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11. Beware of double billing.
Sometimes at hotels or car rental locations, travelers will use a credit card to hold the reservations but pay the bill with cash. Bad idea, says Howard. If the clerk is unscrupulous or sloppy, you could get billed twice. And if you don't have your cash receipt, there's nothing you can do about it.
Smart money: If the establishment already has your credit card number, use that card to pay the bill.
12. Watch out for tip hogs.
At some locations, such as restaurants, the charge card slip leaves a blank for you to add a tip. But if you've tipped cash, fill in the blank with the words "on table" and fill in the total charged at the bottom of the slip, says Howard. That prevents anyone from adding a little extra to your tab.
13. Clarify purchase guarantees.
On a cruise, "you have no charge-back protection," says Howard. Often, cruise lines will recommend certain shops to travelers. Find out first what kind of guarantee the cruise line offers if you're not happy with the merchandise in stores it recommends and get it in writing, he says.
14. Remember cards are safest.
"The reason to use plastic when you're traveling is so you're not walking around with cash if you get robbed," says Hasbrouck.
And a money belt, for valuables such as passports, credit cards, ATM cards and cash, is always a good idea. Just don't let anyone know you're wearing it or it defeats the purpose. "That's where people get into trouble," says Hasbrouck.
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ATM cards
15. Check for ATM networks.Before you leave town, call your bank and find out if you can use the ATM card in the places you'll be going. What kind of fees will you face for using an ATM away from home? If you're traveling internationally, what are the fees for getting foreign money from the ATM (and is it a flat fee, percentage of transaction or both?) Are there any banks or ATMs in the area that are part of your bank's network? What do you save by using the network?
Out of network, some machines will have "fairly substantial fees," says Hasbrouck. That can be an unwelcome surprise for travelers.
16. Know your limit.
Many ATM cards will limit the amount of money you can withdraw in a day. While you don't want to be carrying large amounts of cash, you do want to know how much you can access in case of emergencies.
17. Leave debit cards at home.
When you travel, it's more secure to use a credit card than a debit card for shopping, hotels, meals and gas.
18. Use ATMs for cash.
The rates are usually "much better than at a money exchange," he says.
19. Scope out local ATMs carefully.
Does the area look questionable? If so, skip it in favor of a machine in a more protected place, whether it's inside the network or not. "Don't take chances with that," says Hasbrouck. "It's the kind of thing that will get you rolled."
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When you return
20. Remember: The card has to be paid.Realize that your trip isn't really over until you've paid the tab. Toss all your receipts into one envelope, shoe box or folder. Then, when the bill comes in you can compare each to what appears on the bill. Check to see if:
- The amount you're charged matches your receipt.
- The merchant or bank correctly calculated the exchange rate.
- You were not charged more than once for the same purchase.
Says Hasbrouck, "People actually need to scrutinize their bills."
Dana Dratch is a freelance writer based in Atlanta.
Updated April 22, 2009
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