Currency Exchange and Credit Card Tips for Travelers

About credit cards, i don't like them either! i've never been a fan of them due to personal beliefs/opinions BUT you must keep in mind that building credit is very important for many things in life when you get older such as buying a car, house, loans, etc. Therefore, having a credit card or two isn't a bag thing. Since you love to travel, i'd suggest finding a great credit card that allows you to accrue miles. Some credit cards let you do that buy purchasing flights on the company's sister airlines, dining out, shopping, and just using the card in general. I have one credit card that i use for EVERYTHING and then i pay it off in full every month so i'm never in debt with it. there are many perks other than racking up miles with some credit cards too. For instance, i have the American Airlines Citi Bank Travelers credit card in which i applied for when booking a flight to Europe 7 years ago and by applying for it at time of purchase and getting approved, it took $200 off of my flight ticket it right away. Also, my credit card has no foreign transaction fees on it which is very important and helpful because i use my credit card a lot when traveling for accommodations and other purchases. You will be charged foreign fees everywhere so having a card that doesn't have them is great and saves you money. Also, my American Airlines card has many sister airlines so i can easily get double the points. I have gotten quite a few flights for free due to my credit card. Having a credit card with you when you travel is also helpful because there are times when i needed to have other forms of ID when crossing boarders due to a discrepancy, other than my passport so i was glad to have my license, credit card, and a debit card. I am not one that goes crazy with miles and points by opening a million cards and trying to fly first class around the world for free like some people. i feel like that will ultimately catch up to you financially somehow. but, having a credit card or two is very beneficial in many ways. I now that there is a good United airlines one too. 

Tips:

*Before leaving the U.S, use an ATM to withdraw about $100-$200 cash and then go

to the airport’s currency exchange booth (compare the different booth’s service

charge rates) and get Euros for all dollars.

*you'll get a better exchange rate over there

*covert the rest of your money when you’re there or use an ATM there to get

Euros.

*when coming back, the currency exchange places don’t accept coins so try to keep

your currency in bill form as much as possible otherwise you’ll be returning with

a lot of coins as souvenirs.

*Download a currency exchange converter on your phone.  This also comes in handy

when shopping or paying for something to make sure that you’re given the proper

change back or that you’re not paying too much.  Some vendors like to try to rip

tourists off by shorting them in their change.

*i would bring one credit card in addition to an ATM card (these also came in hand when I needed to proof of identity when the country of Albania gave me a stamp in my passport when I entered but failed to register me in their system so when I was trying to exit the country, the officials had a lot of questions for me and then had to go through my luggage a few times)

*even if your credit card doesn’t charge foreign conversion fees, know that the

place where you’re buying something may be charging an extra small percentage of

their own. It’s usually a 3% fee.

*Take a photo of your credit and debit card and leave it with your parents just

in case something happens and you need the information.

Check out NerdWallet for Travel Credit Cards 
 
 https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/top-credit-cards/nerdwallets-best-travel-credit-cards/