How to Avoid Credit Card Problems Abroad
The majority of the credit card problems that you might encounter in a foreign land are due to the lack of preparation before the journey. Here are a few things that you should do to avoid credit card problems:
Inform Your Bank
The frequency of the financial transactions done abroad might make your bank suspect a fraud. There are 2 reasons for the suspicion.
* The transactions are not confined to your city.
* The frequency of your credit usage is abnormal.
So, if you inform your bank, they will probably make a note of your travel, and this may help them understand that the unnatural usage of credit card is due to your traveling. If you have cards from multiple financial institutions, do inform all of them, else you might have to face automatic deactivation.
Check the Limit
Most of you might have heard of instances where tourists were arrested, as their transactions exceeded the credit card limit, in majority of these cases, the tourist did not know that he had exceeded the limit. To avoid such a blunder, make sure you inquire about your credit card limits, and do make a note of it.
Credit Card Information
Note down all the important credit card information (account number, contact information, etc.), and keep them securely with you. Credit card thefts are very common while traveling, and this information will help deactivate your credit card in such circumstances.
Get an EMV card
Most of the countries abroad do not accept cards with magnetic strip technology (common in the U.S.), they cater to the use of EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa) cards, which have an embedded microprocessor chip. So, ask for a microprocessor chip card from your bank. These cards are also called “chip and PIN” cards.
Carry Multiple Cards
If you are not successful in getting an EMV card, then I advise you to carry multiple cards. At least one of them might work at a receptacle outside your country. Having multiple cards will also prove beneficial if one of your cards is lost.
Check Your PIN
If your PIN (Personal Identification Number) is 6 digit, then you might face problem abroad. Generally, the ATM’s there are programmed to accept a 4 digit PIN, so it will not respond to your 6 digit PIN. Thus, take the necessary measures by contacting your bank.
Separate Credit Cards
If you are traveling with your partner, each of you should have a separate credit card. You will experience the advantage of having a separate credit card, when either one of you loses his/her credit card. If you lose one of your credit cards, you can use the other credit card to meet your needs, till you get the lost card replaced.
In addition to the above, you can purchase a Travelex chip and PIN passport to avoid hassles, but remember that it may be comparatively expensive than using your regular credit cards (because of high conversion fees). If you find that your credit card is not working at a store, and if you have multiple cards, then ask the cashier to try all the cards, if you are lucky, one of them might work! A good research about the methods of financial transactions of the country you are traveling to, will keep most of the credit card problems at bay.
You can book tickets (bus, train, etc.) online, this will help you avoid credit card problems at kiosks. I advise you to take care of your luggage, and refrain from using public computers for financial transactions, as cases of identity thefts are on the rise, and do report a credit card fraud immediately. If you take precautions, you will have a great experience abroad. Happy journey!
Tips to Stay Safe while Traveling Abroad
What to Do Before Leaving?
Safety begins at the time of packing for your trip. You should be very careful while selecting your stuff otherwise you might end up facing unwanted situations. Here are a few suggestions as to what and how much to carry, what to wear, etc., when you are on your foreign trip.
Money
* Never carry more cash than required. Try to make maximum use of your credit and debit cards.
* Men should keep cash as well as cards in their front pockets whereas women can use a hand bag tucked under the arm so that no one can reach it without their notice. Use different places to keep the cards to avoid credit card problems such as losing them all at once.
* When you reach the hotel put your credit/ debit cards in the main safe of the hotel or in your personal locker in the room.
Jewelry
* Do not become a target for thieves by wearing attention seeking jewelry. Keep all gold and other precious jewelry at home and wear something light and artificial.
* If you have to carry expensive jewelry as you will be attending a wedding, keep it in hidden corners of your travel bags.
Dressing
* You might wonder, how can dressing up help you stay safe while traveling. But trust me, it makes a lot of difference.
* If your plane is hi-jacked, you should go unnoticed among all people and this can happen only when you are dressed in casual wear and dull colors. Slacks and T-shirts will help you move easily in an emergency.
Prescriptions and Documents
* If you are on medication while traveling abroad, carry all prescriptions and doctor’s letter with you.
* Ask your doctor to mention the names of drugs (if any) and their need in your treatment, so there won’t be any issue with the flight attendant.
* Share your itinerary with your family members and friends i.e., keep photocopies of your passport, visa and other important documents with your relatives or close friends. They should have all information in case of an emergency.
* Keep in touch with them regularly through phone, messages or e-mail, if you are traveling alone.
Know the Local Laws and Customs
* You should have sufficient information about the place you are planning to visit, like its laws and customs. If you are not fully aware of these things you might unnecessarily get into trouble.
* To avoid unwanted attention, dress like a local. Tourists always stand out from the local populace and thieves take advantage of this.
Tips to Follow When You Reach the Destination
* When you are in your hotel room, investigate it for anything unusual. If you locate any such thing, bring it to the notice of the management.
* Plan your schedule and when you have decided the places of your visit, seek help from the hotel staff in finding the exact address of the place to reach there without any difficulty and complications.
* Let your hotel management arrange for your transport to the desired place because if you plan to go by a taxi or any other local transport and if it is not licensed, you might face problems.
* You should know where you are going. Take a look at the local map before leaving the hotel so you can reach your destination safely and in time.
These are the safe travel tips for you. Whenever you are planning an international trip make sure you take into consideration all the above suggested guidelines and have a safe traveling experience.
Choosing the Right Travel Accessories
Once you are thorough with the detailing of the trip, list down the possible accessories you can pick up. Here are a few common but, essential accessories for a travel trip.
Travel Bags
A travel bag is the most important travel accessory as it offers you a convenient and safe storage place for certain essentials, accessories and precious belongings. It also offers you extra space to accommodate stuff that you buy at your destination. No single travel bag can be suitable for all types of trips. There are various types of bags suitable for different travel occasions.
* A Duffel bag is suitable for short trips where you can carry the duffel bag on your shoulders or carry it in your hands conveniently. Another noticeable feature of this bag is that wheels can be attached to it making it convenient for transportation.
* If you plan to go on a trek or camping, you should go for a Back pack. Once you put it on your back, you are ready to move along the tough path. These travel bags are rough and tough and are more durable. Mostly, the people who leave their house with a plan of staying out for a few weekends but, actually take months to return should opt for a back pack.
* A Rolling suitcase, a suitcase with wheels and often called a trolley bag in some parts of the world, is the best option for a holiday trip where you have a lot of things to be packed. These suitcases are also beneficial when you are on a vacation where you want to visit so many places but, do not have to carry your luggage all the time. In such a situation you can keep your luggage in the hotel room in large rolling suitcases and move around with ease carrying just the handbags. And, even if you have to carry your luggage from place to place you can just drag these suitcases conveniently. There are even rolling briefcases available for short trips and you should know how to choose a rolling briefcase or you might end up choosing the wrong one.
Gadgets and Plug Kits
These are fast becoming downright essential accessories for any travel because they make your trip, enjoyable, adventurous and you don’t even realize how time passes away.
* You can carry your digital camera which can capture both, still photos as well as videos.
* A laptop, though a bit heavy among the gadgets, is one of the best options while on a trip. You not only stay connected to your loved ones through email, but you can also watch movies, listen to music and even play games.
* GPS (Global Positioning System) can also prove to be one of the best gadgets for a trip as you can know your exact position or geographical location at any time, any place and in any weather which can actually be a fun activity too.
* The next option among travel gadgets would be noise-reducing headphones. Some people cannot sleep when there is noise around. So, they can put on these sound-proof headphones and sleep peacefully.
* One more accessory for good sleep during travel is the blindfold that can block out light which is sometimes necessary for better sleep.
* You might wonder why there is need for a plug kit while traveling, but, let me tell you that it is essential to have a plug kit with the converters and connectors to charge your gadgets.
Toiletries and Other Cosmetics
Toiletries help you maintain personal hygiene during your trip. The toiletry items are available in kits which are convenient to carry but, if you do not wish to spend money in buying them, you can always create your own kit at home. But again, selection of these items solely depends on the type of your trip.
* For example, if you are going on a beach vacation, you will surely need sunscreen or sun tan lotion
* If you are on a vacation to a cold region you will need a moisturizer or a cold cream.
* Men will need their shaving kit, shampoos and other toiletries for any trip.
* An insect repellent is also an essential travel accessory because no one, I am sure, would like to return ill from a trip due to a mosquito bite or any other insect for that matter.
* Certain cosmetics may also be an important part of your travel accessories because they are the ones best suitable for you and you may prefer using those only.
Do not assume that you will get all the above accessories at your destination because the things you need may not be available or sometimes you may have to compromise on the brand.
First-Aid and Sewing Kit
During a journey you can encounter some unexpected problems like, an accident or similar emergencies. But, if you are ready for it, you can deal with the situation in a better way.
* Suppose you have a minor headache or stomach pain you can treat it easily with the first-aid medicines or over-the-counter medication.
* Or if someone gets injured by accident you can help him out or at least stop the blood flow from the wound which is the most important thing to do in case of an accident.
* You can face a situation where one of your favorite dresses gets stuck somewhere and gets torn. What do you do at such time? A sewing kit in your bag will help you to solve the problem. You can temporarily sew the torn area and later when you return give it a permanent stitch.
* A sewing kit can be beneficial for any kind of a trip because any time your clothes may need repairing, regardless of the type of the trip.
Some Other Must-Have Travel Accessories
It is highly possible that while paying attention to the major accessories we tend to overlook these minor but important accessories given below.
* An alarm clock, a water bottle, a compass and a headlamp are some accessories you must take along on a trek or a camping trip where you may have to stay outdoors and might not have access to the above needful things.
* A portable clothes iron can prove helpful when you are on a business trip. How? You realize a few minutes before an important meeting that your suit needs to be ironed urgently. At that time you can use the iron that you have carried with you without fail.
* Wherever you go, the safety of your luggage can be a major concern and you should take necessary efforts to secure it from theft or a loss. Hence, you can use locks that are approved by TSA (Transportation Security Administration) for assured safety and convenient security checks at airports.
* Books can be one of the best travel accessories because they take you to a different world keeping you from getting bored during long delays or stopovers, provided you have a passion for reading. There are other books like destination guides or translation books or maps that serve as essential travel accessories.
You can If you spend some time in visualizing your needs and think of other useful accessories as per your requirement and convenience. On a concluding note, I would like to suggest that you should always choose travel wallets and folders where you can keep your important belongings like money, travel documents, passports, prescription medicines safely.