdued color. Rick Steves has a Graffiti Wall devoted to the topic of comfortable shoes with more than 75 postings from seasoned travelers. Whatever the shoe, be sure to buy them and break them in several weeks before your trip. Even good shoes can cause blisters the first time they are worn. Provide your own comments about good brands of walking shoes.

Traveling With Food Allergies

The March issue of National Geographic Traveler outlined some important points about traveling with food allergies. Several Wolf Trekkers with allergies or food intolerances have traveled with us. For them, we need to take extra care. Be sure to inform me and the tour company of your allergies. First and foremost, if you use an allergy medication, carry it with you at all times. Never place needed medications in your checked baggage, and do not remove medications from prescription containers. As an extra precaution, carry a note from your doctor in case you are questioned by airport security. For restaurants, carry a wallet-sized card that outlines what foods you cannot eat in English and, if possible, in the language of the country you are visiting. For translations of your dietary restrictions, visit Allergyfreepassport.com to create translations in six languages (Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian and Greek). At meal time, be sure your server understands your needs, and don't hesitate to ask to speak to the chef if you are not sure that you're being understood. Large and small, family-owned restaurants are equally capable of accommodating you. When your food arrives at the table, double check that your requests have been met. For air travel, request special meals and pack snacks in case of delays. To see what type of meals international carriers can accommodate, click here. Also remember that airlines need advance notice of special meals, preferably at the time of booking. If your allergies are contact based, ask to preboard to wipe down your seat and the one next to it. And keep in mind that the earlier in the day you travel, the cleaner the plane will be. I hope these tips will make your trip safer.

I have just received and posted the photos from our Wolf Treks travelers who visited South Africa in late January. Traveler Anne Regans reports that the group was treated to array of African big game. They came across three male lions - a father and two sons - just after making a kill and filling their bellies. The big cats were lazing around like house cats, lying on their backs and soaking up the sun's rays, says Anne. In addition to the lions, our Wolf Trekkers saw elephants (the photo to the right), giraffes, zebra, hippos, water buffalo and an array of beautiful birds. At the Cape of Good Hope, Anne said the group was surprised when they were greeted by a beach teeming with penguins. In addition to their game safaris, the Wolf Trekkers also visited Cape Town, Johannesburg, Soweto and Victoria Falls. The poverty of Soweto was heart-breaking, Anne says. Post-trip feedback from the group shows the trip a winner. "The food was outstanding and the accommodations first-class," says Anne. As a result of the response, the Wolf Treks Travel Program will repeat this trip in 2009. If you want to be the first to receive a brochure for this trip, send an e-mail to alumni_travel@ncsu.edu. Ask to be placed on the South Africa mailing list.

Wolf Treks:China and Yangtze River

Don't pass up the opportunity to explore China. Visit China less than a month after the Beijing Olympics and see what others will see only on a television screen. Join other Wolf Treks travelers as they explore China and the Yangtze River Sept. 16-30, 2008. See Beijing, the Great Wall, the famous Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian, the pandas in Chongqing and cosmopolitan Shanghai. Cruise down the Yangtze River through the beautiful Three Gorges. This trip is designed for a small group of no more than 24 travelers and only 14 places remain. Having been on this trip, I can say it is eye-opening. China is a country in transition, and this trip offers you a glimpse into the traditions of the past and the promise of the future. See the growing struggle between a communist government and an increasingly capitalist economy. Jackie, our 2007 China guide, was literally born in a cave 48 years ago. Today, he speaks almost perfect English, owns a business headquartered in Shanghai and occasionally guides American tourists. He can openly criticize the government, shaking his head over policies and restrictions. Thirty years ago if he had uttered those criticisms, he would have been sent to a farm or factory to work from dawn to dusk or killed. Today's young Chinese know little of this recent past. They are full of optimism as they work to buy apartments, cars and electronics. They are waiting later to marry as they attempt to build wealth for themselves and their parents. But Jackie says that China's biggest challenges for the future will be the three "P's:" population, pollution and politics. The Chinese population continues to grow despite penalties and fines imposed on couples who have more than one child. Can China sustain its population with food and energy? With the economy on hyperdrive, factories are spewing pollution and an alarming number of Chinese now own cars. National Public Radio reported that 1,000 new cars are added to the streets of Beijing daily. Jackie worries that China's pollution may be the proverbial noose around his country's neck. Now is the time to see China because it is changing before our very eyes. Join the Pack for this once-in-a-lifetime journey.