Travelers should inform their card providers about their destination, departure and arrival dates. They should also request a chip-plus PIN for their credit cards; many businesses abroad request it for purchases.
Some credit card issuers charge brand fees of 1 percent to 3 percent of the purchase. They also charge dynamic currency conversion fees of up to 5 percent and additional fees for purchases in dollars. Debit cards carry purchase fees of 1 percent to 3 percent of the total purchase, and fees for withdrawing money abroad range from 1 percent to 3.5 percent.
Credit cards offer strong fraud protection measures. You will be liable for only $50 of any fraudulent purchase on your credit card. With debit cards, you are liable for $500 of the fraudulent purchase after two business days without reporting it.
If you use your credit card to get money from an ATM abroad, your fees may add up to 8 percent of the withdrawal, compared with the 3.5 percent maximum for debit cards.
Get the international phone numbers for your card issuers. Choose a universal card when you travel; Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted.
