By Kevin Poling, Director of Travel at Satori World Medical

Follow these tips to protect your credit while traveling overseas.

1. Call your bank. Before you leave for your trip, let your credit card company or bank know that you will be traveling out of the country. Banks constantly monitor their customers’ accounts for fraud, so an international charge can raise a red flag and have your card suspended and your purchases declined.
2. Research foreign transaction fees. It can be expensive to use a credit card abroad. Call the credit card issuing company to check on their foreign transaction fees. Some cards have lower transaction fees than others. However, some can add 3-5 percent to the cost of foreign purchases.
3. Pick a card compatible with your destination country. Not all credit cards are widely accepted in other counties. Research which credit cards are accepted in your destination country.
4. Do not bring all your credit cards. Do bring a couple credit cards, just in case one is not accepted or is lost or stolen.
5. Always bring a debit card. Not all countries permit cash advances on credit cards.
6. Carry local currency. Always carry some cash with you, just in case some smaller stores do not accept credit cards, have a minimum purchase amount, or your card is rejected. Use cash when making smaller purchases and credit cards for larger ones.
7. Save your receipts. Saving receipts can ensure you are tracking expenses and not being charged for something you didn’t buy. After you return home, be sure to double check your credit card statements. Make sure you are not overcharged on any purchases or see any suspicious charges.

Happy travels,

Kevin