Why bring travel credit cards instead of traveler's checks?
Convenience, safety and savings. The first time I had to
exchange $200 of travelers checks overseas, the bank charged me
$8. Later, during the same trip, I used my debit card at an ATM
to get $200 from my checking account. The charge was one dollar,
and that was the last time I used traveler's checks.
Travel Credit Cards And Debit Cards
It is best to carry a credit card AND a debit card, and keep
them well-hidden in two separate places. Bring cards that have
either zero liability, or a fifty dollar liability limit for any
unauthorized charges. Ask your bank or credit card company about
this. Make sure you bring a Visa card, as this seems to be the
most widely accepted right now.
Sometimes an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) won't take a card
for some reason. Normally, you can use the other card, which
will usually work fine. That's the advantage of having two
cards. By the way, criminals watch those ATMs, so be especially
careful not to flash your money around when you leave an ATM.
For most travel, credit cards may be less trouble than debit
cards. They can be replaced quickly if stolen. On your stolen
debit card, your liability might be zero, but you probably won't
have access to your account until the matter is sorted out.
On the other hand, on longer trips it's a hassle to pay the
credit card bill on time, which isn't a problem with debit
cards. That's another reason to carry both. On longer trips you
can wait until you're a few weeks from home to use the credit
card, and you'll get there before the bill does.
Another advantage travel credit and debit cards have over
traveler's checks, is that when you need the local currency,
you'll almost always get a better exchange rate with your cards.
Plus, the cash you get from the local ATM will truly be accepted
everywhere, something no traveler's checks can promise.
Be sure to call your credit card company or bank before you
travel overseas. They may decline your card when you try to use
it otherwise. Just let them know where you'll be and for
aproximately how long. E-mail yourself the phone numbers to call
in case of loss or theft, so you can get them from anywhere in
the world.
To sum up : Use cards with low liability, high enough limits for
your trip, and hide them well on your body. These are the
requirements for good travel credit cards.
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