Page 39 - The Stans of Central Asia: Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan

Plastic isn’t as commonly used in Central Asia as the U.S. or Europe. Depending on the
country, you’ll be able to use a card at hotels, some high-end restaurants, and shops that cater
to tourists, but not at small restaurants, street vendors/bazaars, or business that cater more to
locals. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in particular tend to be “cash only” (which is one of the
reasons why we recommend you bring a cash reserve in U.S. dollars on this trip).

The businesses that do accept cards will almost always charge a 5% fee for this service. So
although a credit card or two will be useful in some situations, you won’t be able to rely on
credit card alone, and you won’t get the best price if you pay by card.

Notify Card Providers

Many credit card companies and banks have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card
if they see suspicious charges—such as charges or withdrawals from another country. To avoid
an accidental security block, it is a good idea to notify your credit card company and/or bank
you will be using your cards abroad. You can do this by calling their customer service number
a week or two before your departure. Some banks or credit card companies will also let you do
this online.

You should also double-check what phone number you could call if you have a problem with a
card while you are abroad. Don’t assume you can use the 1-800 number printed on the back of
your card—most 1 800 numbers don’t work outside of the U.S.!

Tipping Guidelines
Of course, whether you tip, and how much, is always at your own discretion. Listed below are
our recommendations for the tips that are not included in your tour price:

O.A.T. Trip Leader: It is customary to express a personal “thank you” to your O.A.T. Trip
Leader at the end of your trip, especially if he or she has provided you with individual
service. As a guideline, many travelers give $7-$10 USD (or equivalent in local currency) per
person per day.

Housekeeping staff at hotels: $1-2 per room, per night

Waiters: Your Trip Leader will tip waiters for included meals. If you are dining on your own
remember that it is common to tip anywhere from 5%-10% in restaurants.

Taxi drivers: If you are taking a taxi by yourself, keep in mind that tipping is not common
practice, but many people simply let the driver keep the change by rounding up the fare to the
next whole number.
Please Note: Your tour price includes gratuities on the main trip and optional extensions for
WZNLW R`TOP^ O]TaP]^ NLX[ ^_Lʬ LYO W`RRLRP [Z]_P]^ _SL_ XLd L^^T^_ dZ` O`]TYR _SP ^NSPO`WPO
LN_TaT_TP^ ZY dZ`] LOaPY_`]P ,WW _T[^ L]P \`Z_PO TY @ > OZWWL]^& _T[^ NLY MP NZYaP]_PO LYO [LTO
in local currency or in U.S. dollars. Please do not use personal or traveler’s checks for tips.

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