Money Matters and International Vacationing
Some people just want to escape the frenzied pace of the holiday season with a vacation. Others are fortunate enough to have loved ones overseas they can stay with … like my cousin and his Swedish wife, who will be spending New Year’s in Berlin … no hard feelings.
Well, a new blog post has popped up by golf60655 (yes, it’s a mouthful) on tips for international travel. A friend of mine, who had never been outside the country, recently ran into this dilemma when planning for a honeymoon in the Caribbean. To take traveller’s checks or not? (Golf60655 says no.) This article will have all the answers to your international financial wonderings and then some. Below, a summary of some good credit card ideas when travelling internationally:
Pack extra credit cards in case one is not accepted.
Research your credit card company’s policy on international credit card transaction fees. There may be a small charge per transaction, or there may be none at all.
Pack the debit card but use it as credit to avoid bank fees for debit purchases.
Exchange currency in the banks, airports or hotels - not in storefronts, where exchange fees will be assessed.
Know your banker. Their name and number may come in handy in case of a cash flow emergency while out of the country, or if your identity is stolen. For that matter, write down all the customer service phone numbers from all your cards and keep the list in a safe place in your hotel room.
