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Why bring travel credit cards instead of traveler's checks?Convenience, safety and savings. The first time I had toexchange $200 of travelers checks overseas, the bank charged me$8. Later, during the same trip, I used my debit card at an ATMto 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 keepthem well-hidden in two separate places. Bring cards that haveeither zero liability, or a fifty dollar liability limit for anyunauthorized charges. Ask your bank or credit card company aboutthis. Make sure you bring a Visa card, as this seems to be themost widely accepted right now. Sometimes an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) won't take a cardfor some reason. Normally, you can use the other card, whichwill usually work fine. That's the advantage of having twocards. By the way, criminals watch those ATMs, so be especiallycareful not to flash your money around when you leave an ATM. For most travel, credit cards may be less trouble than debitcards. They can be replaced quickly if stolen. On your stolendebit card, your liability might be zero, but you probably won'thave access to your account until the matter is sorted out. On the other hand,


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on longer trips it's a hassle to pay thecredit card bill on time, which isn't a problem with debitcards. That's another reason to carry both. On longer trips youcan wait until you're a few weeks from home to use the creditcard, and you'll get there before the bill does. Another advantage travel credit and debit cards have overtraveler'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 acceptedeverywhere, something no traveler's checks can promise. Be sure to call your credit card company or bank before youtravel overseas. They may decline your card when you try to useit otherwise. Just let them know where you'll be and foraproximately how long. E-mail yourself the phone numbers to callin case of loss or theft, so you can get them from anywhere inthe world. To sum up : Use cards with low liability, high enough limits foryour trip, and hide them well on your body. These are therequirements for good travel credit cards. About the author: Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. andMexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whomhe met in Ecuador. For travel stories, tips and a free e-book,visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

Written by: Steve Gillman

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