When we were in the French Riviera last time, our friends took us to the old town in Nice – which is a really nice old town area I must say – and it was there I spotted this kind of retro look woman, having a pause in her shopping, making the perfect photo opportunity for me.

It’s always that special moment to catch when you’re keen of photographing. It’s all about being on the right spot in the right time, right? I just wish that I could be a bit faster with my camera…

©Lifecruiser Love Nice
 

International travel is amazing, rewarding, intellectual, and ahem expensive. Don’t add to what you’re already spending by traveling with the wrong credit cards. As it turns out, you need to have the right plastic for foreign travel. Even though the credit cards you own will be accepted in foreign lands, they’re likely going to cost you more than you want to spend.

Foreign Transaction Fees

The small print is where they get you. You’re likely already familiar with the Interbank Exchange Rate. If not, allow me to break it down for you. The Interbank Exchange Rate is the exact reason you want to use a credit card while traveling internationally. It garners you a better rate for things like hotels and dining. It’s a much better exchange rate than if you were exchanging cash.

So, what’s the problem? Well, this is where the small print comes in. The card may be garnering you a better exchange rate, but it may also be charging a foreign transaction fee – something many people don’t realize they’re being charged. According to financial expert, David Seaman, this fee is typically 3% – 4% of what you’ve spent. This may not seem like a lot, but according to Seaman, “if you spend $200 or $300 in a weekend, that added fee begins to pile up rapidly.”

The Right Card Makes All the Difference

So, how can international travelers protect themselves? It’s essential to have peace of mind while traveling abroad, but if you’re constantly worried about hidden fees, it’s nearly impossible. The secret is traveling with the right credit card, one that’s designed for international travel and one that doesn’t have any hidden fees.

So, how can one locate the perfect card for the trip? Theta Tau, a co-ed engineering fraternity and a philanthropic sponsor of NerdWallet, offers a solution to this problem. Users can visit the site and use the comprehensive tool to search a database of quality credit cards.

Nerdwallet’s tool will only populate the cards you want: cards based on rewards, with cash back options, best interest rates, and so much more. That way, you only get credit cards that are relevant to your situation. You can read through a card’s information, deciding if it’s the right card for foreign travel or not. Look for cards that are specifically designed for travel and it’s likely you’ll be treated to the best rates.

Travel Perks

So, you’ve found some cards that don’t feature those annoying foreign transaction fees. Now, it’s time to narrow down your selection to the absolute right card. This all depends on your preferences. For instance, if you love to dine out on vacation, you’ll want a card that rewards you for eating out. If you prefer cash back bonuses, go with the card with the highest cash back percentage.

Other options include:

• Bonus airline miles
• Sign-up bonuses
• Low APR or no annual fees
• Affinity programs (typically used for business travel)
• Store-specific cash back cards

Preparing Your Card for Travel

When you’ve finally narrowed down your selection, applied, and been approved for a credit card, you’ll want to contact your credit card company and prepare the card for travel. Let your credit card company know where you’ll be traveling and using the card. This will ensure they don’t freeze the card due to fraud suspicion.

If you’re planning on backpacking your way through a few countries, let your credit card company know which countries the card will be used in. This is going to ensure your vacation is all fun and no fuss over fees.

Extra caution: If you are traveling solo, make sure you have an extra backup card in case of a damaged card or if it does not work for any other reason. We have experienced it several times, certain card not working in certain places while working excellent in others.

Lifecruiser Love Trip Preparations
 

Summer is here, which means it’s time for epic actions and epic memories. We think of summer as a bottomless well, but the reality is there are only so many summer months you will truly get to revel in over the course of your lifetime. So why not make them count?

Here are some useful tips towards enjoying yourself and leaving all your worries where they belong, on the street curb:

Exercise and Stay Fit When You’re Away

Since you are on vacation (whether or not you actually leave home) it is pretty easy to forget about working out and keeping a fit body, but this is the time when you need it most! Try to exercise every other day, no long hours in the gym are needed either. Just get a cardio workout outside while enjoying the weather or, better, find a local trail or hike! Jog or speed walk around your hotel property, in the hotel gym or even more enjoyable: at a gorgeous beach!

Of course, you aren’t looking forward to exercising on your vacation so much as you are looking forward to eating. If you’re in a new city or country, by all means–sample the local fare in abundance. But try to keep it on the health side. Yes, you are going to eat out and yes you are probably going to give into temptation, but make healthy food choices for your body and wallet’s benefit.

You are wise if you look up different restaurants and their menu’s before leaving home, to make sure you minimize the risk of being tempted to eat unhealthy food. Sometimes it can be difficult to find a good restaurant abroad while out sightseeing, at least if you are like us; we tend to walk on the wrong streets all the time…

Healthier foods are anything on the menu that have been roasted or steamed. Or even try a diet that is not only healthy but disease combative.

Save While on Vacation

Vacation means your own personal time to get away from the worries and stress of modern life, but it does not mean you must spend your life savings in order to achieve a memorable vacation experience. Use your investigative skills to find deals from travel companies on certain essentials like rental cars, discounted hotels or even stay at the more budget-friendly hostels.

Register with airlines and travel companies. Check online for airline deals that are partnered with travel companies and submit your email to mailing lists so that you will stay up to date with their coupons and monthly offers.

Packing light will help save on costs. Most airlines tend to charge for every bag that you check and those fees can add up quickly. Check the airlines baggage policy before booking your flight and make sure that you are considering these fees when you are buying your ticket and more importantly, packing your bags. For many airlines you can carry-on two bags, keep that in mind when packing as well.

See What the Others are Saying

Things may not always be as they appear. Before you plan to do anything, do your research. Most vacationers already know where they are about to go, so after your trip is booked get to know the stories of others who have been to your destination. Check out Yelp and other review sites, even social bookmarking sites like Reddit. Users of these sites often drop hints on the best places to eat, or the best events they attended while on vacation. Benefit from the experiences of others.

Secure Your Home Life so You can Enjoy the Time Away

Don’t allow your worries at home to affect your beautiful get-away, so secure your home life to better enjoy your vacation. Call your friends, family, and neighbors just to let them know you will be out of town, give them the date and the time you will be departing and when you will be returning. By doing this they know it may be tough to contact you during your time away.

Don’t worry about your home either, as long as you have a good security system to keep your house under watch. If your home isn’t protected, take a look at www.securitychoice.com for security options that match your price point and neighborhood.

Capture Memories with Great Vacation Photos

Bring a digital camera along and go trigger happy. Take all the pictures you would like, from the clear beaches to the city skyline, anything that will capture not only the trip’s memories, but the feel of the experience.

Be sure to take a look at 10 Steps towards taking better Travel Photographs. You probably want to show your friends or family back home so bring your camera out and literally snap until the battery dies.

Ideally, it’s best to construct a life for yourself that you don’t need to escape from. But the reality is, people need vacations in order to unwind and explore new experiences and places. Maximize your time away from home.

Lifecruiser Love Vacation Tips

Other Vacation Tips posts at Lifecruiser:

All inclusive holidays ways pays
Travel and Credit Card Use
Why getting organised for your holiday will save you money
8 Essentials for Any Trip Through Europe
How to get cheap holiday deals
Top 5 Travel Tips When Visiting Foreign Countries
Where to find late holiday deals
38 Accessible travel links for disabled travelers