One more card for savings! Students under age 26 traveling abroad are eligible for discount cards that offer considerable savings on museums, transportation, and more. Here are two to look into: 1. International Student Identity Card (ISIC). Available to full-time students under age 26, this card provides discounts on museums, restaurants, shopping, accommodations, transportation, entertainment, and cultural events in more than 100 countries. Cost: $22/year. Visit www.statravel.com for more info. 2. International Student Exchange Card (ISEC). Available to students of any age and youths 12–26. It offers up to $2,000 in medical expenses as well as substantial discounts on cultural institutions, theme parks, movies, transportation, lodging, food, etc. The discounts promised on the website are guaranteed to be equal to or better than other discount cards. Cost: $25/year. For more info, visit www.isecard.com. To find out more info on how to be a spending-savvy girl, check out the Money Smarts website.

Know Before You Go
The Financially Savvy Traveler

By Karen Newman

So, you've researched where to go, saved up some money, and ordered a passport. Traveling abroad promises new experiences and tons of opportunities, but a little financial legwork before you go can ease hassles upon arrival. Before hopping on that plane and leaving the country, find out how to get all your monetary ducks in a row.

Money's Many Faces

Deciding what to bring can be overwhelming, especially when there are so many options. Weighing the pros and cons will help you decide what will work best for you.

Cash

Pro: Cash is universally accepted.
Con: It will need to be converted to local currency. This can be done at local banks or currency exchange bureaus. And once it's stolen or lost, you cannot replace it. Plus, carrying a lot of cash around is never a good idea.
Tip: Shop around for the best currency rate, as it will vary from place to place. In general, the best rates will be from banks, and the worst will be those at airports (or train stations)—they tend to hike up rates.

ATM Card

Pro: ATM machines abound internationally, giving you access to cash virtually any time and generally at the best exchange rate.
Con: International ATMs can carry fees as high as $5 per withdrawal, so it might be a good idea to switch to a bank that has a large international presence.
Tip: Make sure to check with your bank to see what the situation with fees will be. Also, make sure that your ATM card uses one of the major ATM networks (PLUS, Cirrus, Visa, etc.).

Credit Card

Pro: Credit cards are like insurance—hopefully you won't need them, but if you run out of or lose your money, they come in handy.
Con: Not every card has the same replacement policy overseas.
Tip: Credit cards are widely accepted, but check your card's policy on replacing a lost or stolen card.

Travelers Checks

Pro: If they are lost (or stolen), they can be replaced within 24 hours. They can be exchanged for local currency at a bank or used directly at many stores.
Con: You won't get the best exchange rate for them. And most banks add a surcharge for issuing them.
Tip: Travelers Checks come with serial numbers that you should record and keep in a safe place—without those numbers, there's no refund!