Westworld Alberta

TownPumpInn.indd 1 15-03-19 11:39 AM 30 W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A | S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 colin anderson/getty images It's every traveller's nightmare: being over- seas and suddenly locked out of all of your accounts, unable to pay for anything while you're stuck in a foreign country. But with a little planning, you can avoid the worst-case scenario – keeping your money accessible and secure. "e No. 1 thing is to spread the wealth," says Nikola Berube of AMA Travel. "Don't rely solely on one form of currency. Instead, anticipate issues, such as potential theft or loss, and have your plan in place. at's going to give you a worry-free vacation." As well, make sure you have access to all of your infor- mation, especially emergency contact num- bers and account numbers. If you choose to upload the information online for safekeep- ing, make sure you're aware of the site's secu- rity features. Alternatively, leave it with someone back home who can send it to you in an emergency. Read on for the pros and cons of four money-carrying options for travellers: 1 Cash Pros: You can use it almost anywhere. It's a good idea to carry two to three days' spending money, and have $100 to $150 in your destination's currency prior to departure to cover immediate expenses. Pick it up from one of the Foreign Currency ATMs at select AMA centres. These machines debit directly from your bank account or credit card and offer U.S. dollars, U.K. pounds and euros. Cons: If you withdraw foreign currency from an ATM abroad, you'll pay exchange, transac- tion and network fees. Plus, if cash is lost or stolen, there isn't much you can do – it's gone. COACH TOURS FOUR FOR THE MONEY How to keep your currency spendable and secure abroad BY JUSTIN BELL

• Cover