There are some essential things that you should think about before traveling abroad. The problem is that most of us don’t think about them. Then we get overseas, and we get in trouble—with few resources to help.
Your credit card company needs to know if you’re leaving. Any time you go outside your established purchasing patterns or known locations, it could easily trigger a fraud alert. Your purchase could be denied. Worse yet, your card could be canceled.
Here’s a solution: call the company ahead of time and inform them that you’re leaving the country. You also need to let them know which locations you’ll be visiting. This applies to your ATM card.
Then there’s the issue of your cell phone. Do you want to call home? Unless you inquire about an effective and reasonably priced calling plan before you leave, you’re in store for a whopping bill when you return. It’s not just for your phone calls, but for any data you receive, including text messages and emails. You need to get a plan ahead of time.
Here’s the best part. You haven’t just saved money. You haven’t just saved time. You’ve eliminated unneeded stress. Now you can have a pretty good time.
For more tips about money, currency, and credit cards when you travel, check out:
- 5 Items That Should Be On Your Checklist for International Travel
- How to Avoid Credit Card Transaction Fees
- Countries Where the U.S. Dollar is Strong Right Now
By Peter Greenberg for PeterGreenberg.com
