It’s vacation season and many of us are thinking about going abroad. But, while visiting another country might be fun, the stress that comes with it can be a real pain. And most of this stress comes from your finances.
What if you lose your credit cards or if they’re stolen? What if you don’t have enough money? And what if you can’t use your cards? These are all questions that you should ignore. It’s true, you can lose your credit card. But you can also lose your passport, and this might just be worse than losing your card. What are you going to do now? Are you going to give up on your vacation? You better not!
Bad things sometimes happen. But this doesn’t mean that you should leave your life in fear. Instead of worrying, it’s better to be prepared. If you’re thinking about traveling to another country, here’s what you should bring with you:
1. A debit card
Take with you a debit card that’s linked to your checking account. But don’t forget to let your bank know that you are visiting another country. Otherwise, they might think that your card has been stolen. Just make sure that you have enough money in your account and you won’t have to worry about a thing.
2. At least a credit card that doesn’t charge a fee for foreign transactions
MasterCard and Visa are good. If you take two or three cards with you, you’ll be able to purchase anything you want without the fear of credit card debt. Many reward credit cards have no foreign transaction fees so check with your credit card company to see if they have something that suits your needs.
3. Cash
You do need some cold, hard cash. Don’t rely just on plastic. This is a mistake that can really cost you. A few hundred dollars and some money in the currency of the country you’re visiting can help you a lot.
4. Bank contact information
Remember to store your bank contact information in your phone, or write it down on a piece of paper. If something happens and your cards get stolen, you can call them as soon as possible and ask them to freeze everything. This way, you’ll be protected.
5. Consider getting a money belt
Thieves always target tourists. Using a money belt can make it more difficult for them to steal your money or your credit cards out of your pockets.
If you have a system that works, then use that. You don’t need to change anything. However, if you want to be extra safe, consider these travel tips.
