Credit Card Tips for Travelers Abroad

Traveling in the U.S. is not a major issue for credit card holders.  Our economic system is such that standards are in place to make is thus.  However, when travelling abroad, you will find that there are anomalies in some locations that can make difficult or prevent the use of credit cards for payment on things like airline tickets and hotel rooms. So, before you leave on your trip, add these tips to your ‘to do’ list in order to make your voyage a positive one financially.

Check your credit limit, balance and expiration date.  These are three items that you do not want to leave without doing because they can determine whether or not you have the money to fund your trip.  The expiration date you can check on your card and the other two items can be found on your monthly statement.  If your balance is close to your credit limit, you should either pay it down, or choose another card.

Contact your credit card issuer.  Let them know where you will be traveling and find out about foreign currency issues, PIN number restrictions, etc.  Some countries financial institutions do not allow PIN numbers over four digits, so you might have to change your PIN number before you leave.  You can perform that via several methods: some banks allow you to change your PIN on their website; others restrict changing your pin via phone or at an ATM location.

Make copies of the front and back of the card and leave at home.  It is a good idea to leave copies of your credit cards in a safe place at home before you leave.  This way, a family member can have access to the numbers and information in case something happens while you are gone.

Take two different cards, and keep them separate.  It is a good idea not to take any more credit cards than is absolutely necessary.  And the requirement is actually in taking more than one, but not more than two cards.  This only works if you keep them completely separate from each other.  That way, if one becomes stolen, you will have a back-up.  Even though most banks provide for lost credit card services even overseas, it is still better to have a back-up on hand.

Change your PIN and card number when you arrive back in the States.  Just to be on the safe side, when you return to the U.S. change the PIN on your card immediately and then request a new card from your credit card company.  While this might seem petty and unnecessary, you might discover the wisdom in this suggestion if your card number is stolen overseas after you have returned home and becomes used in fraudulent transactions. Just keep in mind that it is much easier to prevent a problem than it is to recover from the effects of fraud and abuse because of the headache involved in taking the steps to correct your account, etc.

Keep your wits about you as you travel abroad.  You are a stranger in a strange location and there are those who prey on travelers in order to steal money and possessions.  The sure way to ruin a trip abroad is to become a victim, so protect your belongings as much as you can.

Be extra security conscious.  Not only should you protect your personal effects, but your credit cards, too.  Do not keep them out in the open.  Use them only at the time needed, and then secure them from prying eyes and ears.
Using these tips you should be able to ward off any bad experiences.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 at 9:10 pm and is filed under Choosing a Credit Card, Credit Card Advice, Credit Card Use. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.