Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pickpockets target tourists. To safeguard your cash, use a money belt—a
pouchwithastrapthatyoubucklearoundyourwaistlikeabeltandtuckunder
your clothes. Keep your cash, credit cards, and passport secure in your money
belt, and carry only a day's spending money in your front pocket.
For purchases, Visa and MasterCard are more commonly accepted than
American Express. Just like at home, credit or debit cards work easily at lar-
ger hotels, restaurants, and shops. I typically use my debit card to withdraw
cash to pay for most purchases. I use my credit card only in a few specific
situations:tobookhotelreservationsbyphone,tocovermajorexpenses(such
as car rentals, plane tickets, and long hotel stays), and to pay for things near
the end of my trip (to avoid another visit to the ATM). While you could use
a debit card to make most large purchases, using a credit card offers a greater
