Survey Reveals World’s Best Food Destinations

by Jessica Festa on

Does food play a role in where you decide to take your vacation? For those interested in taking a delicious trip, Hotels.com surveyed 27,000 international travelers to find out what they believed the best destinations for cuisine were.

According to news.com.au, 32% of respondents said Italy had the best food because of its mouth-watering pizza, pasta and gelato. France, the country of baguettes and pastries, came in second with 24% of the votes. And, in third place with 18% of the votes was Japan with their sashimi, sushi and tempura. Next came mainland China, followed by Spain, the United States, Mexico, Thailand, Taiwan and India.

When the survey analyzed American’s food and travel habits, they found that:

  • On average, Americans spend 25% to 49% of their daily budget on food when traveling abroad
  • Americans believed the top three places for food on a budget were the United States, Italy and Mexico
  • Fifty-six percent of Americans named barbeque as the must-try dish when visiting the United States
  • Americans believe France is the number one destination for a posh dining experience
  • Americans named the United States, Italy and Germany as the best places to go for family dining

“Sampling the local cuisine when travelling can be such a rewarding experience and it’s no wonder it plays such a big part in the decision-making process for travellers,” Hotels.com spokeswoman Katherine Birch said.

What’s your favorite food destination?

Video Of The Day: Kiribati Sinking

by Elizabeth Seward on

“A Sinking Nation” from NPR on Vimeo.

Kiribati (pronounced kirr-i-bas) is an island nation spread across a chunk of the Pacific Ocean as big as Alaska two times over. But for all of the room Kiribati covers in distance, it accumulates virtually no space vertically. The average height of Kiribati land is just six and a half feet above sea level. Composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral, most of the nation’s 100,000 inhabitants cluster in near the nation’s capital, Tarawa. But space is running out. A single storm effortlessly vanishes houses into the sea and unfortunately, this is the fate most scientists and citizens believe belongs to Kiribati: the sea. According to this video produced by NPR, the island nation is especially vulnerable and in danger. Kiribati President Anote Tong has voiced concern over the rising seas, stating that it could ultimately lead to the demise of island countries like Kiribati. These statements have been loosely countered by findings published in the New Scientist magazine stating that the island is actually expanding due to coral debris. However hopeful land accumulation via coral debris may seem to some, the heart of the matter is that the core of Kiribati may soon be washed away and even newly risen land will likely face the same fate in this low-lying nation.

The Traveler’s Guide To Credit Cards

by Jessica Festa on

When planning a trip, the most confusing aspect is often trying to figure out what type of currency to bring along and how to navigate your credit cards. With help from Anisha Sekar, VP of Credit and Debit Products at NerdWallet, as well as my own travel experience, I’ve put together this guide to help you travel more efficiently with credit cards.

Know Before You Go

There are a few things you should take care of before heading off on your trip. First and foremost, no matter what credit or debit card you bring along, you must call the card company to let them know you will be traveling. If you don’t, the card will most likely become locked and you will have to call to have it reactivated, a process that can be a hassle when using international phone lines. It’s also good to call to see what spending and withdrawal restrictions are on the card, as well as if there are any incentives like travel insurance, no transaction fees or coverage on rental cars. For example, with Visa, travelers can save money on basics like rental cars, as well as receive perks from the Visa Signature offerings, including the Luxury Hotel Collection and the Visa Signature Global Concierge.

Moreover, making photocopies of all your important documents, including your credit cards, is important. When I travel, I always bring a copy hidden somewhere in my luggage, away from my valuables, as well as leave a copy at home with my family just in case.Questions To Ask Yourself Before Choosing A Credit Card

Everyone has their own unique travel style, meaning while one card may be right for one person, it may not be as practical for someone else. Before deciding on a card, ask yourself:

  • Where am I traveling to? For example, if you often travel abroad, a card without foreign transaction fees is a must. However, if you’re more likely to do a domestic road trip, you’ll probably be more concerned with what types of car rental insurance a card offers.
  • What brands am I loyal to when I travel? If you tend to stay in hostels and use different airlines every time you travel, a branded card probably isn’t a wise choice. However, if you’re a loyal Starwood or Delta customer, signing up for one of their company cards can have a lot of benefits.
  • Can I travel hack? If you don’t mind putting in the time to do research, cards that pay out in airline miles or rewards points can offer serious benefits.
  • Is the annual fee worth it? While many people automatically reject all credit cards charging annual fees, it’s a better idea to do a bit of research and math before making the final decision. Advises Sekar, “Do a quick back-of-the-napkin calculation weighing a higher rewards rate and benefits against an annual fee, and let the numbers speak for themselves.”

Foreign Transaction Fees

When trying to choose a travel credit card, this is probably the most important factor to look into. Many cards will charge you 1% to 3% every time you use the card. While this may not sound like a lot, it adds up very quickly, many times ending up to be more than the card’s annual fee. In my opinion, if you travel abroad regularly, it’s a good idea to find a card that doesn’t impose a transaction fee, like Capital One and Discover. Some good ones to look into include:

  • Capital One Venture Rewards Card– This is the credit card I use for travel and highly recommend. Along with being able to use it abroad incessantly without ever being charged a fee, some of the perks include two miles for every $1 spent, 2% back on all purchases, 10,000 bonus miles when spending $1,000 in the first three months of signup and no annual fee on your first year. Moreover, every single time I have called them, I have received exceptional customer service. They overnighted me a new card when mine was stolen, taken off charges for returns that never went through and have always been extremely helpful.
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred Card– While I’ve never used this card myself, I’ve heard excellent things about it from those who have. Some perks include a $500 signup bonus, 40,000 Ultimate Rewards Points if you spend $3,000 in first three months of signup, no annual fee the first year and two points per $1 spent on most travel-related expenses. You’ll also receive one additional point per $1 spent and 20% off when you book travel through Ultimate Rewards.
  • BankAmericard Privileges with Travel Rewards– This travel card comes with many perks, and no foreign transaction fee. You’ll earn double points on each purchase, there’s no annual fee for the first year, and if you qualify you may have the fee waived in subsequent years. Additionally, points never expire and you’ll have access to 24-hour travel and emergency assistance as well as a concierge service.

EMV Compatibility

For those using a magnetic stripe card for travel, be aware that some places may not accept them.

“Around the world, credit cards are using embedded smartchips, called EMV chips, for verification rather than the traditional magnetic strips,” explains Sekar. “Though standard in other countries, EMV technology has yet to be adopted domestically.”

There are many cards that use the EMV technology, such as the BankAmericard Privileges with Travel Rewards card mentioned above, Chase Hyatt Visa Signature and all Citi MasterCards by request.

It is worth to note that even when cashiers say they cannot accept your magnetic stripe card, they probably can.

“Your magnetic-stripe card does work,” assures Ava Kelly, Head of Global Affluent and Cross Border Initiatives at Visa Inc. “When traveling internationally, if you encounter a business that says it cannot accept your card, just ask them to try again. Tell them to look for the slot for swiping a card, and follow the prompts on their payment terminal.”

Personally, I think this is worth taking into consideration. However, I think it’s more important to make sure you use Visa when traveling abroad. When other travelers have their credit cards declined, it is usually because they are carrying an American Express or Discover Card – unless they’re in China, that is, where Discover is the preferred method of payment.

Auto Rental Coverage

For travelers looking to rent a car, you should look to your credit card to help you with insurance. Often times, the policies offered to you by car rental agencies are already included in your credit card.

“All credit card networks provide some form of rental car insurance, though not all specific cards offer the benefit,” explains Sekar.

The questions you should look into include:

  • What is covered? For example, while Discover’s policy is limited to collisions and upsets, American Express Platinum covers theft, collision and other events.
  • How long do you have to make a claim? For instance, MasterCard holders get 60 days. On the other hand, American Express gives their clients 48 hours.
  • What will the company pay for? If you look into Visa, you’ll see they cover administrative and towing costs. However, Discover will not pay for “loss of use.”

Overall, Visa offers the best car rental insurance benefits of the four major networks. First of all, each of their cards includes rental car insurance for physical damage, theft, loss of use, towing and administrative costs. MasterCard is also pretty good, although its not offered on all cards. Remember, it doesn’t cover loss of use or theft of an unlocked vehicle like Visa does. American Express offers one perk that some may be interested in, the ability to add extra coverage for a small fee. Discover is hands down the worst card when it comes to auto rental coverage, and only a few of their cards even offer it.

Additionally, many prestigious cards also other types of travel coverage, such as lost baggage, travel delays, trip cancellation, accidental death and dismemberment, which is worth looking into.

Should You Consider A Branded Airline Or Hotel Card?

This will depend on how you travel. For example, if you regularly check bags, you may want to find an airline card that waives baggage fees. Just make sure to look at what the annual fee is, and calculate if you will end up spending more or less. If the annual fee is $50 and you usually spend $150 a year checking bags, it may be worth it to get the card. Moreover, hotel cards can often make your stay a lot nicer if you regularly book a particular hotel brand.

“Hotel credit cards can sometimes come with automatic elite status, which brings perks like late checkout, free newspapers, accelerated rewards earning and other goodies,” says Sekar. “Sometimes, these hotel cards will even have no annual fee, providing you with perks for free.”

Personally, I’m a fan of the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Card. Although there is an annual fee, it is waived during your first year. Additionally, you’ll get 10,000 Starpoints after your first purchase, and 15,000 additional Starpoints when spending $5,000 in six months. Points can be redeemed for free stays in over 1,000 hotels in over 100 countries or free flights. And, they give you many chances to earn double points and sometimes even five points per dollar.

Do I Have To Pay An Annual Fee?

The truth is, even though many credit card companies charge an annual fee, you can often get out of paying it. Just simply pick up the phone and ask. It helps if you have a good relationship with the credit card company and are timely with paying the bills. Furthermore, because many companies are now relying heavily on social media, consider tweeting a polite comment about your displeasure with the annual fee, including the company in the tweet using the “@” symbol and the credit card company’s Twitter handle. Other fees you can try to get lowered or waived include the balance transfer fee, late fee, foreign transaction fee, interest rate and over the limit fee.

[Image via 401(K)2012]

US Tourist Ordered To Pay $6500 For Cuba Trip From 14 Years Ago

by Jessica Festa on

Think your past won’t come back to haunt you? A U.S. tourist has agreed to pay a $6,500 fine for taking an unauthorized trip to Cuba 14 years ago.

According to Reuters, Zachary Sanders, 38, had been living and teaching English in Mexico in 1998 when he decided to take a trip to Cuba. Sanders was 23 at the time, and had wanted to learn about how a socialist country worked in practice.

“I had no illusions,” said Sanders in an interview. “… I’m not like some diehard supporter of the (Cuban) government or anything like that.”

The United States has restricted U.S. travel to Cuba for a long time as part of a 50-year-old trade embargo aimed at penalizing Cuba’s communist government. When Sanders traveled, he did not obtain the mandatory U.S. Treasury license to visit Cuba. A custom’s official became suspicious when he noticed Sanders had come back into the country via the Bahamas, without declaring he had been in Cuba. The official also took a box of Cuban cigars from his luggage.

%Gallery-161509%The Dispute

Two years later, the U.S. Treasury asked Sanders to document his expenditures from Cuba; however, Sanders lost the receipts and missed the deadline to return the required form. After another two years, the department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) reviewed his case during a Bush administration crackdown on Cuba travel. Sanders was fined $1,000.

Both sides appealed; however, in 2009, the Treasury Department raised the fine to $9,000 in an attempt to discourage people from ignoring OFAC forms. Sander’s lawyer, Shane Kadidal of the Center for Constitutional Rights, responded that Sanders had a constitutional right not to provide evidence that would incriminate him.

Sanders ended up suing OFAC, the Treasury Department and the Justice Department in federal court in 2009, appealing the fine as impulsive and autocratic. After losing, Sanders turned to the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York, where the case was settled on July 24 with the traveler agreeing to pay a fine of $6,500.

Can U.S. Citizens Travel To Cuba?

For U.S. citizens looking to travel to Cuba in 2012, it has become much easier. Certain restrictions on travel have been lifted by the Obama administration, and the Treasury Department has issued a new set of guidelines, making travel easier for religious and educational groups, people-to-people exchanges and journalists. Moreover, companies like Friendly Planet Travel and National Geographic Expeditions are licensed to bring travelers over to Cuba via a guided tour.

Take a virtual tour of the country’s capital, Havana, by checking out the gallery above.

[Above image via Elemaki; Gallery images via Big Stock]

Video: Burkina Faso Plastic Bag Recycling

by Elizabeth Seward on

“Burkina Faso Plastic Bag Recycling” from Corentin Banzet on Vimeo.

In Burkina Faso, hope doesn’t seem to always come easily. With one of the lowest GDP per capita figures in the world ($1,200) and a tumultuous political past that has led to widespread unrest, it’s no wonder so many people that make up the country’s near 16 million population count are struggling. But in this video, Vimeo user Corentin Banzet documents some of the women in Burkina Faso who are using the country’s garbage as a resource for moneymaking. With the hook method, 150 women in the town of Tiébélé Burkina managed to produce 1,000 bags and 500 pouches over the span of eight months. And they did it all by recycling used plastic bags.