Don’t Just Pack – Prepare. Smart Travel Tips That Can Make a Difference
We all love a good trip —whether it is crossing off bucket-list adventures or going for a weekend getaway. Personally, packing is my least favorite part. It is so easy to put that off until the last minute, leaving you rushed and potentially forgetting important things like your toothbrush. To help you plan, we’ve put together some tips to prepare you for your next journey.
1. Take Photos of Important Documents
Before you finish packing, take a minute to snap clear photos of your passport, driver’s license, and both sides of any credit cards you are taking with you. Save them in a secure, password-protected folder, cloud storage site, or to your eMoney portal so we can help if they are lost or stolen. If something goes missing, having digital copies can ease the pain of getting replacements.
2. Let Your Bank Know You Are Traveling
Let your bank and credit card companies know ahead of time that you are traveling. This simple step can help prevent your cards from being frozen for “suspicious activity” when you are just trying to buy a coffee in Paris. You can set a travel alert in just a few minutes through your bank’s app or website.
Before traveling internationally, you should consider ordering foreign currency with your local bank instead of at the airport. A study by Bankrate.com determined that travelers who ordered foreign currency through a bank can save up to 15% on the exchange rate and avoid additional hidden fees from the airport exchange kiosk.
If you need more cash on the road, using your debit card at a bank ATM will incur lower fees than other avenues such as using your credit card to obtain cash.
3. Use a Travel-Focused Credit Card
If you travel often, using a travel-friendly credit card can really pay off. Look for a card with no foreign transaction fees and travel rewards such as free miles, first-class upgrades, free checked bags, trip cancellation coverage, or rental car insurance.
Look at the latest travel credit card offers and remember to check what perks your current cards already offer. Weigh any annual fees against the actual value of the benefits. Many travel cards also include benefits for services you might already be paying for separately—like TSA PreCheck/Global Entry or discounted companion passes for family and friends traveling with you.
4. Always Bring a Backup Payment Option
Even if you are planning to use one card, bring one or two backups —ideally from different banks. That way if one card gets lost or flagged for fraud, you’re not stuck.
Many places abroad don’t accept American Express because of higher vendor fees. If that is your go-to card, make sure you have cash or a backup card that is more widely accepted.
5. Get Travel Insurance
Purchasing travel insurance is a must for international or longer trips, but may not be needed for domestic trips. There are two main functions of travel insurance – medical coverage and trip coverage.
A recent (2024) NerdWallet.com article notes that full trip insurance averages about 7% of total trip cost. Prices vary based on destination, trip length, and coverage level.
Medical coverage is usually cheap, and is important to have because medical evacuation can cost about $100,000 from Europe or $250,000+ from remote areas.
Trip coverage, which includes things like cancellations, delays, and lost baggage, tends to be the most expensive part of travel insurance. If you can afford a cancellation loss, you can lower the policy cost by reducing the trip cost input when getting a quote.
For example, based on a quote from Travelex, a $10,000 France trip costs $729 to fully insure, but only $38 if you insure just $100 of the trip cost and the same medical coverage. That is a huge difference!
Buying directly from insurers like Travelex or Allianz is often cheaper than going through airlines, and you can customize coverage. Travel agents may also find lower rates. If you travel often, an annual plan could save you money.
6. Don’t Let Pickpockets Ruin Your Trip
Even if you are a seasoned traveler, keep your guard up. Pickpockets love confident tourists who aren’t paying attention. Keep your wallet and phone zipped up and close to your body in crowded places.
If you are heading out for the day, consider leaving your passport and a backup credit card locked away in the hotel safe. Avoid using backpacks and consider an over shoulder cross body bag or a fanny pack.
Following these tips can make your trip more enjoyable and give you peace of mind on your journey. Let us know the dates of your adventure and we can be ready to assist you should something happen on your journey. Lastly, remember to share photos with your team at LPP! We love seeing your travel experiences and the moments that bring you joy.
