Do these 8 things to fully access your cards and cash while on vacation

Show of internet hands: Who’s tried to buy something while on vacation but had your credit or debit card declined since you didn’t notify your bank of your trip?

That’s OK; it happens to the best of us.

Money can get complicated on vacation, especially when traveling internationally. Little things like taking out cash can turn super complicated and frustrating in a hurry if you don’t plan accordingly.

Don’t let these things ruin your Out of Office mood! Here’s a checklist of all the things to do before leaving for vacation to ensure you have complete access to all your cards and cash:

A PIN for your credit card? That’s right. Some countries require a PIN to complete credit card transactions, so make sure you have yours if you’re traveling internationally.

Don’t know your credit card’s PIN? Contact your credit card company a few weeks before your trip to get yours. Your PIN will most likely be mailed to you, so you need to give yourself enough time to receive it before it’s time to go.

Speaking of international travel, some countries prefer that you pay with your phone or contactless cards rather than swiping or inserting your card. Therefore, it’s a good idea to load your debit and credit card onto Apple Pay® or Samsung Pay®, as well as bring a card that allows contactless payment.

Take out cash before the trip so you aren’t stuck paying pricy ATM fees, especially when traveling abroad. Plus, you’ll have cash on hand in case you need to tip the cab driver who picked you up at the airport or buy food from a street vendor.

It might be worth taking out more cash than you expect to need in case your cards get lost or stolen. You can always lock the extra cash in your hotel room safe.

Need to exchange currency? Stop by your bank to get that taken care of before your trip!

Visa® and Mastercard® are accepted just about everywhere, so if you have those types of cards, you’re all set. Other cards aren’t as widely accepted.

Do some research on your destination to see what cards most places will take. That way, you don’t finish up a fantastic feast on the first night of vacation only to find out you have no way to pay for it.

A foreign transaction fee is a charge applied to a credit or debit card on all international purchases. The charge is usually a small percentage — such as 1% — of every transaction. That might not seem like much, but it can add up in a hurry. 

Thankfully, some cards don’t have foreign transaction fees, so hopefully that’s the case for you! If not, consider bringing a different card that doesn’t have these fees, or apply for a new one entirely.

Speaking of which…

Losing your debit or credit card can put a huge damper on your vacation. That’s why it’s helpful to bring a backup just in case so you can stay in a vacation state of mind (after you freeze your lost card, of course).

Keep these backup cards in the hotel safe so you have them in case you lose your wallet.

In the event that your card is lost or stolen, you’ll need to know how to get in touch with your bank or card company to freeze or close the card. Normally, you can look on the back of your card for this phone number, but that won’t do you much good without the card.

Put this phone number in your phone’s contacts so you can contact them quickly. It’d also be smart to write the phone number on a piece of paper and keep it in the hotel in case you have a really bad day and lose your phone, too.

What does this odd request have to do with money? It’s helpful for international travelers since you may be asked to show identification when using your debit or credit card for security purposes.

By taking a picture of your ID or passport, you’ll still be able to confirm your identity and thus use your card if you lose your ID or passport.

You don’t need a travel rewards credit card to get travel benefits from your card! Some cards offer perks, such as trip cancellation reimbursement or rental car collision damage.

Research your card to see if you’re missing out on perks!

Or, if you’re interested in getting more cash back on your travel purchases, check out the Citizens Cash Back Plus™ World Mastercard® to get 1.8% cash back on everything you buy!¹