{"id":3036,"date":"2025-09-30T15:52:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T15:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/2025\/09\/30\/10-tips-for-using-credit-cards-while-traveling-bankrate\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T15:52:02","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T15:52:02","slug":"10-tips-for-using-credit-cards-while-traveling-bankrate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/2025\/09\/30\/10-tips-for-using-credit-cards-while-traveling-bankrate\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Tips For Using Credit Cards While Traveling | Bankrate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Key takeaways<\/span> <\/span> <\/h2>\n
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  • Inform your card issuer before your trip, so your card spending won\u2019t be flagged as suspicious. <\/li>\n
  • Make sure to take more than one card with you and choose cards that offer travel rewards and benefits \u2014 and no foreign transaction fees. <\/li>\n
  • Stay alert, watch out for card skimming at ATMs and don\u2019t use unsecured public Wi-Fi that could compromise your sensitive information. <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n

    I\u2019ve traveled to all 50 states, two of the five U.S. territories and 60 countries for business and pleasure. I understand that credit card balances are the last thing you want to be thinking about while traveling.<\/p>\n

    However, just because you\u2019re away, it doesn\u2019t stop bad things from happening to your credit cards, so it\u2019s important to enjoy yourself, but also stay vigilant.<\/p>\n

    Thanks to mobile banking apps and digital wallets, it\u2019s easier than ever to keep track of authorized \u2013 and unauthorized \u2013 spending on credit cards, especially if you\u2019re out of the country. Keeping an eye on your accounts can warn you about any fees or security risks. Ensure the safety of your credit cards \u2013 and enjoy your time away \u2013 with these 10 tips I\u2019ve learned during my decades of travel.<\/p>\n

    1. Let card issuers know you\u2019re traveling<\/h2>\n

    Notify your credit and debit card issuers before a trip to avoid having your first purchase abroad get flagged for fraud. I was in Brazil for a week on business and couldn\u2019t use my credit card because the company thought it had been stolen. To make it even worse, I couldn\u2019t call to let them know because my calls weren\u2019t going through.<\/p>\n

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    Pro tip <\/p>\n

    Check your bank or credit card app. There\u2019s usually a section where you can let issuers know of your upcoming travel plans without having to pick up a phone.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    2. Set up alerts<\/h2>\n

    Before going out of the country, definitely sign up for alerts. Finding out about any issues with your cards as they happen will allow you to resolve them quickly, so you can get back to having fun.<\/p>\n

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    Pro tip <\/p>\n

    Most card issuers allow you to choose which alerts you want.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    3. Keep information safe<\/h2>\n

    One time, my wallet was stolen during a weekend trip to New York City. Guess who didn\u2019t have access to all her credit cards? I spent hours canceling my cards and filing reports, since I didn\u2019t have easy access to the numbers listed on all my cards.<\/p>\n

    Now I have my information stored in my Apple iCloud account. If I should happen to lose my cards again (knock on wood), I\u2019ll be able to cancel them quickly.<\/p>\n

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    Pro tip <\/p>\n

    If you want a more robust cloud storage option, consider paying a company to keep your information safe.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    4. Avoid foreign transaction fees\u00a0<\/h2>\n

    These are surcharges paid by credit card holders on international transactions, ranging from 1 to 3 percent of the total purchase and split between networks and card issuers. Those percentages can seem small, but if you end up on a shopping spree in Paris, it can add up rapidly.<\/p>\n

    Check the small print in your credit card\u2019s terms and fees to see if your issuer charges foreign transaction fees.<\/p>\n

    For example, here\u2019s how quickly a 2% foreign transaction fee can add up on typical travel purchases:<\/p>\n

    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Item <\/strong><\/th>\nCost<\/strong><\/th>\n2% foreign transaction fee<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    1 week at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile, family of four<\/td>\n$6,429.35<\/td>\n$128.58<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM tote bag<\/td>\n$2,030.00<\/td>\n$40.60<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Disneyland Paris tickets, family of 4<\/td>\n$468.62<\/td>\n$9.37<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Eiffel Tower guided tour, family of 4<\/td>\n$227.20<\/td>\n$4.54<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Meal, family of 4, Bouillon Pigalle<\/td>\n$102.80<\/td>\n$2.05<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

    5. Say no to dynamic currency conversion<\/h2>\n

    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 includes exchange rate and additional fees.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re like me and hate doing conversions, DCC sounds like a great idea, but it\u2019s not. You\u2019re paying your money for the perk of seeing what you\u2019re being charged in your home currency. Customers using DCC in Europe paid between 2.6% and 12% in fees, which is \u201ca scam,\u201d according to a 2017 study from the European Consumer Organization.<\/p>\n

    American Express, Mastercard and Visa require merchants and ATMs to clearly display purchase and withdrawal amounts in local and cardholder\u2019s currency, use both currency symbols, show the exchange rate used for the conversion and show any additional fees or markups.<\/p>\n

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    Pro tip <\/p>\n

    Skip DCC by downloading a currency converter app (my favorite is Xe) and let it do the calculations for you.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    6. Use electronic payments<\/h2>\n

    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 \u2013 and a wider acceptance of them \u2013 you no longer have to worry about lost or stolen credit cards.<\/p>\n

    Instead, 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.<\/p>\n

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    Pro tip <\/p>\n

    Add two-factor authentication on your smartphone as an extra layer of protection.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    7. Be vigilant<\/h2>\n

    Just because you\u2019re having fun on your vacation doesn\u2019t mean 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\u2019s also the shim, a device inserted into the chip card reader slot at ATMs or point-of-sale terminals that can intercept and record your card information.<\/p>\n

    At ATMs and POS terminals, look for anything loose, crooked, damaged or scratched. Pull at the edges of the keypad to ensure there\u2019s no overlay before entering your PIN,<\/p>\n

    At a gas station, choose the credit rather than debit option and always cover 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 paying at the pump if that option is available.<\/p>\n

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    Pro tip <\/p>\n

    Be on high alert for skimming devices in heavily trafficked tourist areas, as ATMs and POS terminals are easy and popular targets.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    8. Check your travel perks<\/h2>\n

    You may normally use your credit cards primarily for cash back or points rewards. But many cards also have extra benefits that can enhance or make your travel experience easier.<\/p>\n

    A few common travel benefits include:<\/p>\n

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    • Car rental insurance<\/li>\n
    • Concierge services<\/li>\n
    • Free breakfasts or late checkouts at hotels<\/li>\n
    • Free or discounted medical travel insurance<\/li>\n
    • Emergency evacuation insurance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      And while traveling, 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.<\/p>\n

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      Lightbulb Icon<\/title> <\/svg> <\/p>\n
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      Pro tip <\/p>\n

      Budget your credit card spending before your trip and make sure you can pay off your charges in full before the due date. It\u2019s fun to see your points and miles pile up, but they become less valuable when you\u2019re paying interest on your credit card balance.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

      9. Do your research<\/h2>\n

      Cards from some issuers are more widely accepted than others around the world, and you don\u2019t want to arrive in another country with no way to pay.<\/p>\n

      I went on a two-week dream trip to Morocco in 2020 and brought The Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/span>, my Chase debit card and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card<\/span> on the trip.<\/p>\n

      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\u2019ve also been in countries that don\u2019t accept Discover cards.<\/p>\n

      It can help to ask your card\u2019s customer service about its acceptance rates where you\u2019re going, but also consider other sources. Before you leave, talk with your travel agent (if you have one) and your hotel, innkeeper or concierge, too.<\/p>\n

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      Pro tip <\/p>\n

      When I was planning a family trip to Cuba, a friend told me about a Facebook group, \u201cUnlocking the Mystery of Cuba,\u201d which was a motherlode of useful information. Check out groups on Facebook and Reddit to get the scoop on travel destinations.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

      10. Practice Wi-Fi security<\/h2>\n

      For credit data harvesters, public Wi-Fi is an all-you-can-eat buffet. Ditto for those public-use computers in internet cafes and hotel business centers. Avoid them for anything other than reading the morning paper or checking the weather.<\/p>\n

      Need to check balances? Use your cellphone\u2019s LTE or 5G network to log in to your bank, issuer\u2019s app or a website. Or look for an 800 number or international phone number to call your card issuer for more information.<\/p>\n

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      Pro tip <\/p>\n

      Consider signing up with a VPN provider for security while you surf. I installed Express VPN when I traveled 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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

      The bottom line<\/h2>\n

      Traveling is pleasurable, but losing your credit card or having it stolen 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.<\/p>\n

      Cards from some issuers are more widely accepted than others, so make sure your card has broad acceptance at your destination. Also, watch out for credit card skimming at ATMs and other attempts at fraud. And go with a travel credit card whose travel rewards and benefits you can reap.<\/p>\n

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      Did you find this page helpful? <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

      Help us improve our content<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Key takeaways Inform your card issuer before your trip, so your card spending won\u2019t be flagged as suspicious. Make sure to take more than one card with you and choose cards that offer travel rewards and benefits \u2014 and no foreign transaction fees. Stay alert, watch out for card skimming at ATMs and don\u2019t use<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-latest-news"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","morenews-featured":"","morenews-large":"","morenews-medium":"","crawlomatic_preview_image":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"henry","author_link":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/author\/henry\/"},"category_info":"Latest News<\/a>","tag_info":"Latest News","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3036"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3036\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}