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      walk in the bright morning sunlight. (If there is no sunlight, a
      bright light can substitute.)
   o  Do not eat right before you go to sleep. Eat a light dinner.
   o  Eat your meals according to the destination time zone.
   o  Do not drink any alcoholic or caffeine-based beverages
      during your flight. Drinking other liquids is OK -- some people
      recommend drinking a lot of water.
   o  Don't forget to adjust your watch.
 
Things that affect the sleep-wake cycle:
   o  Sunlight. Properly timed bright light is very helpful. Turn off
      the lights in your bedroom at bedtime in your destination time zone,
      and leave the windowshades down in the morning.
   o  Time of Meals
   o  Amount of Sleep
   o  It is easier to shift forward (e.g., waking up at noon home time
      instead of 7am) than it is to shift backward (e.g., waking up at
      to sleep at 2am).
   o  Carbohydrates make you sleepy. Protein will keep you awake. Eat
      heavy carbohydrate meals for two days prior to the trip and a
      heavy protein one on the day of departure.

Some people recommend taking melatonin at dusk or bedtime (for your
destination) a day or two before departure, and continue for a day or
two after you arrive. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland at the
base of the brain during the night, and can be used to shift the
circadian rhythm ("body clock").  Melatonin production is highest in
the dark and is suppressed by exposure to sunlight. Melatonin is
available from many health food stores (as a "food supplement"), but
this may be changing due to action by the FDA. Melatonin is not a
tested, FDA-approved drug. It is known to have side effects after
extended usage. The drug is still available in Europe and Canada. BE
SURE TO CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE TAKING MELATONIN OR ANY OTHER
DRUG.

Most flights are run according to the time of the departure point, not
the destination. If you need to sleep according to the light/dark
cycle of your destination, bring along eye shades and ear plugs. 

Note that you can regulate your body's production of melatonin using
light, achieving much the same effect as taking the drug.

Or you could give in, and just not plan to do anything really
important during your first day in the new time schedule. If you can
arrange it, just don't switch over to the new time zone, if you're
only going to be there for a few days.

The Argonee National Laboratory anit-jet-lag diet is available as the
file ftp.cs.cmu.edu:/user/mkant/Travel/jetlag.txt 

----------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: [3-7]  Pregnant Passengers

If you're pregnant, check with your doctor before traveling by air,
especially during the last trimester. There is a small but real risk
that the flight could cause you to go into labor and induce a
premature birth. Definitely do not fly if the baby has turned.

Many airlines won't let a visibly pregnant woman travel without a note
from her doctor certifying that it's ok for her to travel and that
she's not likely to give birth at 30,000 feet. Airlines may still
refuse transportation to you, even with a doctor's certificate,
especially if you're in the 8th month. The reasons for refusal vary,
but often include the passenger's safety and airline liability. (If
you give birth in the air, the airline will have to divert to the
closest airport with a nearby hospital, even if there are no
complications.)

If you do fly, keep your lap belt low around the hips. Also, ask the
gate agent if there's an empty seat available in first class. You'll
be more comfortable in the wider seats, and if you do happen to give
birth, they can close the curtain to give you a little privacy.

Flying can also be a miserable experience for someone who is pregnant.
Flying differs from other modes of transportation in the sudden
acceleration and deceleration, frequent air pressure changes, and
significant amounts of vibration. (Though pregnant women should be
careful during any traveling, no matter what the means of
transportation.)

----------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: [3-8]  Tips for Families Flying with Children

If you're flying with children, here are some tips for making air
travel a more enjoyable experience -- for you, for your child, and for
your fellow passengers.

When planning your trip:

   +  Tell your children what to expect. Explain security procedures,
      customs and immigration, take-off and landing, baggage claim and
      claim checks, and so on. Be sure to tell them how they should
      behave in each situation and make sure they realize that
      misbehaving during the trip can have much more serious
      consequences than misbehaving at home. 

   +  Establish firm ground rules for their behavior:

         Don't talk to strangers, don't ask strangers for help, and
         don't go anywhere with a stranger.          

         If they get lost, they should know what to do. For example,
         they should stay in one location -- you will find them,
         not vice versa.

         Don't go anywhere alone. Stay where your parents can see you.
         If you go anywhere, tell your parents where before you go.
         Don't wander off.

         Have them memorize your first and last name, the name of the hotel
         where you are staying, their home address (the town and state
         if they can't remember the street) and your home telephone number.

         Cross roads only with an adult and don't play in the street.

   +  Include your children in the planning stages, and let them have
      some input into the decisions. Don't try to do too much each
      day, or they'll get cranky.

   +  Keep in mind that young children may refuse to eat any of the
      local cuisine, so plan accordingly. Tell them in advance about
      the food and culture of the destination, especially if traveling
      to a foreign country. If you've been to the country before, tell
      them stories about your last trip.

   +  If only one parent will be traveling with the children and
      you'll be crossing borders, bring a notarized letter of
      permission or power of attorney from other parent. Otherwise you
      may get stopped at the border under suspicion of kidnapping.

   +  Write your child's name on the inside of all their clothes with
      indelible cloth marker, or sew in a name label. This will help
      if they get lost and forget their last name. For the flight,
      safety pin a card with complete information to their shirt.

When making reservations:

   +  Ask for window seats for your children. Children love to watch
      the world move outside the window.  

   +  Ask for contiguous seats so that you can sit together, and make
      sure you're in the aisle seat, so you can control your children.

   +  Mention that you're flying with children, so your seats won't be
      in the emergency exit row. Children under age 15 aren't allowed
      to sit in this row, so if your seats are there, you'll have to
      be moved when you arrive for the flight, and may not get
      contiguous seats. 

   +  If meals are served on the flight, ask for the special
      children's meal.

   +  Ask if they have any special services for children. Some
      airlines provide pins and model airplanes for older children,
      and sets of puzzles, games and toys for younger children. Some
      airlines will provide "baby kits" with diapers and other amenities.
      British Airways now has baby seats, just like the ones in automobiles.

      All airports have changing rooms, usually in the women's restroom
      (and many are now including changing facilities in men's
      bathrooms as well). 
			
      Some airlines may send special discount travel coupons to your home
      (e.g., $50 off a children's companion ticket), if you join the
      kids klub. Joining usually doesn't cost anything, and gets your kids 
      a free magazine every so often.

   +  If traveling with an infant, reserve the bulkhead seats and ask
      for a baby bed (bassinet).

   +  If your child is traveling under a "lap child" fare, ask for a
      lap restraint. This is a strap that passes through your seat
      belt and is used to secure the child, so that if the plane
      crashes your kid doesn't go flying through the air.

   +  If your child will be traveling alone, tell the airline the name
      of the adult who will drop them off in addition to the adult who
      will be meeting them at the destination. Include names,
      addresses, and phone numbers of each party, and also include
      your name and phone number. The party picking up your child must
      carry adequate identification. Provide the party meeting your
      child with a complete copy of the itinerary. Tell the airline
      and all parties about any special needs of your child, such as
      special meals, medication, needing assistance changing planes,
      etc. The child should carry identification, a small plastic
      baggy of change for telephone calls, and some cash. Your child
      should have no more than one small bag of carry-on baggage, and
      it should include their name and address information written on
      the inside. You will need to arrive at the airport at least an
      hour before departure to sign a special form, and you will have
      to stay at the airport until the flight has departed. Introduce
      the child to the gate agent, and remind the gate agent that your
      child is traveling alone. The gate agent will give all your
      child's travel documents to the flight attendant for
      safekeeping, and they will give them to the gate agent at the
      destination, who will give them, in turn, to the party meeting
      your child. Reiterate the standard warnings about talking to
      strangers, and remind them to not leave the airport alone or
      with a stranger. 

Packing:

   +  Bring your child's favorite toys, reading material, game books,
      paper & crayons, deck of cards, disposable camera, teddy bear or
      blanket, and other amusements to keep them quiet on the 
      plane. If you bring along electronic games, be sure to turn the
      sound off, and make sure they don't use it during takeoff and
      landing. If you bring a favorite stuffed animal or blanket, be
      sure it is easily replaceable, in case it gets lost during the trip.
      A supply of the "prizes" from cereal boxes can be useful as
      rewards for good behavior.

   +  Bring chewing gum and snacks to help them with air pressure
      changes during takeoff and landing. For younger children, bring
      a pacifier or a bottle of juice or milk. The flight attendants
      can warm your baby's bottle in the galley after they complete
      the safety dance. Hard candy or a lollipop may also work.

   +  Bring several spare diapers and baby blankets in your carry-on
      luggage, in addition to the usual emergency change of clothing.

   +  Make sure you bring enough food for the baby. Make an allowance
      for possible delays when planning what to bring.

   +  For a stoller which qualifies as a carryon, get one of the
      folding "umbrella" strollers. Airports are a lot easier to
      navigate with a stroller, rather than carrying a squirming baby.

   +  Bring at least one empty duffel bag in your luggage, in case you
      buy more stuff than will fit in your luggage.

   +  Don't forget to bring your child's medicines, including cough
      syrup and medication for other common child ailments. Don't
      count on being able to find a drug store at your destination.

   +  Bring a full color photograph of your child's face.

   +  Pack the child's luggage in a bag that is small enough for them
      to manage on their own.

Before the flight:

   +  If your children have never flown before, tell them how much fun
      it is, and try to build up some excitement (e.g., have a
      countdown calendar). 

Day of the flight:

   +  For carrying an infant, use a "front pack" or "Snugli" -- it's
      among the easiest. Be sure to get one with extra padding on the
      shoulder straps. At six months, you can switch to a baby back pack.

   +  Arrive early. Kids like to explore airports, and juggling kids
      AND bags will take time. Allow at least an hour in the airport
      for US domestic flights and two hours for international flights.

   +  Watch your children carefully, to make sure they don't wander
      off. Never leave your children alone. If you need to make a pit
      stop in the washroom, bring your children with you. Even the
      most responsible child should never be left alone to watch
      luggage or keep your place in line. If you do misplace your
      children, airport personnel can help you locate lost children. 
      
   +  Parents with children are allowed to board first, so take
      advantage of this "perk".

During the Flight:

   +  Give your baby a bottle or pacifier to suck on during takeoff
      and landing. This will make the baby swallow, allowing his or
      her ears to adjust quicker to the pressure changes. Air pressure
      in the cabin is the equivalent of air pressure at 8000 feet, 
      not ground pressure.

   +  If traveling with multiple children, don't be afraid to ask the
      flight attendants to watch some of them while you take one to
      the bathroom. 

   +  Most airplanes carry one or two decks of airline insignia playing
      cards. These get replenished only once a day, so you'll be
      successful in getting them only if you fly early in the day.
      The flight attendants may have other items, such as pins and model
      airplanes to satisfy younger passengers.

End of the flight:

   +  Wait until other passengers have gotten off the plane before you
      start gathering your belongings to deplane.

   +  Don't forget to count noses.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: [3-9]  Tips for Business Travelers

If you travel frequently on business, here are some hints on making
the process more tolerable.

Credit Cards, Phone Cards:

   +  Get the limit on your credit card increased (or use a card like
      the American Express Card, which has no set limit). Between air
      fares (especially for one-way flights), hotels, taxis, and the
      like, you can easily run up a hefty bill. Know how much credit
      you have left on your cards, so that you don't max out the cards
      while away from home. In addition, consider getting one of the
      cards that either gives you a cash rebate (Discover), rebates
      you on purchases of some products (GE card, GM/Ford cards,
      Citibank Apple card, Caldor card), or affinity cards that give 
      you frequent flyer miles for every dollar spent. Carry two
      different kinds of cards (e.g., not every place accepts American
      Express, and some places will accept Mastercard but not Visa, 
      or vice versa).

   +  Get yourself a calling card from one of the major phone
      companies (AT&T, MCI, Sprint). Make sure it has a toll free
      access number.

   +  If you travel frequently overseas, you probably should get
      yourself an American Express (AmEx) card in addition to a
      Mastercard and Visa. Foreign establishments are more easily
      impressed by AmEx than in North America, so you're likely
      to find it accepted in expensive restaurants and boutiques more
      than you would expect. Visa and Mastercard have, however, made
      significant inroads, so you can't depend on any one card. Best to
      bring one of each. Visa is currently accepted in far more places
      in Europe and Asia than AmEx, but there are still some locations
      that accept only one or the other.

      The real benefit of the AmEx card is for convenient currency
      exchanges. When you want to unload your foreign cash, go to an
      AmEx office in the foreign country and use the cash to pay your
      AmEx bill. They'll let you do this even if you don't have a
      balance. You can also cash up to $1,000 in personal checks every
      three weeks at an AmEx office ($3,000 with the gold card). 

   +  When traveling overseas, replacing a lost or stolen credit card
      can sometimes be difficult, so bring two or three, and keep them
      separate to prevent yourself from losing all your cards at the
      same time. 

Frequent Flyer, Hotel Promotions/Discounts:

   +  Sign up for ALL the various frequent flyer programs. You never
      know which airline you'll actually fly on, so it is best to
      accumulate mileage on all of them. You don't need to carry the
      cards -- just write down a list of your frequent flyer numbers
      on an index card, and carry that with you instead. You may want
      to consider signing up also for the AmEx membership miles
      program as well, even though it will cost you (Corporate AmEx
      cardholders $50; regular cardholders free for first year, then
      $25). Make a list of their partners for car rentals and 
      such -- you'll quickly add up miles on all your cards. Even if
      you get sick of air travel, you can always give the tickets to
      family members. Also join all the hotel clubs. (Some people
      advocate picking one program and sticking with it, to avoid the
      hassles of juggling many programs.)

   +  Your clients probably have a company discount with a nearby
      hotel. Such discounts can range from 10% to as much as 50% off.

Travel Agencies:

   +  Use a travel agency which provides a 24-hour number to handle
      problems. 

Ticketing:

   +  If you fly regularly to the same destination but not over a
      Saturday night, use the nested/overlapping tickets strategy,
      where one roundtrip ticket is bought from the destination's
      perspective, and you use the outgoing ticket of that ticket as
      your first trip's return and vice versa. This will save your
      company a lot of money, since both tickets magicly become Saturday
      night stay tickets.  An alternative is to buy two round trip
      tickets in the same manner, but with the return flights 30 days
      or so after your first trip. You'll use the outgoing portions of
      each ticket as before, but the return portions can be used for
      standby travel or may be changeable with a $35 change fee. If
      worse comes to worst and you can't use either of the returns,
      the cost of your flight will still be no more than a single
      midweek roundtrip.

   +  If you're visiting multiple cities, get your tickets as a circle
      trip instead of a series of round trips or one-way tickets. A
      circle trip has the savings benefits of supersaver fares, even
      if one of the segments isn't over a Saturday night.

   +  If you book two legs of a trip separately, you can avoid long
      delays in the airport by reducing the connection time. Since
      you're probably paying for one way tickets anyway, this probably
      won't affect the cost. Make sure you allow enough time, though,
      in case your flight is delayed and the other leg is at the other
      end of a big distributed airport. Note that on some airlines, if
      you miss a leg, you will not be able to pick up a later flight,
      even on standby. When you buy the tickets separately, the
      airline is no longer responsible if a late flight causes you to
      miss your connection. But if your ticket is refundable, you can
      cash it in and use it toward a later flight. (If your original
      ticket was a discount ticket, you'll have to pay the difference in
      fares between the two flights, if any. If your ticket was full
      fare, you won't.)

   +  Buy your tickets through an outfit like Price Club, which gives
      you a 5% rebate (which you pocket, of course).

   +  Since you paid cash for your (non-discount, refundable, changeable)
      tickets, most carriers will be glad to honor them (even if they
      are on another airline). So if you miss a flight, find the next
      flight to your destination on any carrier and talk to the gate
      agent there. Some airlines, however, will require the original
      airline to endorse the ticket over to them before they will
      accept it.

   +  If your flights are concentrated with one airline, get a copy of
      their flight schedules books. It will come in handy, especially
      when you miss flights.

Luggage and What to Carry:

   +  Wear comfortable clothes for the flight, if you can. If you wear
      a suit during the flight, it will get wrinkled, and you won't
      enjoy yourself. It would be better to travel wearing jeans and
      t-shirt, and then change at your hotel. (If you do decide to not
      wear a suit, be sure to include a suit in your carry-on luggage,
      just in case your bags get lost.) Also, wear comfortable shoes
      or sneakers -- you almost certainly will be doing a lot of walking
      in the airport. Hush Puppies or Rockports are good.

   +  Carry lots of business cards and keep them handy. You will meet
      a lot of people on airplanes.

   +  Carry lots of good reading material. It gives you something to
      do when you do get stuck in an airport (or in a plane that's
      37th in line for takeoff).

   +  Buy inexpensive but high quality luggage. Good looks won't last,
      since even expensive brand-name luggage will get scuffed after a
      few trips, and the more expensive luggage won't last any longer
      than the cheap luggage. Why pay a premium when you'll have to
      replace it anyway? 

      Be sure to get sturdy hard-sided luggage, with reinforced sides.
      Soft-sided luggage will get crushed or torn. Check the wheels, 
      since flimsy wheels will jam or get broken off. Handles should
      be securely attached to the bags, or removable, since handles
      that are left on the bags will be used by the baggage handlers
      to pull the bags, sometimes with several bags on top.

   +  Buy a luggage carrier or get luggage with built-in wheels. Make
      sure the wheels are sturdy enough to survive plane travel.

   +  Make sure your luggage is waterproof. If it's raining when you
      arrive, you luggage will probably sit outside in the rain for a
      few minutes. Wrap important items in plastic inside the luggage.

   +  Carry a portable electric shaver (if male), soap, and shampoo
      with you. Not every hotel provides these amenities.

   +  Bring your own travel alarm. Not every hotel provides rooms with
      an alarm clock, although most will give you a wake-up call upon request.

   +  Carry the most important items with you as carry-ons. If you can
      travel light (no checked luggage), do so. Don't check anything
      you can't afford to lose. Carry at least one suit with you onto
      the plane, even if you have others in your checked luggage. 
      Being forced to wear a t-shirt and jeans to a meeting can ruin
      even the best of presentations. The "two carry-on" rule is
      widely ignored -- you can often get away with three carry-on
      bags, especially if one is a garment bag. Carry a duffel bag in
      your luggage for expansion space on the return, if you happen to
      buy any souvenirs. 

   +  Pack half the clothes you think you need, and use the hotel's
      dry cleaners. 

   +  If you use a laptop with modem, include a long modular phone
      cable with you (25 feet) and a modular jack splitter. Both are
      available at your local Radio Shack or drug store. Also buy a 15
      foot extension cord for your power supply.

At the Airport:

   +  Check you bags with the valet, and go straight to the gate with
      your tickets. Standing in line all the time at the check-in
      counter will rub you the wrong way after the nth time. Try to
      spend as little time as possible in lines at airports. Do not
      pick your flights at the airport ticket line; call the 800
      number instead. This effectively puts you ahead of everybody in line.
      If you like to tip skycaps, a buck a bag is the going rate.

At the Hotel:

   +  Be nice to hotel and airline staff, and they'll be nice back.
      Use the hotel's concierge when you need something. They can help
      you find almost anything, from tickets to a concert, to rental
      car discounts, to aspirin, to restaurant recommendations, to
      good directions to your meeting site. Be sure to tip well.
      Advice and help from the concierge is free, but if they do a special
      service for you, a tip is expected. On airplanes, wait until the
      plane is in the air before you ask the flight attendants for
      anything, since boarding is the busiest time for them. 

   +  Ask for a room facing away from the highway and away from the
      elevator and ice machine, if you want to avoid noise.

Expenses:

   +  Take a modest amount of cash with you. Not everybody takes
      plastic, and you never know when you'll have trouble finding an ATM.

   +  Keep receipts, and log them on your expense report every day. If
      you don't record expenses right away, you'll forget them. Put
      the receipts in a separate envelope for each day and label it.
      Write notes on the receipts about the expenses, if it isn't clear from
      the receipt itself. When the taxi driver offers you a few
      extras, take them. You'll probably lose some of your receipts,
      and having a stash of blank ones can help you make up the loss.
      Complete your expense report before you return to work, and turn
      it in right away. That'll get you your reimbursement much sooner.

Miscellaneous:

   +  Get maps and use them to figure out where the meetings are and
      where the closest hotel is.

   +  The food you eat on the road may not be as healthy as the food
      you normally eat. For example, many airline meals involve meat
      with high fat, calorie, and cholesterol content. You'll need to
      be careful to balance your diet, or your health will suffer.
      Bring your own food with you for the flight; it's healthier and
      more pleasant. 

   +  Arrange for your company to provide a service for remote dialin,
      so that you can call up and read your email. Either get your
      mail via one of the national commercial services (Prodigy,
      Compuserve, Delphi, etc.) or have them subscribe to an outfit
      like Sprintnet or Telenet which lets you dialup using local
      numbers in many locations around the world.

   +  In the US, tips are usually 15% of the bill (in states with 5%
      sales tax, just triple the tax). But check the bill to make sure
      that a service charge isn't already included, especially in
      high-end restaurants. In foreign countries the maitre d' should
      also be tipped if he/she provided some special services. In
      China, Iceland, and Tahiti, and a few other countries, do not
      tip -- it's an insult. Ask your travel agent about tipping
      customs in the country of your destination.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: [3-9b] Best Seats

   Seat assignment on most airlines starts 3 weeks in advance of the
flight (some are 30 days). No seat assignments on Southwest and
shuttle flights. Northwest allows advance seat selection 30 days prior
to the flight. Continental and Delta allow seat selection 60 days
prior to the date of the flight.

  After midnight is the best time to get the seat assignments you
prefer, since unpaid reservations are often cancelled just after midnight.

   The safest seats in a plane are often over the wings in the exit
row (extra reinforcement). Exit row seats also provide more leg room.
But you must be physically capable of operating the emergency exit
(e.g., capable of lifting 40 to 50 pounds) and read/speak English
fluently. Children under age 15 and blind/disabled passengers cannot
sit in an exit row.  However, you can't reserve these seats, as the
airline personnel want to see the people they assign to these rows to
verify that they are physically able to open the emergency exit should
the occasion arise.  If you want a seat in the exit row, get to the
airport early on the day of the flight, and request an exit row seat.
Note that some of the exit row seats on some aircraft (e.g., MD-80 row
21 window seats) do not recline.

Aisle seats are better than window seats because:
   1.  You can get up and move around without having to climb over
       other people. On long flights you can get up for a stroll or to
       go to the bathroom without much of a bother.
   2.  There is more legroom (window seats aren't as wide, because
       they must fit into the curve of the plane).
   3.  You'll get off the plane faster, and have easy access to the
       overhead compartments.
   4.  You'll get a better view of the movie. (Depends on the
       aircraft, of course.)
   5.  You can chat with the flight attendants.
Window seats are better than aisle seats because:
   1.  You have a view, when it isn't cloudy. But the view may be
       limited to takeoff and landing, depending on the weather.
   2.  You've got something to lean against to sleep.
   3.  People don't elbow you, swing handbags/coats into your face, or
       spill drinks on you, like they do in aisle seats.
   4.  Other people don't have to climb over you.
Few people like middle seats because they have none of the benefits of
the window and aisle seats, and you get squooshed by passengers on
both sides (no elbow room).

Seats near the center and rear tend to have the greatest engine noise.
Seats near the rear are also the most sensitive to turbulence.  If you
don't like the noise and a bumpy ride, try to get seats as far forward
as possible.  On international flights, the seats closest to the
galleys are usually the quietest (except at meal times) because there
is no middle row.

If you're going to watch the movie, get a seat 4-5 rows away from the
screen, to avoid getting a neck cramp.

If you're lucky enough to have a row of seats to yourself, the
armrests on many planes swing up, giving you room to sleep.  It's also
handy to swing them up while getting into and out of the seats, if
you're not in the aisle seat.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: [3-10] Exchanging Currency

There are two factors involved in exchanging currency abroad, the
exchange rate and the commission fee. Don't rely solely on the
exchange rate, but factor in the commision as well. Commission fees
can vary significantly. So look for the best combination of exchange
rate and fee.

Since changing exchange rates can affect the value of your money,
you'll want to be cautious about the currency you carry. When the
dollar is strong, you'll want to carry dollars; when the dollar is
weak, you'll want to carry either the currency of the country you are
visiting, or a strong currency, such as Swiss francs.  When the dollar
is in flux, you'll want to carry both, and spend dollars when the
dollar is rising and foreign currency when the dollar is dropping.
When the dollar is dropping, try to pay for as many expenses as
possible in advance.

When the dollar is dropping, be careful with using credit cards. If
there is a delay in posting the transaction to your account, you'll
get a less favorable exchange rate. On the other hand, the exchange
rate used by the credit card companies is often better than that for
cash or traveler's checks. If you need extra cash, the exchange rate
used by ATMs is the preferential commercial/wholesale rate. [Although
true in most countries, it is not necessarily the case in Japan, where
the government sets the exchange rate.] Even with the interest charges
and/or transaction fee, getting a cash advance on your credit card or
bank card can sometimes be the cheapest (and most convenient) option,

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