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We are close to the third decade of the new millennium, and the days relying solely on cash when travelling are long gone. These days, the same credit card you have in your pocket and use on a daily basis will work for you abroad.
Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash
However, there are certain things you still need to be aware of.
You need to understand that credit card processing for small business is complicated in America, let alone in some European and Asian countries. Although almost all US credit cards have an international presence, some merchants won’t accept any card that comes out of a tourist’s pocket. MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted credit cards in the world, and if an establishment takes cards, chances are, that these two will work.
A credit card like SoFi, for example, is a Mastercard that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, so you don’t have to worry about any extra costs whilst you are away. It’s so important that you choose the most suitable credit card for use abroad that does everything you need it to do.
Carrying more than one credit card is a good idea, however, if become unusable or get compromised, you need to have some cash stashed for backup. In addition, it would be a good idea to have some local currency on you to keep the trip moving in case of an emergency. Keep the cash – along with your passport – separated from your credit cards. So if your wallet gets stolen, you’ll be able to take care of yourself.
If suddenly your credit account shows purchases hundreds or even thousands of miles from your home, the bank might decline to see them as suspicious and decline them. If you want to avoid any confusion with your credit card issuer, you should let them know about your upcoming trip a few days in advance. By doing this, you won’t have to worry about the issuer freezing your account on accident.
Chances are, your card has an EMV chip, however, you still have to verify all of your transactions with a signature. On the other side of the pond, Chip-and-PIN credit cards are far more common. These cards require you to enter a numeric code to verify your identity. You should see if your credit card issuer offers this way of verification, or at least keep this in mind when planning your trip.
What is dynamic currency conversion you might ask? In short, this allows people to have transactions conducted in dollars rather than in local currency. The system is there to give you a better idea of what the trip is costing you. While this may seem convenient at first, you have to know that dynamic conversion rates are usually much worse than what your credit card company uses. So you should take a pass on the dynamic currency conversion.
While most popular tourist destinations, such as Tokyo, Paris, and London, are set up to handle credit card purchases, you should keep in mind that there are places like Havana where your credit card won’t get you far. Before you set off, you need to make sure that you’ll be able to use a credit card for your day-to-day expenses.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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