Credit cards are very handy when it comes to travelling. Not only do we have extra cash when we need it, we could also swipe away to purchase services that can boost our reward points! Below are some tips you can use for travelling smart with your credit card in Malaysia.
1. Be on the look-out for travel perks.
When you are out travelling, sometimes you just readily pay for meals or accommodations without thinking twice because of habit or convenience. A better way to prepare for travelling with your credit card is to research and know more about the perks of your card before you pay for anything. This way, you can enjoy travel benefits which you wouldn’t have otherwise learned. Among the advantages offered by some Malaysian credit cards include airport lounge access, priority boarding, waived baggage fees, a room upgrade, food or drink stubs, and many other travel perks you wouldn’t want to miss.
2. Call your credit card company ahead of time.
Even some of the best credit cards can hold your card when you use it elsewhere without notifying them first. Make sure to call your credit card company ahead of time so that you may be able to use your card without encountering any hassles. By calling them on time, your credit card company will be able to allow you to make international payments. Additionally, they can also tell you when any suspicious charges have been made on your card from a strange place you have not mentioned to them. While you’re at it, you should also try saving the toll-free number of your credit card company in a separate place from your wallet, so that you can call them to close down your account in case you lost your wallet and credit cards.]
3. Bring more than one credit card.
If you are an owner of several credit cards, it would be wiser to bring more than just one of your credit cards. This is in case anything goes wrong with your other card, so that you will have a back-up form of payment. You can also compare the benefits of your cards so that you can decide which card will give you more reward points and cashback when you use it at a certain hotel or restaurant. You should also prepare to bring extra cash with you.
4. Prepare for foreign transaction charges.
Using your credit card in your travels can also equate to foreign transaction charges. To gear up for any extra charges you will incur in your trip, a good advice is to research, call your bank, and ask about the fees involved when you shop and eat overseas. Even if major credit card companies will charge you just around 3% for foreign transactions, it can also add up to a big amount when you go through a lot of transactions.
5. Go online to prepare your credit card for travel.
Some Malaysian credit card users hesitate to call their credit card companies even through their toll-free numbers. If you don’t want to call to prepare your card for travel, simply reach your bank’s customer service online through chat, their Facebook page or via e-mail. While you’re at it, you should also update your itinerary so that your cards won’t be closed down because your banks mistake your transactions for scam.
Travelling with your credit card is really just a matter of preparation. After doing the things mentioned above, you will find it easier to travel out-of-town hassle-free with your Malaysian credit card.
About The Writer:
This article is prepared for SzeHau.Net for Compare Hero, Malaysia’s leading credit card comparison website. Compare for free a broad range of financial products – from credit clans to insurance plans.
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