Tips from a seasoned traveler Maurice Arcache unseals his lips

Monday, 4 December 2000

Tips from a seasoned traveler

Maurice Arcache unseals his lips

Experience is the best teacher, especially when it

comes to traveling. And no one is better qualified

to have his say on the matter than distinguished

social luminary, TV talk show host and publicity

personage Maurice Arcache.

Having studied in Europe, Arcache has already been

traversing the cities of England, France, Spain and

Switzerland during his teens. And now that he is a

regular to lavish parties, press tours and other social

gatherings, he has practically set foot on all seven continents – whether jetting in a

British Airways Concorde from New York to London or going on a cruise from Alaska to

the southern tip of Latin America – making him one of the country’s seasoned

travelers.

With such an exciting career, it’s a small wonder then, why he can so easily share

some travel tips to make the most of a journey:

Know the itinerary. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, Arcache sticks to the

ABCs of a society columnist. He advises that it is best to know beforehand what you

will do, how much time you will spend, where you will spend it most.

“That way you can determine what you will carry with you and what you can leave

behind,’’ he said.

Save time by also studying the best dining, shopping and other tourist spots.

“Best of all,’’ Arcache added, “you can get around easier by knowing a few basic

words in the local dialect, such as ‘hello,’ ‘how much,’ ‘thank you’, and ‘goodbye’.’’

Know the weather. The weather advice can prevent you from buying expensive winter

clothing just in case you find yourself experiencing a sudden chill in the air.

Similarly, it could also mean a ton of thick fabrics off your load if it would be sunny

where you’ll go.

Bring a good pair of walking shoes. Even if you’ll go skiing in the Alps, riding a jeep in

the safaris of Africa, or touring New York in a limo, a good part of your trip will still

involve your feet; so bring shoes that will keep your feet comfortable for long hours of

trekking. “Besides, walking is a good form of exercise,’’ Arcache confided.

Bring medication. Another must-have for travelers are medicines for headache,

dizziness and diarrhea, as well as regular vitamins. Most likely, these can never be

found in other countries, and the ones available may carry a different dosage not

suitable to your system.

Secure all travel documents. The most important is, of course, your passport, then

your other means of identification, such as visas and tickets. “Lose them and you

could end up losing your entire trip altogether to long hours of inconvenience,’’

reminded Arcache.

Bring an internationally accepted credit card. Money definitely makes the world go

round if you’re abroad. You need to have a credit card that can be accepted

anywhere in the world. As Arcache confessed, “This is the very reason why I chose

Citibank credit cards.’’

Everytime he goes abroad, Arcache always relies on his Citibank credit card when

making financial transactions from shopping, dining to paying hotel bills. He feels

they’re more secure alternative to carrying cash.

So, when choosing a credit card to apply for, make sure you decide on a card that

has an extensive network of merchants so that you will be able to use it almost

anywhere you may be. Also capitalize on the conveniences it offers such as cash

advance made available in the local currency and the ease of settling your bills in

Philippine peso.

Not to mention the added security provided by qualified and service-oriented

telephone operators who can answer any queries you may have, whether making

balance inquiry or for putting the card on hold just in case it gets lost or stolen.

“Convenience is still the name of the game,’’ stressed Arcache.