Reasons to travel with credit cards

Arranging travel money is always one of those essential things on the pre-travel 'to do' list. Whether it's ordering local currency for your travel destination or looking for the best deals on travellers cheques, getting travel money together never seems to be as simple as using credit cards to withdraw cash from the ATM down the road.

But, for credit card account holders who are preparing to travel, organising travel money does not have to be this complicated. In fact, all that credit card account holders who travel need do is pack their wallet!

The credit cards solution to travel money

Credit cards are the perfect solution when you need money for travel. ATMs at which your credit cards can connect to your accounts are found all over the world. Whether you travel to a neighbouring country or travel to a far-flung land, a machine will be within easy reach. What's more, relying on credit cards for your travel money requires little in the way of advanced planning.

Many people who travel abroad already rely on their cards for travel money. According to recent research, close on 70% of people who travel now opt to use their credit cards abroad. It is a figure that has escalated greatly over the last few years as people who travel have realised how easy it is to use them abroad.

If, you are sceptical about replacing your travellers cheques with credit cards next time you travel, just take a look at the advantages credit cards offer when travelling…

travel advantage #1: accepted virtually everywhere you travel to!

Between Visa, American Express and MasterCard, almost every country you could travel to will accept credit cards. The giants of this world have a network of over 1,000,000 cash machines from which people who travel can withdraw travel cash using their cards. Visa alone has more than 800,000 ATMs across the globe.

Of course, credit cards can do more than just provide consumers with travel cash in a local currency. Many shopping outlets, restaurants and fuel stations in the country you travel to accept them as well.

travel advantage #2: cards offer convenience when you travel

Credit cards provide consumers with the ultimate in convenience when they travel. No special arrangements for using credit cards abroad have to be made before consumers travel. They just have to pick up their wallets and go travel…remembering to memorise their pin number before they travel!

travel advantage #3: instant access to a large pool of travel funds

Unlike organising travellers cheques when you travel or obtaining local currency before you travel, relying on credit cards for your travel money means that comsumers don't have to worry about whether they've ordered enough travel funds with which to travel. Credit cards companies normally allow comsumers to withdraw at least 50% of their available credit cards limit as travel cash. Comsumers therefore have instant access to a large pool of travel funds when they travel.

travel advantage #4: travel perks

Many cards offer travel perks to comsumers when they travel. Some provide people who travel with free travel insurance, free travel advice and free purchase protection insurance on travel purchases. Some travel rewards cards may provide people who travel with additional benefits too.