TRAVEL TIPS – things to know when you are travelling

Some pre-travel planning and arranging will help ensure you don’t experience preventable money problems while you are away from home.

1. Inform your Debit and Credit Card providers of your travel plans. A common fraud prevention practice of many Card providers is to track unusual patterns in card transaction activity. If they are not aware of your plans, your card could be shut down due to the change in normal usage patterns while you are travelling.

2. Check with your Card provider to confirm that your card will be accepted at your travel destination. Certain restrictions may apply – for example your card may not even be accepted at your travel destination.

3. Review Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada travel reports. These advisories provide valuable risk management advice on your destination along with travel and currency information (exchange practices can change so don’t rely on what worked the last time you visited a foreign country). Follow this link: http://www.voyage.gc.ca/index-eng.asp

4. Consider having access to alternative payment sources such as Traveler’s Cheques, extra cash, or an alternate card. Also, it is a good idea to carry only the card you will usually be using and keep the backup payment sources in a safe location where you are staying. This provides further safeguards in case you are robbed or misplace your belongings.

5. Keep a record of your Card numbers and your Card providers contact numbers in a safe location. In the event you need to contact your Card provider, this information will prove invaluable.

6. Contact your branch a month in advance to ensure the currency you require will be available.

7. Don’t carry more than one day’s cash on your body. Keep extra monies in a safe location.

8. Ensure that your Will and Power of Attorney documents are in place and up to date.

9. Once you have returned home, change the PIN on any debit cards or credit cards you used while travelling.