Guides
Short guides for travelers: insurance, costs and exchanging money, flights — destination by destination. Educational content, not a recommendation.
Why the exchange rate at the counter never matches the rate you saw online
The rate on this site, the rate your bank card uses and the rate at an airport currency counter are three different numbers. Here is where the gap comes from and how to estimate what it costs you.
What sending money abroad really costs, even when the fee says "$0"
"No fee" does not mean free. The real cost of a money transfer is often hidden inside the exchange rate the service applies, not the fee it advertises.
Travel insurance for Mexico: what US health coverage actually follows you
Most US health plans, and Medicare in particular, stop covering you at the border. Here is what a travel policy for Mexico should include and what it typically costs.
What a trip to Mexico really costs, and how to pay while you are there
Resort towns and inland cities have very different price levels, and paying in dollars at the counter is almost always the expensive option. Here is a realistic daily budget and how to handle pesos.
Flying to Mexico from the US: entry rules, routes and getting a fair airport transfer
Flights are short and frequent from almost every major US airport, and entry requirements are light for US citizens — the real planning decisions are which airport and how to get from it to your hotel without overpaying.
Travel insurance for the Dominican Republic: all-inclusive doesn't mean all-covered
An all-inclusive resort covers your food and drinks, not a hospital bill. Here is what travel insurance for the Dominican Republic should cover and why evacuation matters.
What a trip to the Dominican Republic really costs beyond the resort package
The headline resort price often does not include taxes, tips, excursions or anything you want outside the all-inclusive gates. Here is what to budget on top.
Flying to the Dominican Republic: entry paperwork, airports and resort transfers
Direct flights run from dozens of US cities, and the tourist entry fee is now folded into most plane tickets — here is what to confirm before you fly and how to avoid a transfer markup at the airport.
Travel insurance for Costa Rica: covering zip-lines, volcanoes and remote clinics
Costa Rica's adventure-tourism activities are exactly the kind many standard policies exclude by default. Here is what to check before you book a canopy tour or a volcano hike.
What a trip to Costa Rica really costs: the 13% and the "paying in dollars" trap
Costa Rica is pricier than its Central American neighbors, taxes are usually already baked into menu prices, and paying in dollars almost always rounds against you. Here is a realistic budget.
Flying to Costa Rica: two airports, no visa, and getting out of San José or Liberia
Which of Costa Rica's two main international airports you fly into can save hours of driving depending on where you are actually headed. Here is how to pick, plus entry rules and transfer tips.
Travel insurance for Jamaica: resort medical clinics are not free, even inside the gates
Most Jamaican resorts have an on-site or on-call clinic, and it bills like a private clinic anywhere else. Here is what travel insurance should cover before you rely on it.
What a trip to Jamaica really costs beyond the all-inclusive rate
Jamaica's all-inclusive resorts bundle a lot, but excursions, airport transfers and the departure process all add real costs most travelers underestimate. Here is a realistic picture.
Flying to Jamaica: Montego Bay vs. Kingston and a fair price for the ride to your resort
Almost every resort traveler should land in Montego Bay, not Kingston — and knowing the typical transfer price in advance is the easiest way to avoid overpaying at arrival.
Travel insurance for Italy: what changes once you are inside the Schengen Area
Italy's public hospitals will treat emergencies regardless of insurance, but the bill, the paperwork and getting home afterward are all on you without a policy. Here is what to carry.
What a trip to Italy really costs: city taxes, cover charges and the euro
Italy has several small, easy-to-miss charges that add up — a nightly city tax, a per-person restaurant cover charge, and museum lines you can pay to skip. Here is a realistic budget.
Flying to Italy: picking an airport, entry rules and the ETIAS requirement coming for US travelers
Italy is visa-free for short US tourist stays today, but the EU's new ETIAS travel authorization changes the paperwork — here is what to check before you book and how to pick between Rome, Milan and Venice.
Travel insurance for the UK: why "they have the NHS" does not mean you are covered
The UK's public health service treats visitors for true emergencies, but non-emergency care, prescriptions and anything beyond urgent treatment are billed to foreign visitors in full. Here is what to insure.
What a trip to the UK really costs: London prices versus everywhere else
London runs close to New York prices, while most of the rest of the UK is noticeably cheaper. Here is a realistic daily budget and why you will barely need cash.
Flying to the UK: the new ETA requirement, airport choice and getting into central London
The UK now requires US travelers to get an Electronic Travel Authorization before flying, a new step that catches people out. Here is what to do about it, plus how to pick an airport and avoid the taxi markup.
Travel insurance for Japan: excellent hospitals, no reciprocal coverage for US visitors
Japanese hospital care is high quality but not cheap for an uninsured foreign visitor, and the language barrier adds friction exactly when you can least deal with it. Here is what to carry.
What a trip to Japan really costs, and why you still need cash in a high-tech country
Japan has a reputation for being expensive, but mid-range travel is often cheaper than Western Europe — the real surprise for US visitors is how much the country still runs on cash. Here is a realistic budget.
Flying to Japan: Narita vs. Haneda, entry rules and the arrival app worth filling out early
Japan is visa-free for short US tourist stays, but the arrival process has an online form that saves real time at the airport if you fill it out before you fly. Here is how to plan the route and the landing.
Travel insurance for Thailand: motorbikes, islands and why the license condition matters
Thailand's biggest insurance claim category for foreign visitors is motorbike accidents, and most policies will not pay out on one without the right license. Here is what to check.
What a trip to Thailand really costs: one of the best value-for-money long-haul trips from the US
Thailand remains one of the cheapest full-service destinations US travelers can fly to, even after a long and relatively expensive flight. Here is a realistic daily budget.
Flying to Thailand: the long haul, entry rules and getting out of Bangkok's airport
There is no way around a long flight from the US to Thailand, but choosing the right connection and airport can still save hours and money. Here is how to plan it.
Travel insurance for Canada: the border is close, but your US health plan still stops there
Canada feels close enough to not need insurance, but Canadian hospitals bill foreign visitors, including Americans, in full and at Canadian private rates. Here is what to carry.
What a trip to Canada really costs, and why your US card may not be as fee-free as you think
Canada prices close to the US overall, but tipping norms, taxes shown separately at checkout and foreign transaction fees on cards can all surprise a first-time visitor. Here is a realistic budget.
Getting to Canada: no visa needed, but check the passport rule for land and sea crossings
Canada is one of the simplest international trips for US citizens, with short flights and no visa — the only real planning questions are passport documents for land crossings and which airport fits your itinerary.