With travel steadily on the rise, and the implementation of local airlines promoting travel within the continent, some tips on how to save your bucks while travelling can help stretch your budget out for the duration of your vacation, and even prevent you from getting cheated.
Wherever you’re going and whatever you do, don’t forget these five pointers to protect yourself:
1. Check that your Chip / PIN is valid
Depending on which country you are travelling to, chances are your chip/PIN will still be valid. This will not only avoid having to get a new one, but payment cards also help prevent fraud and are the most convenient for cashless travels. Have you checked yours is valid and isn’t going to expire while travelling? Remember to never let your debit or credit card out of your sight and make sure transactions are done in front of you.
2. Sharing is caring
Sure, you’ve told your Facebook friends where you’re going, but have you told your bank? Remember to alert them to the fact that you will be travelling so they don’t think your transactions are fraudulent.
3. Pack your ‘”payment passport”
A Prepaid MasterCard payment card is a lot safer than travelling with cash, especially when it comes to paying in the local currency. You don’t have to figure out the rates each time, and you avoid scams with local exchanges. Alternatively, packing your Multi-currency Cash Passport gives you flexibility when paying with U.S. Dollars, Pound Sterling, Australian Dollars or Euros.
4. Ask for help
Although travelling with as little cash as possible makes sense, you may need to take a small amount of cash in the local currency for tipping or small grocery shopping in places that don’t take card. When you land, ask an official at the airport where a safe ATM is located, and keep an eye out for public ATMs and bank names you are used to.
5. Be smart about currency conversion fees
Some merchants and hotels may ask you if you’d like to be charged in either your home or local currency. You will likely save if you choose local currency as you may not incur a foreign transaction fee or a conversion rate fee.
For more tips, stay up to date with new travel regulations and other useful tips.
