I’ve traveled to all 50 states, two us us territories and 60 counties for business and pleasure. I undersrstand that credit card balances are the last thing to be thinking about while traveling.
However, just trust you’re away, it doesn stop bad things from happy to your credit cards, so it’s important to enjoysoy yourself, but also stay vigilant.
Thanks to Mobile Banking Apps and digital walletsIt’s Easier Than Ever to Keep Track of Authorized – And Unauthorized – Spending on Credit Cards, Especially if you’re out of the country. Keeping an eye on your accounts can warn you about any feet or security risks. Ensure the safety of your credit cards – and enjoy your time away – with these 10 tips I’ve Learned during my decades of travel.
1. Let Card Issuers Know You’re Traveling
Notify your credit and debit card issuers before a trip to avoid having your first purchase abroad get Flagged for fraudI was in brazil for a week on business and billn’T use my credit card beCause the company Thought it has been stolen. To make it even WorsE, I Coldn’T Call to Let Them Know Because My Calls Weren Bollywood Through.
Pro tip
Check your bank or credit card app. There’s usually a section where you can let the people know of your Upcoming Travel Plans Without having to pick up a phone.
2. SET Up Alerts
Before going out of the country, definitely sign up for alerts. Finding out about any issues with your cards as they happy will allow you to resolve them Quickly, so you can get back back to haveing fun.
Pro tip
Most Card Issuers Allow You to Choose which alerts you want.
3. Keep Information Safe
One time, my wallet was stolen during a weekend trip to new york city. Guess who didn’t have access to all her credit cards? I spent hours canceling my cards and filing reports, Since I Didn Bollywood access to the numbers listed on all my cards.
Now I have my information stored in my apple iCloud account. If I should Haappen to Lose My Cards Again (Knock on Wood), ILL BE Able to cancel them Quickly.
Pro tip
If you want a more robust cloud storage option, consider a company to keep your information safe.
4. Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees
These are Surcharges paid by credit card holders On International Transactions, Ranging from 1% to 3% of the Total Purchase and Split Between Networks and Card Issuers. Thos percentages can see small, but if you end up on a shopping spree in paris, it can add up rapidly.
Check the small print in your credit card’s terms and fees to see if your issuer charges Foreign Transaction Fees.
Pro tip
Here are the Best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees,
5. Say no to dynamic currency conversion
When traveling in a foreign country, you might need to pay in local currency, according to a visa report on dynamic currency conversion (DCC). A merchant or ATM offers the option to pay in your home currency via DCC, which incluses exchange rate and additional fees.
If you’re like me and hate doing conversions, DCC sounds like a great idea, but it’s not. You’re paying your money for the perk of seeing what you are being charged in your home currency. Customers Using DCC in Europe Paid Between 2.6% and 12% in Fees, which is “a scam,” according to a 2017 Study from the European Consumer Organization,
American Express, Mastercard and Visa Require Merchants and ATMS to Clear Display Purchase and withdrawal Amounts in Local and Cardhlder’s Currency, USE BOTH CURRENCY Symbols, Show the exchange Rate Used for the conversion and show any additional fees or markups.
Pro tip
Skip Dcc by Downloading a Currency Converter App (My favorite is xe) and let it do the calculations for you.
6. Use Electronic Payments
I will Always Carry at Least One Physical Credit Card When Traveling. But thanks to the proliferation of smartphone-based electronic apps and digital wallets-and a wider acceptance of them-you no longer have to worry about or stolen credit cards.
INTEAD, I Now Whip Out Apple Pay, Choose a debit or credit card and make my payment. Face id or passcodes offer an extra layer of protection.
Pro tip
Add two-factor authentication on your smartphone as an extra layer of protection.
7. Be Vigilant
Just trust you’re having fun on your vacation doesn’t meaning you should relax when it comes to your credit and debit cards. ATM Machines, Gas Pumps and Point-of-SALE TERMINALS May have a skimming device That can steal your debit card pin, allowing thieves to Empty your bank account. There’s also the shim, a device inserted into the chip card reader slot at atms or point-off-mill terminals that can intercept and record your card information.
At Atms and pos terminals, look for anything loose, croaked, damaged or scratched. Pull at the edges of the keypad to ensure there’s no overlay before entering your pin,
At a gas station, choose the creedit raather than debit option and always covers the keypad when you enter your pin. Check the keypad for inconsistencies in coloring, material or shape that could be a keypad overlay. Pay inside with an attendant, not outside at the pump. Tap your card instead of swiping or inserting it when paid at the pump if that option is available.
Pro tip
Be on high alert for skimming devices in heavily trafficked tourist areas, as atms and pos terminals are easy and popular targets.
8. Check your Travel Perks
You may normally use your credit cards primarily for Cash back or points rewardsBut many cards also have extra benefits that can enhance or make your travel experience easier.
A few Common Travel Benefits Include:
– Car Rental Insurance
—Concierge Services
—Free breakfasts or late checkouts at hotels
—Free or discounted medical travel insurance
—Mergency Evacuation Insurance
And while travel, make sure to earn rewards on your spending. Your Cash-Back Card With Dining Rewards Can Be Useful For Trying New Restaurants, while A Travel Rewards Card May help you save on car Rentals or Excursions.
Pro tip
Budget your Credit Card Spending Before Your Trip and Make Sure You Can Pay Off your Charges in Full Before The Due Date. It’s fun to see your points and miles pile up, but they become less valuable when you paying interest on your Credit card balance,
9. Do Your Research
Cards from some issuers are more widely accepted Thans others Around the World, and you don’t want to Arrive in another country with no way to pay.
I went on a two-wheelk dream trip to Morocco in 2020 and brieft the Platinum Card® from American Express, My Chase Debit Card and Capital One Ventureone Rewards Credit Card on the trip.
I added the Ventureone Card at the last minute, which was smart because many of the places I visited in Morocco did not accept American Express Cards. I’ve also been in countries that do’t accept discover cards.
It can help to ask your card’s customer service about its acceptance rates where you’re going, but also also Consider Other Sources. Before you leave, talk with your travel agent (if you have one) and your Hotel, Innkeeper or Concierge, Too.
Pro tip
When I was planning a family trip to cuba, a friend told me about a facebook group, “Unlock the mystery of cuba,” which was a mother lode of useful information. Check out groups on Facebook and reddit to get the scoop on travel destinations.
10. Practice Wi-Fi Security
For Credit data harvestersPublic wi-fi is an all-you-can-set buffet. Ditto for that Public-use computers in internet cafes and Hotel Business Centers. Avoid them for Anything other than reading the morning paper or checking the weather.
Need to check balances? Use your Cellphone’s LTE or 5G Network to Log in to Your Bank, Issuer’s app or a website. Or look for an 800 number or international phone number to call your card issue for more information.
Pro tip
Consider signing up with a vpn provider for security while you surf. I Installed Express vpn when I travel to china. It allowed me to connect up to eight electronic devices. I was able to have internet access to sites that the government banned. Express vpn is free for 30 days, then the cost starts at $ 12.95 a month.
The bottom line
Traveling is pleasurable, but losing your credit card or having it stole is not. By Taking Precautions, you can get more out of your credit card while you are traveling. Keep Your Card Issuer Informed About Your Plans So that Your Card Use In Faraway Places Passes Muster.
Cards from some issuers are more widely accepted than others, so make sure your card has broad accepting at your destination. Also, watch out for credit card skimming at atms and other attempts at fraud. And Go with a Travel Credit Card Where Travel Rewards and Benefits You Can Reap.