OT - I'm doing a worldwide tour for about 18 months or so, I need help Options

[seanery]

Hey, well the gig I was supposed to get in December has rolled into a Worldwide Tour. I go to York, England in May for 6 weeks of rehearsal and tech and then off on a tour of Europe & Russia then Japan in mid 2010.

It doesn't look like I'll be home before May 2010 while the gear is on a boat to Japan.

I've never really been anywhere outside of the US. When I lived in La La land Sherry and my brother took to me to TJ a couple times, but that doesn't really count.

I need recommendations on power adapters, cell phone, etc...I currently use AT&T with the iPhone - it looks like it's supposed to work international, but I'm not sure if it's the most cost effective.

Also, any experiences with monies, etc...

Thanks!

[HCRDAN]

Good advice above. My two cents:

understand the difference between a power converter and a plug converter. Plug converter allows you to take a US format plug to a different format plug. It does not convert current from 110/115 to 220v or vice versa. You can get these from most electronic stores for anywhere between $8 to $20.

A power converter will convert the international 220v to 110/115v for your US appliance that are not already dual power. (read the tiny print on your power adapters for camera, laptop, shaver, etc...).

Walk into your nearest Radio Shack and ask them for both. Fork up 30 to 40bucks and you're done.

In terms of copies of passports and other documents, good advice provided, but here is my trick.

Set up an email account on Gmail, Hotmail, yahoo, etc.. and scan copies of your passport, credit cards (front and back), and all other documents that you'll be traveling with. Then if you are somewhere and need to have access due to theft or loss, just go to an internet cafe and open your email account, prin the necessary documents on the spot. If you dont own a color scanner, go to your local kinkos. Another option (not my preference) is to also carry a thumb drive with encrypted copies on it, but be careful about not having that lost or stolen.

Common sense about your personal safety. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. The US is very lenient compared to any other country. Drugs, well, it depends... Use common sense if you're into that type of thing.

Credit cards... Call your bank in advance and let them know which countries you will be and date ranges so they wont reject your charges as "out of the ordinary". Understand that you will be paying an international service charge for every transaction in a foreign country. That can add up to 5% to everything you charge.

How exciting... Have fun...