Will you be traveling this summer? If so, do you have a plan in place for making purchases? Like many, you will turn to your credit card time after time. While there is nothing wrong with this, there are some basic tips you need to follow.
1. Understand your credit card fees. For example, using your credit card outside the United States could lead to a foreign transaction fee of approximately three percent. You need to understand all potential fees, including how they are assessed.
2. Notify your issuer. This is not a requirement, but it’s good practice. When you tell your credit card company you are going on vacation, it eliminates the risk of a hold on your account related to suspected fraud.
3. Does your credit card provide travel insurance? You may not know the answer to this question, so don’t hesitate to reach out to your issuer for clarification. With this, you will receive more protection than you ever imagined. For instance, if you have travel insurance, you may not need to pay for coverage from a rental car agency.
4. Take a backup with you. You never know what will happen on your trip, so it’s a good idea to take a backup credit card with you. Maybe you lose your primary credit card. Or maybe it is declined for some reason. Regardless of what happens, it is nice to know that you have a backup so that your trip is not ruined.
5. Duplicate charges are common. When you make a reservation, such as for a hotel, it’s common for the company to place a hold on your credit card. But here is the problem: if you decide to pay with cash or another payment option in the future, you could be doubled billed. By keeping copies of all receipts, you will find it easier to dispute any issues that arise.
These credit card travel tips are simple to follow. Do you have any others to add to the list?