How to manage your money when traveling abroad

You probably have a lot of questions about your money when preparing for a trip abroad. Do you need traveler’s checks? Will you be able to find an ATM? Can you avoid pesky foreign transaction and other fees while enjoying some off-the-beaten-path destination?

The answers to the first two questions are no and almost always. The third I answered for Melissa Fiorenza, author of “Twentysomething Girl: 1001 Quick Tips and Tricks to Make Your Life Easier,” when she tapped me to share tips on how to save money while traveling abroad. She included five of my best money-saving tips in her recently published book.

While her book might target younger women, my tips apply to everyone who travels abroad. I’ll share my two favorites with you here.

1. Never exchange money until you arrive at your destination. You will always get a better exchange rate than if you change money in the U.S.
2. Let your credit card company know you’ll be traveling and where you’re going. That’s the best way to avoid the embarrassment of an overprotective security policy denying the charge.

To check out all of my tips, as well as the rest of Melissa’s advice for young women, you’re in luck! We’re giving away three copies of her book here on the blog. All you have to do is fill out the form below. One entry per person, please. Good luck!

UPDATE: Congratulations to our winners — Mike Nemecek, Maria Mazas, and Susannah Starkweather! Your prizes will be shipped out shortly. Thanks for participating in our giveaway!