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I'm traveling for the first time to Latvia with lay-over in Germany. What kind of money do I use at airports? |
Travel Info I've never traveled outside of the United States and I don't know if I need to use a credit card or get traveler's checks or what? Travel Tips "pjallittle" is right and you should consider getting a few Euros before leaving home. Your local bank can handle that, or you can change some money at an airport - either in the USA or upon arrival in Germany. You don't say where or how long your layover will be. If you have a long layover, check with the airline(s) to see if you can purchase ($25 to $50) a 1-day membership to their airport lounge. Lounges offer a comfortable, safe place to wait between flights. Some lounges even have showers (a Godsend after a long flight). Delta's Crown Room and United's Red Carpet Club are examples. Using the lounge would also probably allow you to avoid worrying about getting Euros for Germany as drinks & snacks will be available in the lounge at no extra cost (included in the membership).. ------------------------------... More than about 6 hours in an airplane is really tough, especially if you are in economy class. The result is usually called "jet lag". The time change is part of "jet lag", but only part. For example, people experience jet lag when traveling from North America to South America even when they don't change time zones. Dehydration caused by dry air in the cabin is as important as the time change, and dehydration can be cumulative + aggravated by your environment/activities before the flight. Jet lag can be much worse on the return leg of a relatively short trip because you never really recovered from the lag incurred on the first leg. It can also be aggravated by what you do between trips. I have not found anything that eliminates jet lag, but staying hydrated helps reduce it. Water and non-carbonated liquids are best. Avoid drinking a lot of anything with caffeine, including colas. Lots of alcohol also aggravates the dehydration and you may have a hangover before the end of a long flight. Wear clothing that is comfortable. Especially avoid tight clothing or shoes - your body will swell during a long flight. Sleeping on the flight (even if it isn't very good sleep) also helps. The seats are MUCH, MUCH better in business and first class on long distance flights so upgrade if you can. If you can't upgrade, select a window seat so you can pile extra pillows & blankets against the interior of the cabin to lean against for a bit of extra comfort. A sleep mask (like www.mindfold.com) and earplugs may help you sleep. You can choose to take something to help you sleep on the plane, but try it first. Many sleep aids can make you groggy long after you need to wake up. I just use aspirin. Get up and walk around every few hours. Do some stretching exercises - there is usually room by the exterior doors. Airlines really try to provide good in-flight entertainment on long distance flights. The airline鈥檚 website may list the films & music available and may even give the menu. However, you can鈥檛 absolutely count on the in-flight entertainment. Bring one or more books that you have started and know you like. It is really annoying to open a new book on a flight and realize you don't find it interesting. Things like an I-Pod, Gameboy or PSP, MP3 player, and non-electronic options like crossword puzzles are a good idea. You may be wasted when you get to your destination, even if you fly business or first class. Don't schedule anything important the day you get there. At least try to avoid driving a car - take taxis. Speed your body's adjustment to local time by living on the local schedule: Stay awake until local bedtime at your destination and stay in bed until local morning. If you absolutely must take a nap make sure you don't sleep more than 3 hours. Eat meals at the normal local time. And so on. It still takes me 1 day per hour of time change to fully adjust (a 7 hour time difference takes me a full week to get over). Source(s): Lifelong frequent flier Other Travel Tips travelers checks atm cards, credit cards you can exchange money in airports usually for a small fee experience You can get a few Euros from your local bank before leaving but the airports all have currency exchanges. For Latvia, see the following: http://www.latviatravel.info/money/... 2 choices: If you think you'll need some Euros to pay cash at the airport in Germany, stick yo' ATM card in a machine and take out about a hundred or two. You could also change or use the euros in Latvia (some places, like on the plane and inthe airport should accept euros) Or, just use a credit card in the German airport and do the ATM trick when you get to Latvia's airport. Maybe Latvia will use the Euro by the time you get there??? I find ATM's easier than traveler's checks, and I felt completely safe in Riga and in Germany, but it wouldn't hurt to have a mix of options. I also carry some cash in hidden places. There are money exchange windows and even machines in Europe easy to find. Take Euro, you can get it exchanged in any airport. In my opinion, and I have traveled Europe extensively, traveler's checks are a waist of time and a lot of places outside the airport wont accept them. |
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