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What credit cards
do I need to take with me?
Why should I contact my credit card
companies before I leave?
How can my credit card company help
prepare me for my trip?
Should I use my credit card when I travel?
Should I use my ATM card while traveling?
How can I make sure I'll be able to
use my ATM card while traveling?
Where can I get quick access to cash
while I'm traveling?
What should I know about using travelers
checks?
How can I protect my travelers checks
while traveling?
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What credit cards do I need
to take with me?
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Take your major credit cards, such as, Visa,
Master Card and American Express.
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Make sure they are really credit cards and
not just debit cards with a credit card company's logo on them.
Many locations require a credit card and will not accept a debit
card, so they may have limited use on your travel.
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Leave all your local store credit cards
in a secure location at home; there will be no need to carry
them with you.
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Why should I contact my credit
card companies before I leave?
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You want to notify them of your trip. They
may delay you if they are unaware you are traveling. The unfamiliar
spending patterns might cause them to suspect that the card
is being used fraudulently and delay your approvals.
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They will be able to explain many of the
services that they can provide while you are on your trip.
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How can my credit card company
help prepare me for my trip?
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You can arrange to pay bills that will come
due while you are gone.
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They will be aware that you will be making
charges from another country.
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They will be able to give you an idea of
how acceptable their credit card is in that particular country.
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They can verify acceptance at certain foreign
locations.
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They'll be able to see if your PIN number
will work in the countries you are visiting. They can also issue
you another PIN number if your current PIN is unacceptable to
the foreign bank's system.
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They can explain cash advance, ATM, foreign
purchase and foreign exchange rate policies and fees.
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They can explain any services they offer,
such as, extra insurance for your rental car, luggage or purchases.
Make sure the coverage offered extends outside the United States
and will be valid in all the countries where you'll be traveling.
Also, be sure to note any other exceptions.
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They may need to give you another phone
number to call in case you need to reach them. The 800 number
listed on the back of your card may not work from foreign locations.
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You can find out if they charge a currency
conversion fee, so you can find the most economical card on
which to place your foreign purchases.
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Should I use my credit card
when I travel?
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Yes, using your credit card can be more
valuable than using cash, so use it when you can.
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You'll probably be able to get a better
exchange rate than changing money to spend yourself.
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You'll be in a stronger position; the credit
card company can often charge back disputed charges.
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Many times your credit card will offer an
extra guarantee or warranty when you purchase items with your
card, but you'll want to read the fine print for exceptions.
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You won't have to risk your safety by carrying
and displaying large amounts of cash.
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If you lose your card, most credit cards
have a low maximum liability limit if you quickly report the
card as lost.
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Should I use my ATM card while
traveling?
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Yes, you'll have access to cash during your
trip so you won't have to take as much cash with you and using
your ATM card can also be a good way to get cash in foreign
countries.
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The ATM will issue money in local currency.
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You should exchange at the bank's wholesale
exchange rate. You may still want to shop around to different
banks since some will charge a high usage fee for their ATMs.
Although, even high ATM fees may be less than others will charge
for currency exchanges.
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Don't wait until you're out of money to
go to an ATM, the machines can run out of money or break down.
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How can I make sure I'll be
able to use my ATM card while traveling?
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Call your bank to make sure your PIN number
will work in foreign countries.
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Find out your daily limits and plan ahead.
You may need to take out money little by little or ask to have
your daily limit increased.
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Use your ATM card before you go, to make
sure it is still good.
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If you go through many airport security
checks, remember that the security scans can demagnetize your
cards. You might want to ask for a visual inspection.
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Don't wait until you’re out of money to
go to an ATM, the machines can run out of money or break down.
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Where can I get quick access
to cash while I'm traveling?
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www.visa.com/pd/atm/main.html
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Visa's ATM locator web page. This site provides
a searchable database that locates ATM's belonging to the Visa,
Visa Electron and Plus ATM network worldwide.
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www.mastercard.com/atm/
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What should I know about using
travelers checks?
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If the particular brand of travelers checks
are accepted in the country you'll be visiting.
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How widely they are accepted within the
countries you'll be visiting.
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Any fees for purchasing and using the travelers
checks.
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The travelers check company's loss, replacement
and refund policies.
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How can I protect my travelers
checks while traveling?
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Take the same precautions you would to protect
your cash. Be sure to learn and follow the procedures required
if you lose your travelers checks. You'll also need to
make copies of your travelers checks before you go and keep
separate from them the following information.
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The serial numbers of the travelers checks.
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The denomination of the travelers checks.
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The date and location of their purchase.
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The phone number to call to report them
missing.
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Section: SHOPPING ABROAD
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