Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
withdrawal limit before you depart.
Many banks impose a fee every time a
card is used at a different bank's ATM,
and that fee can be higher for interna-
tional transactions (up to $5 or more)
than for domestic ones (where they're
rarely more than $1.50). The bank
from which you withdraw cash may
charge its own fee also.
You can also get cash advances on
your credit card at an ATM. Credit card
companies try to protect themselves
from theft by limiting the funds some-
one can withdraw outside their home
country, so if you're traveling to Wash-
ington from abroad, call your credit
card company before you leave home.
TRAVELER'S CHECKS
These days, traveler's checks are less
necessary because most cities have 24-
hour ATMs that allow you to with-
draw small amounts of cash as needed.
However, since you will likely be
charged an ATM withdrawal fee if the
bank is not your own, you might be
better off with traveler's checks—pro-
vided that you don't mind showing
identification every time you want to
cash one.
You can get traveler's checks at
almost any bank.
American Express
offers denominations of $20, $50,
$100, $500, and (for cardholders only)
$1,000. You'll pay a service charge
ranging from 1% to 4%. You can also
get American Express traveler's checks
over the phone by calling
&
800/221-
7282;
Amex gold and platinum card-
holders who use this number are
exempt from the 1% fee. AAA mem-
bers can obtain checks without a fee at
most AAA offices.
Visa
offers traveler's checks at
Citibank locations nationwide, as well
as at several other banks. The service
charge ranges between 1.5% and 2%;
checks come in denominations of
$20, $50, $100, $500, and $1,000.
Call
&
800/732-1322
for informa-
tion.
MasterCard
also offers traveler's
checks. Call
&
800/223-9920
for a
location near you.
CREDIT CARDS
Credit cards are a safe way to carry
money, they provide a convenient
record of all your expenses, and they
generally offer good exchange rates.
You can also withdraw cash advances
from your credit cards at banks or
ATMs, provided you know your PIN.
If you've forgotten yours, or didn't
even know you had one, call the num-
ber on the back of your credit card
and ask the bank to send it to you. It
usually takes 5 to 7 business days,
though some banks will provide the
number over the phone if you tell
them your mother's maiden name or
some other personal information.
4 When to Go
If you're reading this section, there's
probably one question on your mind:
When can I visit and not get rained
on? The answer, of course, is never.
Although the Northwest's infamous
rains fall primarily between October
and early July, it can rain any month
of the year, so be sure to bring rain
gear of some sort with you. This is
especially important if you plan on
visiting the Olympic Peninsula, parts
of which receive more than 150 inches
of rain each year. In fact, if you visit
any part of the coast, expect grayer,
wetter weather than in the Seattle area.
From the coast to the Cascade Range,
moist winds off the Pacific Ocean
keep temperatures mild year-round, so
you're also likely to need a sweater or
light jacket at night even in August.
July and August are the most reli-
ably rainless months of the year, and
consequently, are the most popular
time of the year to visit Washington. It
is during these 2 months that the sun
is seen most often and rain is almost
