(I'm here by way of Tudor... he's a Flickr contact. I work for an airline and I've traveled quite a bit- much of it solo- to Asia, Australia, and Europe)
1. ATMs tend to be the best way to deal with currency. From past experience, travelers checks can be more of a hassle than anything else. I have run across quite a few places that either do not know how to deal with them or refuse to deal with them or try to charge excessive fees to use them (generally against TC policy, but you're sort of at their mercy). For the cash you do take out, get a money belt if you don't already have one. Keep just a bit of currency accessible for small purchases and keep the rest in the money belt that's worn discreetly around your waist under your top layer of clothing. If somebody does pickpocket you, you will have only lost a small bill or two from your pocket. If you have a purse, make sure the top zips or snaps shut. Wear it cross-body instead of just looped over a shoulder- it helped me keep mine in an unsavory part of Shanghai a few years back...
If you are planning to travel to small villages, or if Vietnam or Cambodia are on your itinerary, you may want to plan ahead as far as cash goes. ATMs can be few and far between in those locales if you step off the beaten path.
2. If you have not already done so, email your bank's customer service to let them know your planned itinerary.
3. Make a photocopy of your passport and tuck it into the lining of your suitcase. If you do lose your docs, this will go a long way towards helping obtain replacements.
4. Remember- a lot of foreign travel is pure culture shock. The best thing about it is the new and unusual experiences- when you're in a bit city like Bangkok, try to find something beautiful in the chaos. Sure, the traffic is awful and the aromas can be horrible, but the people are beautiful and quite warm for the most part. Beautiful temples and shrines appear in the middle of nowhere. Exotic fruits abound- try dragonfruit if you haven't already- it's a must, as are rambutans and mangosteen. Remember to look for the hidden jewels that make a place special. Having said that, travel can be hard. SE Asia is a cool, but sometimes difficult, place for a novice traveler. I commend you for making the journey. Heck, I've had breakdowns in far more civilized places where I've just felt like I've had enough- and I've found that usually the cure is to have a nice meal in a dive-y local place along with a pint of the local brew- and then just hit the sack early- so I'm recovered and rarin' to go the next day.
Advice from a seasoned traveler...
1. ATMs tend to be the best way to deal with currency. From past experience, travelers checks can be more of a hassle than anything else. I have run across quite a few places that either do not know how to deal with them or refuse to deal with them or try to charge excessive fees to use them (generally against TC policy, but you're sort of at their mercy). For the cash you do take out, get a money belt if you don't already have one. Keep just a bit of currency accessible for small purchases and keep the rest in the money belt that's worn discreetly around your waist under your top layer of clothing. If somebody does pickpocket you, you will have only lost a small bill or two from your pocket. If you have a purse, make sure the top zips or snaps shut. Wear it cross-body instead of just looped over a shoulder- it helped me keep mine in an unsavory part of Shanghai a few years back...
If you are planning to travel to small villages, or if Vietnam or Cambodia are on your itinerary, you may want to plan ahead as far as cash goes. ATMs can be few and far between in those locales if you step off the beaten path.
2. If you have not already done so, email your bank's customer service to let them know your planned itinerary.
3. Make a photocopy of your passport and tuck it into the lining of your suitcase. If you do lose your docs, this will go a long way towards helping obtain replacements.
4. Remember- a lot of foreign travel is pure culture shock. The best thing about it is the new and unusual experiences- when you're in a bit city like Bangkok, try to find something beautiful in the chaos. Sure, the traffic is awful and the aromas can be horrible, but the people are beautiful and quite warm for the most part. Beautiful temples and shrines appear in the middle of nowhere. Exotic fruits abound- try dragonfruit if you haven't already- it's a must, as are rambutans and mangosteen. Remember to look for the hidden jewels that make a place special. Having said that, travel can be hard. SE Asia is a cool, but sometimes difficult, place for a novice traveler. I commend you for making the journey. Heck, I've had breakdowns in far more civilized places where I've just felt like I've had enough- and I've found that usually the cure is to have a nice meal in a dive-y local place along with a pint of the local brew- and then just hit the sack early- so I'm recovered and rarin' to go the next day.
Safe journeys to you.
-JJ