Running Out of Time!!

[ARK1 0]

I would ask your SO because in Kenya no one takes travelers checks because of fraud but my ATM from the US worked at their ATMs so I could get cash that way too. Also a lot of places in Nairobi and other major tourist places took all the major credit cards. I know going to a new place can be unnerving and scary but look at it as an investment in your relationship. I lived in Kenya for 3 years and I think my fiance and I have a better understanding of each other because I have a pretty good understanding of his culture and when he comes here he'll experience and learn about my culture. Good Luck!

[taurean 0]

imac: I think what you are feeling is normal. It can be pretty daunting to travel outside the country for the first time. But it sounds like you have taken all the precautions you need to. Add the preparations you've already made to the suggestions here, and I think you will be fine!! Best wishes for safe travels.

whidbey island: Where in Senegal will you be travelling? Dakar? If you have any questions feel free to ask me. I travelled there a couple of times alone before meeting my hubby. Don't be nervous (I know, easier said than done), I am sure that you will have a wonderful experience. Just remember to pack your common sense along with everything else. You mentioned registering with the Embassy, great idea! I also recommend travel medical insurance if you can swing it and if you haven't already done so. I have always used Medex.

I'll be traveling definitely to Tambacounda where SO lives. We are getting married in Thiés. We will be visiting other areas as finances allow. I sell tools for women so am hoping to sell lots this month in anticipation of Christmas. I have email blasted everyone I know letting them know I have great deals on my inventory. We were also in Oprah magazine this month so hopefully I will have lots of online sales too. What is MedEx? I have a state insurance plan, but am not sure if it covers me out of the country.

Wow, sounds like you have a nice business going. Congratulations!

As for the medical insurance, my PPO doesn't cover me outside of the country so I used MedEx which is specific travel medical insurance. You can look on their website to see what they covered. What I do know is that they will get you to proper medical facilities if there is none located near where you are. One of my former travel companions used them some years ago when he contracted a strain of malaria that couldn't be treated where he was. His story sold me right away.

[reeses16 8]

OP,

Try to relax and enjoy your trip. Your fiance will be there to help you out with all the unknowns.

ARK1 is right, Traveler's checks are not accepted most places these days. I got them for my first trip abroad more hassel than help...I ended up changing them to local currency within a day or 2.

I prefer to use my debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM (You have to call and let your bank know the dates and locations you are traveling you may want to adjust your daily withdrawl limit) In Ethiopia, very few places accept debit/credit cards (basically the Hilton & Sheraton hotels and a few shops). ATM machines are not widely available, but they are at the US run hotels. One important thing to point out. Not all debit cards work at all machines. look on the back of your cards for the symbols (plus, star, etc.). You should still try, sometimes it works.

I would not recommend going to Western Union, because everyone knows its the Western union office, people may be watching you. It may still be your best option, just be cautious.

[K&A 0]

Dpn't over think it....just go with the one intention on meeting your fiance and you will have a Ball! Now the Western Union idea....humm I should of thought of that when I went to Ghana the first time because I had quickly ran out of money that time buying everything in site lol. But, I am glad you got over your indecision and decided to take a chance on love and go outside of your comfort zone...basically taking a risk that might prove to beneficial in the end.

Good Luck and safe trip!!!!

I am less than a week away from travelling to Nigeria to see my fiance for 10 days.

I have been wavering back and forth about going/not going but deep down I want to go because I love my fiance.

My hesitation has absolutely nothing to do with my fiance. We have known each other for awhile and my fiance and my fiance's parents sent me invitation letters with their identification. I know my fiance loves me and wouldn't hurt me. My fiance has been very patient and understanding over the past few weeks with my indecision.

All in all, I think I am scared to travel this far distance, being outside of my comfort zone and the unknown factor. This is a life changing situation. Could I be getting cold feet?

I have secure hotel accommodations, a driver, and I plan to take money but I am also going to Western Union myself 2 payments instead of walking around with a lot of US dollars.

Is this normal? Did you all feel like this before going on your trip?

Help!

Running out of time.

[Lois 0]

I am less than a week away from travelling to Nigeria to see my fiance for 10 days.

I have been wavering back and forth about going/not going but deep down I want to go because I love my fiance.

My hesitation has absolutely nothing to do with my fiance. We have known each other for awhile and my fiance and my fiance's parents sent me invitation letters with their identification. I know my fiance loves me and wouldn't hurt me. My fiance has been very patient and understanding over the past few weeks with my indecision.

All in all, I think I am scared to travel this far distance, being outside of my comfort zone and the unknown factor. This is a life changing situation. Could I be getting cold feet?

I have secure hotel accommodations, a driver, and I plan to take money but I am also going to Western Union myself 2 payments instead of walking around with a lot of US dollars.

Is this normal? Did you all feel like this before going on your trip?

Help!

I don't think that it is cold feet either. I am going to lagos for Christmas, and I am feeling exactly like you (although my trip is not until the 25th). Supposedly I will be having two police escorts when I arrive, as it will be in the evening. My SO assured me that Nigeria is not as bad as it used to be, and that I will be fine. SURE...easy for him to say. LOL....

Running out of time.

[forchika 4]

You will have have a blast, do worry toooo much. Just be aware. Once thing a friend told me was that you need to know who is picking u up at the airport. a pic or something, cause she says that (she is from ghana) that people will over hear your name mentioned at customs or somewhere along the way and come up to you and call you by name as if they were sent to look for you. I took a few hundreds rolled up and put them into different parts of my clothing and I did take my bank card.....but Im not sure about Nigeria cause I went to ghana and they had good banks there. Your fiance will keep you safe, you will be like a treasure to him and his family so feel secure they will protect and help you spot danger.

I Agree with Efia06 Especially this part....Your fiance will keep you safe, you will be like a treasure to him and his family so feel secure they will protect and help you spot danger.

[ebonyqueen 0]

Unless things have changed within the last 2 years...My travelers checks were not honored anywhere we went in Lagos. When we tried to exchange them for cash they wanted a hefty "fee" and it was almost like some covert operation just to find someone who would exchange them! I ended up just bringin them back home, and had to have family wire me money. My atm card also didnt work at any of the banks we went too...(not saying there wasnt one...but we never found it) The only place that took credit cards was on Victoria Island.

Another member mentioned being cautious at Western Union places...also banks (many western unions are located inside a bank). Especially if you are white. There have been several posts in the past about being singled out because they were white, and thought to have money! Even being followed, and even by the police. But like others have said..I am sure your SO will be aware of all this and keep you safe and protected. Its really not any different than traveling to a large populated city(as far as having common sense and being cautious about money matters) It just seems scarier cuz u gonna be out of your element, and relying on someone else for the most part. Just have faith...and enjoy the experience!

Peace, Love and Happiness,

Eb

[idocare 3]

First time I went to Nigeria I brought one credit card ( in case I had to leave

him and house/feed myself) it turned out fine. Him and I stayed at the Sheraton

for the first nite I just felt I needed to ease into his surroundings.

He traded my dollars right outside the airport for Naira ( they offer better

rates ) he always walked around with lots of money, I don't know, he never

told me of him being robbed. I just kept my dollars in my pocket until we'd

run out of money then we'd travel back to the airport and trade in another

$100.00 bill. It was just him and I, we rode the mopads, he drove, we

walked around nothing happened. Ofcourse from reading all the stories

you can't help but be a little un eased.

I believe that your fiance knows to protect you. Some people had others

around all the time but for me it was just him and I; and although we went

some places I didn't do alot of sight seeing which was fine with me. He

worked at 2-different hospitals and we ate out everyday and sometimes

in the evenings. Even in the dark coming out of a resturant nothing

happened to us. Although one incidence at the airport but I think he staged

that himself with the help of the securities guards.

The second time his tire blew out on this pitch dark street, although cars

passed by, none stopped to rob us or help us for that matter and all my suit

cases were in the back of his car in plain view and he had just picked me up

from the airport.

They gave you some really good ideas, especially about registering at the

embassey. But remember to bring your passport with you, ( I left mines in

his room but they took my drivers license ) You should be fine!!!!! But

always look out for you and do bring enough monies to survive on your own

if you should need too.

My emergency money was my credit card.

[*JG* 2]

I am less than a week away from travelling to Nigeria to see my fiance for 10 days.

I have been wavering back and forth about going/not going but deep down I want to go because I love my fiance.

My hesitation has absolutely nothing to do with my fiance. We have known each other for awhile and my fiance and my fiance's parents sent me invitation letters with their identification. I know my fiance loves me and wouldn't hurt me. My fiance has been very patient and understanding over the past few weeks with my indecision.

All in all, I think I am scared to travel this far distance, being outside of my comfort zone and the unknown factor. This is a life changing situation. Could I be getting cold feet?

I have secure hotel accommodations, a driver, and I plan to take money but I am also going to Western Union myself 2 payments instead of walking around with a lot of US dollars.

Is this normal? Did you all feel like this before going on your trip?

Help!

Running out of time.

Look at it as a great adventure.

It will be great fun and very exciting. Just be aware of your surroundings and your safety at all times and You will be just fine.

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

Thanks all, I know I am not the OP but you have helped to ease some of my anxieties also. I emailed and asked SO the other night for a copy of his passport and he said, "Sure" and is sending it today. I asked if he was upset or thought I was crazy for asking, he just laughed and said, NO it's for your ease of mind and safety . Still not sure what to do about the money situation though, Western Union and travelers checks were the only ideas I had and both have their really big down sides. It's not like I will have a lot anyways. So maybe will just bring with me.

[Kanyiri 0]

As for nerves, I lived with DH for two years in Ghana and then I had to come back to the US and find a "real" job. It took me a while to save up enough money to go back and see him. It was over a year before I could go back to visit. I was so nervous I was nauseous and shaking. We were supposed to eat dinner with his uncle the first night but I couldn't hold myself together enough for that. And just think, I had lived with him for TWO YEARS and I was still this nervous. Nerves are completely understandable.

As for travellers checks, better to not even try. I used my bank card and there were ATMs in Accra. I would assume most capital cities would have ATMs. Bring about $100 in $20 bills and exchange these until you run out and then need an ATM. I think trying the Western Union thing would be smart. Also, in Ghana I know local banks allow you to do transfers from one branch to another fairly cheaply (at least cheaper than Western Union). I plan to do this when we visit Ghana. That way if you are travelling from one region to the next, you don't have to bring the money with you, you just find a bank that is in both regions and send money to yourself.

As for robbers, yes it happens. Just think of their big cities like our big cities here. Be smart about what neighborhood you go to and how you flaunt the money that you have. If you can help it, don't go out late at night. Split your money that you carry into different places: purse, bra, shoe, etc. If something seems fishy, it is. I lived in Ghana for over two years and I was never robbed.

Everyone gets nervous. If that's a social anxiety, then I would venture to say that 90% of the human population has a social anxiety.

[idocare 3]

Each and every time we Americans wander into another Country that we don't

know we are putting ourselves totally in our sponsors hands. We don't know

the Country to which we find ourselves, but we willingly go in the name of love.

I suspect that you trust your finace, thus you should be okay. Like others have

said we all get those jitters. But do have your own exit plain unknown to those your

visiting. I look foward to hearing how much fun you had !!!!

[Perseverance 1]

Did you go??

[babynursetobe 0]

I'm not sure about Senegal, but they don't accept them in Nigeria. NO traveler's checks or money orders. Its a good thought, but I think you would have a hard time using them.

The thought came to me in the middle of the night (not sleeping very well these days). Would it be better to take travelers checks?

[totes 0]

Alot of great advice given here!

I can tell you that before I traveled to Africa the first time, I changed my mind 1,000 times. Not about my SO or because of him but because of all the negative stuff I read and people told me that "happens" over there. In the end... obviously I went but I was a nervous wreck until I got there and saw how protective my SO was of me. I felt very safe. I took cash and one credit card (just in case I needed it). We exchanged money on an as needed basis and we always carried all of our cash, passports, etc., with us everywhere we went and had no problems at all. Everyone was very nice (even strangers) and very accomodating. You'll be fine and have a great time!

Good luck!