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The summer travel season is here and it's expected to be the busiest one ever.
When traveling abroad, cash may not always be the best choice. Carrying a wallet full of money can put you at risk —if your wallet is lost or stolen, the chances of getting your money back are slim to none.
Using one of the best credit cards can be the safest and most cost-effective way to make purchases when traveling internationally. When I've traveled abroad, I've used a credit card exclusively. But whether you use a credit card or a debit card, plan ahead so you don't end up paying more than necessary and avoid the risk of fraud.
Here are four tips for using your credit or debit card when traveling abroad:
Letting the card issuer know when and where you will be traveling will reduce the chance of your transactions being flagged as unusual activity and being declined. Foreign transactions can even trigger your credit card company to suspend your account due to the risk of fraud.
Having your account suspended and your credit card restricted can be a real hassle when you are out of the country — this happened to a friend of mine while we were in Paris. It wasn't just the frantic call to the credit card issuer and verification process that caused extreme anxiety, but also the thought of maybe being stranded internationally with no access to funds.
When traveling abroad, many people put everything on one credit card. It might be the designated travel credit card, which you use to book the flight, the hotel, rental car, everything. Now imagine if that credit card is suspended for suspected fraud while you are traveling. This brings me to my next point…
When traveling internationally, it's important to be prepared for anything that may happen. Instead of relying on one credit card, think about taking multiple cards on the trip. That way, if your bags get lost or stolen or your credit card is suspended, you'll have another to use for the remainder of your trip.
Also, each credit card can serve a specific purpose while traveling. With the right credit cards, you can get travel insurance and earn bonus rewards on purchases like dining and hotels.
Traveling internationally can be expensive enough when you add up the cost of the hotel stay, dining, and transportation. Now imagine having to pay an extra fee, often 3%, on top of all of those expenses just for using your credit card.
Many credit cards charge foreign transaction fees for purchases originating outside of the United States. But these fees can be avoided by using the right credit card. There are many credit cards with no foreign transaction fees — choosing one of them can make your trip less expensive by avoiding these unnecessary charges.
Withdrawing money from an ATM in a foreign country typically incurs a fee from both the local bank that owns the ATM and your bank at home. So taking the time to research when, where, and how you will be charged can save you a lot of money. Some debit card issuers don't charge fees for using foreign ATMs and a few may even reimburse those charges. Speak with a bank representative in advance to get help in reducing any fees that may be charged.
Make sure you know your local currency needs when planning your trip, and try to withdraw money from a foreign ATM in as few transactions as possible to reduce the service fees.
