4 Credit Card Tips for a Stress-Free Vacation

Traveling is exciting. Seeing new places, eating new foods, and meeting new people is rewarding. But it's important to consider how your finances will be affected when traveling. You can set yourself up for success before taking your next trip by having the right credit cards in your wallet. I'm a frequent traveler who primarily uses credit cards when traveling. Here are a few of my favorite credit card tips to help you reduce your stress while on vacation.

1. Avoid foreign transaction fees

If you plan to travel outside the United States, check if your credit card charges foreign transaction fees. Cards with these fees typically charge 3% every time you use your card to pay for a purchase abroad. That may not sound like a lot, but these fees can add up fast.

But the good news is you can avoid these fees using one of the best no foreign transaction fee credit cards to pay for your international purchases. If you travel abroad often, these fees can greatly impact your personal finances, so it pays to take steps to avoid them.

2. Know your credit limit

Before taking a trip, you should review your current credit limit. If you need to make a costly purchase during an emergency while traveling, you want to feel confident knowing that the transaction will be approved.

Spending more than your credit limit will result in your purchase being declined, so being aware of your credit limit is ideal. If you have credit cards with lower credit limits, you can ask your credit card issuer for a credit limit increase. The worst it can say is no.

3. Review your credit card perks

Many travel and rewards credit cards include valuable benefits to improve your travel experience. But you may not be aware of all of the perks made available to you. Before jetting off on your next vacation, take some time to review your card benefits.

It's also wise to look at specific benefit details to know what to expect. Some card perks like trip delay and trip interruption insurance may have exclusions that apply, so it's best to be informed before you depart to avoid added stress if you need to file a benefits claim.

4. Bring a backup credit card

There's always some risk of a lost or stolen credit card. You can avoid such misfortunes by keeping your money and credit cards tucked away, especially in crowded public areas. But you can also protect yourself by bringing a backup credit card with you.

By doing this, you'll have an alternate payment method ready in case your primary card is stolen or misplaced. You'll feel more confident knowing you can continue paying for necessary purchases without worry.

If you bring a backup credit card, keep it in a safe, secure place separate from your primary card. When I travel, I keep my extra credit card in the hotel safe or stash it away in a hidden place within my personal belongings so it's ready to use if I need it.

As an added reminder, contact your credit card issuer immediately if you lose your card or notice unusual transactions on your account. The credit card company can protect your account to prevent further fraudulent charges.

This card may be a good fit for your travel needs

As someone who loves travel, having a solid travel rewards credit card in my wallet is a must. One travel credit card that I frequently recommend is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

It has an attractive welcome offer available to new cardholders, provides rewards on travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and much more -- and has a flexible rewards program. The annual fee is only $95, making it an affordable rewards credit card option for many people.

Hoping to apply for a new rewards credit card? You may want to consider this card if you want a new travel-friendly rewards card. But if this card doesn't appeal to you, review our list of the best travel rewards credit cards to explore other travel-friendly credit card solutions.