Some technical notes

 This will be of interest to some of my friends.

Thanks to hiking friend Brian I have used WISE most of the time. This “bank” enables one to transfer between currencies for low rates, to avoid the 2.5% most credit card companies charge for out of country use, to create separate currency accounts - $CDN, $USD and GBP (plus many others), provides a card that can be loaded onto Apple Pay, and enables one to pay with a tap from an Apple Watch.

It has been important to have good WiFi which was so at the YMCA in New York. You can also get good WiFi at Starbucks and other places.

I have managed without use of cell phone for voice calls or data. I think if I did this again I would try and figure out how to get an economic plan. If you get a SIM card you have a new number which means that it replaces ones regular home cell phone number. With an active phone number and data one can for example call Uber and even check the internet, if you wanted to, at all times.

I still use the smart phone for accessing WiFi when needed. 

Riding the Subway in New York took a little getting used to. I initially got a Metro card but then found that  at all Subway stations you can just tap ones smart phone or Apple Watch to pay the $2.75 fare. I was pleased to be able to use the WISE card this way on the Subway.