7 Tips to Protect Your Identity and Cards While on Vacation

7 Tips to Protect Your Identity and Cards While on Vacation

The time for people to escape out cool climate for warmer regions is now upon us.  Wherever you go, chances are that their standards for security regarding cards and accounts may not be great as those here at home.  The following are 7 tips that can help you protect your money while travelling abroad.

1. Use credit, not debit.  Credit cards usually have zero liability policies which can protect you if they are copied or stolen.  Debit cards give direct access to your account, which you want to avoid in areas where identity theft is likely.
2. Change PINs before your trip.  As you leave on your trip stop by the credit union and change your PINs on your debit and credit cards.  You can change them back upon returning, which blocks use of any possible stolen/copied cards after the PIN change date.  You can change your PIN in branch or at your credit union’s ATM.

Save Money On Summer Vacation

Summer provides us with an opportunity to spend time with family, but it is also a time when we spend more on driving, camping, hotels and restaurants.  With so many people taking a hit in the wallet the past 2 years there are many who are looking for ways to have the family trips without blowing their budget.

Hotels:  Hotels have a wide variety of costs.  Sometimes paying for the most expensive hotel does not mean the nicest stay (although the service is usually better), but choosing the lowest priced hotel can often lead to a bad experience.  There are many websites that allow former customers to rate their hotel stay.  People will submit their opinions on location, service, cleanliness...  It's a great way to see if a hotel is worth staying at.