Money Tips for Safe International Travel by - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events
directory

Money Tips for Safe International Travel

By ,
July 20, 2015 at 12:03pm. Views: 248

When you picture your dream vacation, where do you go? Do you lay on the beach in Mexico? Climb the Alps in Switzerland, go fishing in Canada or explore the amazing wildlife of Australia? Do you see the Great Wall in China or travel on safari in Africa? Any of these exciting adventures could make for the trip of a lifetime but all of them require international travel, meaning you have to be smart with your money and prepare ahead of time. Follow these tips for before you leave and upon your arrival and the trip of a lifetime will be there waiting for you to enjoy it. 1. Get a chip card Before you start packing for your international trip, take a peek inside your wallet. Does your credit card have a chip? If you don't know, check with your bank to see if they have chip cards. Chip-enabled cards are designed to help reduce fraud and are the most convenient and safe option for cashless travel outside the U.S. There are two types of chip cards. Chip-PIN cards require you set a PIN for extra security. When traveling, you will most likely insert your card into a reader where you may be prompted for your PIN, so make sure you know how to "dip" your chip before leaving. Meanwhile chip-signature cards are also available but they may not work at all unattended automated kiosks. Make sure you know what card you have and how to use it properly. 2. Don't get declined, share your itinerary Let your bank know when and where you're traveling to help prevent international activity from triggering fraud alerts. You don't want that romantic meal on the beach spoiled when your card gets turned down. If your bank offers the service, ask to set fraud alerts by email or texts sent to your phone. You'll have peace of mind knowing that unauthorized charges can be quickly caught. 3. Budget with prepaid If traveling on a budget, consider using a prepaid card to manage your spending. Just keep in mind that you'll only have access to the amount you load it with. And if you're visiting different countries, check out MasterCard's Cash Passport. You can load multiple currencies onto this one prepaid card. To get one, go to www.cashpassport.com Upon arrival follow these practices: 4. Cheap cash Once you land, you may need some cash for little things like tips, food or drinks. ATMs are generally the cheapest and most convenient way to get the local currency and finding an ATM is easy using the MasterCard Nearby App. This app provides you the locations of millions of ATMs as well as a list of merchants who accept contactless devices. 5. Know your currency conversion choices Finally, some merchants and hotels may ask you at the register or check out if you'd like to be charged in either your home currency or the local currency. It's important to know your options. Research shows that you generally get a better exchange rate and lower fees when paying in local currency. If you chose to pay with the home currency, there might be a foreign transaction fee, a conversion rate and additional fees from the merchants for the convenience of exchanging to your home currency at the point of sale. Some banks waive the conversion fee for their cards and you should see if yours does before you leave. The choice is yours, but understanding the fees first will prevent you from overpaying. That's it, five money tips to keep in mind when traveling internationally. Now what are you waiting for? Go ahead and pack already... the trip of a lifetime is just a few checkpoints away.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 548

Athlete of the Week Christopher Michael Lemos, Redlands High School Junior and Varsity Quarterback, proudly represents the Terriers with his dedication, leadership, and passion for the game.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 796

Redlands Pottery Project joins A.K. Smiley Public Library for a November 14 workshop designed for young artists ages 13 to 18. A lump of clay may not look like much at first. In the hands of a young artist, however, it can become a bowl, a decorative sculpture or an entirely unexpected creation.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.redlands.edu/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 2006

The University of Redlands Department of Theatre and Dance will present Día de los Muertos and Other Folk Tales November 5 through 8, 2026. Stories told by grandparents often become treasured parts of a family's history. Some are humorous, others mysterious, and many carry lessons that remain meaningful long after the storyteller is gone.

Photo Courtesy of: UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 597

A remote wildfire-monitoring camera overlooks a Southern California landscape. Redlands has partnered with UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia program to improve monitoring of areas near northern Redlands and the Santa Ana River wash.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.akspl.org/events/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1075

Annual ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will bring American history to life on November 21. On a November morning in Redlands, the sounds of fifes, drums and historic artillery will offer residents an opportunity to experience a chapter of American history that continues to influence the nation more than 160 years after the Civil War.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:18pm. Views: 521

The first years of a child's life are filled with milestones that families often remember forever. A baby's first smile, the first attempt to crawl and the first spoken words are moments of celebration. They can also bring questions, uncertainty and new responsibilities for parents learning how to care for a growing child.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.csusb.edu/

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 591

CSUSB’s Department of Physics and Astronomy has earned recognition for it for its work to create a more inclusive, diverse and supportive physics department, earning the Bronze Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science Physics & Astronomy SEA Change program.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.naco.org/program/operation-green-light-veterans

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 1351

Operation Green Light returns November 4–11, encouraging residents to recognize military service and help veterans connect with available resources. As darkness settles over San Bernardino during the first week of November, green lights will illuminate several county buildings, transforming familiar government facilities into visible reminders of the sacrifices made by America's military veterans.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.authentikusa.com/

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 630

As America's most famous highway celebrates its centennial in 2026, San Bernardino reflects on the road that helped shape its neighborhoods, businesses and identity. Long before interstate highways became the preferred routes for cross-country travel, motorists making their way through San Bernardino followed a road that would become one of the most recognizable highways in American history.

Photo Courtesy of: Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 483

Muscoy Elementary students join SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, Board of Education President Mayra Ceballos, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Sandra Rodriguez and Dr. Tasha Doizan, Director MaryRone Goodwin and San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. for the official ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the school’s new outdoor learning center.

Photo Courtesy of: https://riversiderecord.org/; A photo of Moreno Valley City Hall. (Alicia Ramirez/The Riverside Record) Credit: (Photo by Alicia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 782

A city is often judged by what residents experience every day: the condition of its streets, the reliability of public services, the availability of recreational programs and the ease of obtaining information from local government. Behind those everyday experiences are departments and employees whose work rarely attracts national attention.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 731

Athlete of the Week Zachary Scott Perez, Senior at John W. North High School, is recognized as Athlete of the Week for his dedication and accomplishments as a student athlete.

--> -->