It’s definitely convenient to use ATM and credit cards on a trip. Banking and other financial institutions want it to be that way. Here are a few tips and suggestions for using your cards, for protecting your cards, and for getting the most out of them while traveling.

1. help you make arrangements to pay bills that might be due during your absence;
2. discuss with you which cards work (are accepted) in which countries;
3. confirm verification of your PINs (personal identification numbers) as ones which will work and if not, will give you a PIN that will work;
4. help you with explanations of how to get cash advances;
5. help you with using foreign ATM machines;
6. advise you on how to make foreign purchases;
7. advise you on the foreign exchange rates.

Banks and credit card companies will also advise you of particular services and discounts you can receive by using their cards. Many, for example, offer rental car insurance, insurance on purchases, and frequent flyer miles when you use their cards outside of the United States.

Credit card institutions may also inform you about details you might not have thought of on your own. For instance, the toll free phone number on the back of the card might not work outside of your country, so they will give you numbers that will.

Credit card companies also give you the currency conversion fees they charge, so you have the option of using a different card with a lower conversion rate.

Deciding Which Cards to Take

• First, you should take your ATM card.

Doing so will enable you to carry limited amounts of cash at any one time, withdrawing money only as you need it. (Though you should withdraw cash before you completely run out of cash, as a broken or out-of-service machine might slow you down, especially in an emergency.)

The ATMs will give you money already converted to that country’s currency, so you may want to check in advance which machines charge the lowest conversion rates, though as many travelers will advise, it is often less expensive to get converted cash by ATM than it is to visit conversion counters/locations.

Before you leave for vacation, check your daily limit. Ask your bank for an increase, if possible.

Also, test your ATM card while you’re still in town to make sure it works, and visit a Master Card/Cirrus ATM network site for machine locations, which may differ slightly from credit card accepting ATMs.

When traveling, don’t wait until you’re out of money to go to an ATM, the machines can run out of money or break down.

• Next, you should take American Express, Master Card and Visa credit cards.

These major credit cards have more value than cash; sometimes allow for better exchange rates than cash (or ATM cards); and usually have a built-in protection system that ATM cards and cash obviously don’t have—covering losses for items purchased with a credit card and un-charging disputed charges/purchases.

Many shops and business abroad will not accept ATM cards, so having the required card of the business’ preference is best, especially if you don’t carry a lot of cash.
There’s no need to take local shop and store credit cards to countries that do not have such department or other specialty stores. You should store these cards in a safe deposit box along with your other home valuables…and leave them at home.

One more Step to Take before You Step out the Door

Also before you go, write down your credit card numbers and bank information on a piece of paper and make a copy. Leave one copy at home in a safety deposit box and take one copy with you. If you lose or get a card stolen, you can immediately report the loss to your credit card company/bank, which usually carries a low maximum liability.

Low liability, low rates and high usability are the goals with ATM and credit cards.