Travel_Prep

Preparation for the Grand Tour

A purse full of gold, like the Louis XVI coin on the left, provided the traveler with every comfort but the weight could become combersom and the danger inherent in traveling with a large horde of coin was serious.

Some travelers opened a line of credit with their bank. A paper note of legal tender weighted significantly less. So did travelers checks.

As banking institutions increased in stability and number in the 18th century the traveler could be assured that his access to funds would not be blocked.

To the poor artistocracy, the social pressure to embark upon a Grand Tour was so great that a trip to the money lenders was necessary.

One the tourist arrived at his destination he was confronted with the inconvenience of a staggering and confusing variety of money used on the continent.

"we meet so often with different sorts of money in Germany, that 'tis impossible to aviod losing by them. The best way is to make sufficient provision in HOlland of gold ducats and silver money of the empereor's coin, which are current everywhere without any abatement," writes Francois Mission in A New Voyage to Italy, with curious observagtions on serveral other countries.