We signed up, got our cards in the mail, and have used them exclusively for six months. I’m here to tell you what it’s like to be a Venture X cardholder, what perks are great, and if it is worth it. 

Why I Chose the Venture X Card 

Everyone has reasons for getting a credit card, whether you want miles for flying, points to make purchases, or other benefits many credit cards offer. I will tell you that Venture X has it all. And while the yearly fee may seem steep at $395, you can quickly get it back with all the incentives with the card. We immediately got the $395 back when we signed up for Priority Pass and Global Entry. 

Airport Lounge Access 

Have you ever walked past the door of an airport lounge and looked longingly in, wishing you could join? With a Venture X card, you’ll have access to hundreds of airport lounges across the globe. When you sign up for Priority Pass with your Venture X card, you will automatically get it refunded to your account. It gives you access to you and one guest, and if you have a joint card with someone, you each get it, so if you are traveling with friends, you can all get in. 

Global Entry/TSA Precheck Fee

Have you wanted to apply for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, but the application fee was putting you off? Well, you’re in luck – the price will be reimbursed when you apply using your Venture X card. 

$300 Travel Credit

You will get a $300 credit when you book travel (hotel, flights, etc.) through Capital One Travel. 

75,000 Extra Miles in The First 3 Months

You can get 75,000 extra miles when you spend $4,000 in the first three months of getting your card. While this may seem like a lot, it doesn’t take long when you use your card for everything. I put my groceries, kid’s clothes, diapers, and everything we needed each week on the card, and we got to the $4,000 easily. The 75,000 translates to $750 towards travel. 

10,000 Bonus Miles Every Year

Each year, on your anniversary of becoming a Venture X cardholder, you’ll automatically get 10,000 miles or $100 in travel. 

Other Venture X Highlights

While the above incentives are my favorite part of the card, other perks come with it that I either just haven’t used yet or weren’t as important as the others. 

Transferring Miles to Airline Partners 

Capital One has partnered with some airline partners, and you can transfer your miles to them for flights. 

Cancel and Change Without Hassle or Fees

When you book a trip with your Venture X card, it comes with cancellation and interruption coverage. You’ll be able to change your dates without penalty under qualifying circumstances.

Car Rental Insurance

When you rent a car using your Venture X card, the card acts as primary rental insurance for up to $75,000, so you can waive any coverage offered by the rental company you choose. 

Elite Status With Hertz

While we are on the subject of car rentals, Venture X holders can sign up for Hertz’s President’s Circle, which comes with perks like not having to go to the check-in counter, free car upgrades, and more. 

Visa Infinite Concierge

Want to impress? Use the concierge service to book restaurant reservations and tickets to concerts and sporting events. 

Cell Phone Protection

You automatically get protection when you use your Venture X card to pay your cell phone bill. If your phone is stolen or damaged, they’ll cover it up to $800. 

Bottom Line

While the yearly fee may seem steep, it is worth it. If you travel a lot, it will be repaid quickly. For anyone who is looking for a card with fantastic points, special perks, and travel benefits, Venture X is top-notch. Apply today. 

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Is The Venture X Credit Card Worth It? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Stashing an emergency credit card back at your hotel room can be a lifesaver if you lose (or are robbed) of your purse/wallet on vacation, as it will give you the funds you’ll need to tide you over until you get home. However, there are a few tips you should follow to make the emergency credit card useful.

Make Sure to Keep It Active

An emergency credit card is, by definition, not to be used very often. However, this idleness can be a red flag to the credit card company. If a card is not used at least once in a year, the issuing company may deem the card as inactive and cancel your account—without even notifying you. This would obviously be a huge problem if you do need your emergency credit card and find that it’s no longer valid. Be sure to use your backup credit card at least once a year (and pay it off immediately, so you don’t forget about the balance and rack up high interest charges) in order to keep it active. 

A Card Can Help Verify Identity

If you lose your driver’s license or passport, you’ll still need to prove your identity in order to get temporary identification issued so that you can fly home. Having a credit card in your name can help with the verification process.

If a passenger on a domestic flight has lost their ID card, there are some ways the airline and TSA can work with the passenger to prove their identity and let them fly. Showing a credit card in your name can help with this. 

Only Hide It in the Hotel Safe if You’ll Remember It

An emergency credit card is easy to hide in your hotel room. Although the safe is the most secure option, you could stash it in the pages of a book, in your luggage, or even in a shoe that you’re not wearing. If a single credit card is the only thing you’re stashing in the safe, it’s highly likely that you’ll forget it upon checking out. If you do utilize the safe, set yourself a reminder in your phone to empty it, tape a note to yourself on the inside of the hotel room door, or put something that you know you won’t leave without in the safe along with the card.

Make Sure to Set a Travel Notification if Needed

You don’t want to use your emergency credit card only to have your transaction blocked because it’s coming from outside of the country. Before you travel, be sure to notify your credit card of your trip in order to reduce the chances of getting flagged. You can usually do this online via your credit card portal or by calling customer support. 

However, some credit card companies have moved away from travel notifications, meaning you can skip this step. (Capital One, for example, tells customers “You don’t need to notify us about your travel plans anymore thanks to the added security of your Capital One chip card. You can use your card abroad the same as you use it at home. Please check that your email and phone number are up to date in case we need to reach you.”)

The post The One Item You Should Always Hide in Your Hotel Room When Traveling appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Whether you’re looking for a beginner card or want luxury travel perks, you’ll be able to earn excellent travel rewards by holding one of these cards. The best card for you will require doing a little math to make sure you’ll be able to fulfill the spending requirement for any sign-up bonus and that you’ll be able to off-set any annual fees through normal spending habits.

I’ve decided to focus on cards that earn flexible rewards points rather than airline branded cards as I believe the travel points earned with these cards are far more valuable than miles tied only to a specific airline. If you’re loyal to a certain airline, an airline-branded card may have better perks, but these cards provide flexible benefits to a broad range of travelers. And none of these cards have any foreign transaction fees.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

Best Overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred

• Annual Fee: $95
• Sign-up Bonus: 60,000 points
• Rewards Rate: 1x-5x

The sign-up bonus is decent for a card with such a low annual fee. After you spend $4,000 in the first three months, you’ll earn 60,000 bonus points, which equates to $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Better yet, Sapphire Preferred cardholders can transfer points to 14 travel partners where you can get an even better value.

It will be easy to earn more points beyond the intro bonus as well thanks to 5x points earned on travel booked through Chase, 3x points on dining, delivery, and streaming services, and 2x earning on other travel. And the fact that you can earn up to $50 in statement credits each year for hotel stays booked through Chase means that the annual fee is effectively reduced to $45 for most travelers.

Pros

• Reasonable annual fee with remarkable travel benefits
• Excellent travel protections for delays and car rental insurance
• Great earning rates for typical purchases

Cons

• Doesn’t include credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck
• No lounge access included

Best Premium Card: Chase Sapphire Reserve

• Annual Fee: $550
• Sign-up Bonus: 50,000 points
• Rewards Rate: 1x-10x

If you’re looking for a premium card with multiple perks such as reimbursements for expedited screening, access to lounges, and high bonuses both for earning and redeeming points, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is an excellent choice. Its high annual fee is one of the easiest to off-set compared to other premium credit cards thanks to a blanket $300 annual travel credit which will effectively reduce the annual fee to $250 for most travelers.

And you can reduce that even further by taking advantage of its up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck fees along with complimentary lounge access at airports around the world with Priority Pass. If you’re a fairly frequent traveler, you can easily get the remaining value of the annual fee with free drinks and food at the lounge. It also comes with other perks from companies such as DoorDash, Lyft, and the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection.

Plus, the 50,000 points earned as a sign-up bonus are worth at least $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards — even more when transferred to airline and hotel partners. You’ll earn 10x points on hotels and car rentals purchased through the Chase portal and 3x points on all other travel. You can earn 10x points on limited-option Chase Dining purchases and you’ll still get 3x points at other bars and restaurants, including takeout and delivery.

Pros

• 50% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase
• Priority Pass membership for lounge access
• Global Entry/TSA Precheck covered
• Points are easy to earn; easy to use

Cons

• High annual fee
• Lower sign-up bonus than Preferred

Best Card for Lounge Access: American Express Platinum

• Annual Fee: $695
• Sign-up Bonus: 100,000 points
• Rewards Rate: 1x-10x

The luxury life is within reach simply by owning the Platinum Card from American Express. Not only does it give you Priority Pass lounge membership, but you’ll also have access to special Amex lounges and Delta SkyClub (when flying Delta). Platinum cardholders also receive automatic status with both Marriott and Hilton in addition to a plethora of other premium travel perks.

To help recoup the high annual fee, Amex offers several, yet somewhat complicated, credits. You’ll get $200 in Uber cash ($15/month plus an extra $20 in December) to use for rides or UberEats orders in the U.S. The card also gives you up to $240 ($20/month) in digital entertainment credits and $100 in statement credits for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases (up to $50 semi-annually). And in addition to covering Global Entry/TSA Precheck, you’ll also get up to $179 to cover a Clear membership.

Some of the most useful credits for travelers are its $200 hotel credit and $200 airline fee credit, though these are for select prepaid hotel bookings through Amex travel and you can only choose one airline for which you’ll receive credits on incidental fees such as baggage and seat selection. Basically, there are many ways to recover the annual fee, but you’ll have to make an effort to do so (enrollment is required for each benefit) and you may find yourself buying things you never would have otherwise.

The current sign-up bonus is enough reason to get this card for the first year. 100,000 points are worth at least $1,000 through Amex travel, but the real value comes with the ability to transfer Membership Rewards points to 20 different travel partners and redeem points or miles at a higher value. You’ll earn 5x points on airfare booked directly with airlines or for flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com. And you’ll earn 10x points at restaurants worldwide and eligible small business purchases within the U.S. during the first six months of membership.

Pros

• Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
• Points transfer 1:1 to several high-value travel partners
• Premium travel assistance and perks

Cons

• Very high annual fee
• American Express isn’t as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard
• Credits can be complicated to use

Best Card for Beginners: Capital One Venture Rewards Card

• Annual Fee: $95
• Sign-up Bonus: 60,000 miles
• Rewards Rate: 2x

If you’re just starting out with a travel rewards card and want to keep it simple, the Capital One Venture Rewards card offers a flat earning rate of 2x miles per dollar spent on any purchase. And miles can be redeemed for any travel expense so you can book wherever you like and then just erase the purchase from your statement using your miles.

For added flexibility, you can also transfer miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs which may give you an even better value. The moderate annual fee can be recuperated in the first year by signing up for Global Entry or TSA Precheck and receiving up to a $100 credit. Plus, after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, you’ll receive 60,000 bonus miles, which will cover $600 in travel expenses.

Pros

• Simple 2x earning rate for all purchases
• Easy to redeem miles
• Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit

Cons

• Annual fee
• Other cards can earn more points on travel/dining purchases

Best No Annual Fee Card: Amex EveryDay Credit Card

• Annual Fee: $0
• Sign-up Bonus: 10,000 points
• Rewards Rate: 1x-2x

If you can’t fathom paying an annual fee for the privilege of having a credit card, then you may want to try the Amex EveryDay Credit Card. It’s one of the few no annual fee credit cards that earns transferrable rewards points on its own. This means the points you earn can be transferred to Amex’s excellent travel partners where they can be redeemed for an incredible value.

The 2x points earned on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year is a great way to rack up some travel rewards by simply paying for a basic expense with your Amex EveryDay card. You’ll also earn double membership rewards for eligible travel bookings at AmexTravel.com and an extra 20% bonus on purchases if you use your card 20 or more times during a billing cycle. The modest 10,000 bonus points will be earned after spending just $1,000 in your first 3 months.

Pros

• No annual fee
• Excellent redemption opportunities through partners
• 2x points on groceries

Cons

• No credits or premium perks
• Amex is not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard

Note: Sign-up bonuses and annual fees listed are current at the time of publication and are always subject to change.

The post The Best Credit Cards for Travelers appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Tipping in Greece is customary, but is by no means obligatory. This Greece tipping guide will help you navigate when/where you can leave a little extra for great service.

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Tipping in Greece

Tipping in Greece may be expected in most places, but it is by no means an obligation. There is no set standard for how much to leave when service exceeds expectations, but there are certain times when it’s expected you’ll tip. For instance, some restaurants may round up the bill to include gratuity, so it is wise to look for this inclusion before tipping. Note that it’s also common for servers not to receive tips included on a credit card, so try to leave cash whenever possible so ensure the person you’re trying to tip actually receives the gratuity.

Want to know when to tip for other services? Read on to make sense of where, when, and how much to tip when you’re traveling in Greece.

How To Tip In Greece

Cafe Server:

Greece doesn’t have a strong culture of tipping at cafes. But if there is a tip jar by the cash register, it’s a nice gesture to leave a couple of coins. For exceptional table service, round up to the nearest €1.

Restaurant Server:

A tip is typically expected, especially for stellar service, but some restaurants round up the bill to include gratuity. Check the bill first for these inclusions before deciding whether or not to tip. If there is no added tip, leave 5 to 10 percent, and a few coins on the table for the busser. Some restaurants may refuse gratuity for service, so if you’re unsure, you can certainly ask before tipping. There may be a “cover charge” on the bill, which covers the cost of bread and non-bottled water, but doesn’t include gratuity.

Bartender:

At bars, it’s not necessary to tip a bartender, as most do not expect it; but it is considerate to round to the nearest €1 for great service.

Tour Guides:

In Greece, it’s customary to tip tour guides. Tip €2 to €5 per person, per day for a group tour; and €20 per person, per day for a private tour.

Taxis:

A good rule of thumb is to round up to the nearest euro. This approach simplifies paying with cash, and it’s not an unusual way to tip without actually tipping. For exceptional service, or if you use a taxi driver for multiple stops, for a longer distance, or as a guide, you might add 5 to 10 percent of the final fare to your total payment.

Airport Shuttle Driver:

It is not necessary to tip your driver, but feel free to give €1 per bag if they help with your luggage.

Doorman:

If a doorman assists with luggage or hailing transportation, a simple thank you is appreciated. But for exceptional service, it certainly wouldn’t be remiss to offer €1.

Bellhop:

At hotels, feel free to tip the bellhop €1 to €2 per bag delivered to your room, but no more than €5 total. 

Housecleaning:

At hotels, or in vacation rentals that have daily cleaning services, it’s customary to leave €1 per night, especially if the cleaner is doing a great job.

Concierge:

If the concierge goes above and beyond with helping you book reservations, giving you directions, and/or providing insider recommendations, it’s considerate to tip €5 to €10. For answers to quick questions, though, you shouldn’t feel obligated.

Stylist:

For haircuts, shampoos, trims, and shaves, it’s considerate, but not expected, to tip 10 percent of the final bill if you’re satisfied with your new look.

Spa Service Provider:

A tip isn’t expected, but you can leave up to 10 percent for anything that goes above and beyond your expectations. Simply ask for an envelope for the tip at the front desk, and then either deliver the envelope to your provider or leave the tip at the front desk.

More from SmarterTravel:

• Tipping: The Ultimate Guide to Tipping for Travelers
• Does the Hotel Maid Look Through Your Stuff?
• Hotel Tipping—Do You or Don’t You?

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The post Tipping in Greece: The Greece Tipping Guide appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Maybe you can’t afford to fly in first class or stay in a luxury hotel, but that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in a travel upgrade or two on your next trip. Make your trip a little more comfortable by treating yourself to one of these affordable luxuries for $100 or less.

Expedited Screening and Reentry

One travel upgrade that always feels indulgent is strolling right past those tedious lines at the airport. Global Entry membership costs $100 for five years and entitles you to expedited reentry to the U.S. after international trips. Instead of standing in line at customs along with hundreds of other people after a long-haul international flight, simply enter your passport into a kiosk, offer your fingerprints, tap the screen to answer a few questions, and get on with your day. Global Entry members also get TSA PreCheck membership.

A slightly cheaper alternative is to get PreCheck alone ($85 for five years) and use the free Mobile Passport app for expedited reentry. Note, however, that Mobile Passport is available at fewer U.S. airports than Global Entry.

Skip-the-Line Tickets

Speaking of skipping long lines, why not do the same at popular tourist attractions? You could easily waste an hour or more of your vacation waiting to get into places like the London Eye, Vatican Museums, or Empire State Building if you don’t buy your ticket in advance. In many cases you can purchase tickets online at the attraction’s website. Alternatively, check out SmarterTravel’s sister site, Viator, for skip-the-line tickets that often include other extras such as guided tours or early access.

Airport Lounge Pass

Between the free drinks and snacks and the quiet atmosphere, an airport lounge can be an oasis in the heart of a busy, noisy airport. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a first-class passenger or an elite flyer to get in. Many U.S. airlines sell day passes to their lounges for $50 to $60—or you can purchase passes for hundreds of lounges around the world through Lounge Pass. Prices vary but usually range from $30 to $60.

To learn more, see these seven ways to score airport lounge access.

Credit Cards with Perks

Carrying the right credit card can entitle you to a number of travel perks, and you don’t have to pay a hefty annual fee to get them. For example, the United Explorer Card entitles you to priority boarding, two passes into the United Club airport lounge, a free checked bag, and $100 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck; the $95 annual fee is waived in your first year as a cardholder.

Opt for the Bold (no annual fee) or Boundless ($95 annual fee) card from Marriott Bonvoy and you’ll get automatic Silver Elite status, with perks such as priority late checkout, free Wi-Fi, and keyless room access using your phone.

Prefer Hilton? Try the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, which offers benefits such as 10 free airport lounge visits via Priority Pass and a free weekend night when you spend at least $15,000 in a calendar year. You’ll also enjoy late checkout, complimentary breakfast at all hotels, and other perks of Hilton Honors Gold status.

To learn more about travel credit cards, see Airfarewatchdog, SmarterTravel’s sister site.

Curbside Check-in

Instead of fumbling with an airline kiosk and waiting in line to drop off your checked bag, use your airline’s curbside check-in service to hand over your suitcase to a friendly skycap as soon as you step out of your car. The cost is usually a gratuity and perhaps a small per-bag fee.

Airport Chair Massage

You may not have the time or money for a full-length massage between flights, but many airports have mini-spas where you can enjoy an affordable 10- to 20-minute treatment to work out the kinks in your neck, shoulders, hands, or feet.

In-Flight Comforts

While nothing can make a coach-class seat truly comfortable, bringing a few key in-flight accessories can help you create your own mini travel upgrade. Skip the thin, dubiously clean airplane blanket and bring a softer option instead, along with a silk eye mask to help you block out harsh overhead lights and flickering screens.

If you can’t afford Bose’s pricey noise-canceling headphones, consider cheaper options from Linner or Cowin.

In-Room Comforts

Just as you’d upgrade your airplane seat with a few accessories to maximize comfort, you can do the same in your hotel room. For example, a white noise machine can help you sleep more soundly by blocking out noises from neighboring rooms, and a pillow spray can cover up any lingering odors from harsh cleaning supplies. For more ideas, see these nine ways to make your hotel room more comfortable.

A Better Airplane Seat

Don’t just settle for any old economy seat. When you check in for your flight, take a look at your options on the seating chart and see if you can buy your way into a better spot. While a travel upgrade budget of $100 isn’t likely to get you into first or business class, you may be able to land an exit row seat with bonus legroom, or a window or aisle seat right near the front of the economy cabin. On shorter flights, you might even be able to upgrade to premium economy for $100 or less.

Breakfast in Bed

Sure, it’s a little overpriced, but there’s nothing like room service for getting a vacation day off to a lazy and relaxing start—especially on the first full day of your trip, when you’re still tired and jet lagged from your flight. Order some coffee and your meal of choice, and enjoy them in your pajamas from the comfort of your hotel bed.

A Vacation Rental Instead of a Hotel Room

In many parts of the world, you can get a lot more space for the same price as a hotel room by booking a rental apartment or home instead. Vacation rentals are a particularly good deal for families and groups who want to share a space—including kitchen and laundry facilities—rather than book multiple hotel rooms. Find properties on TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company), Airbnb, HomeAway, and other vacation rental sites.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 10 Packable Items That Will Upgrade Your Vacation
• How to Get a Hotel Upgrade for Free
• 9 DIY Ways to Upgrade Economy Class

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

The post 11 Ways to Upgrade Your Next Trip for $100 or Less appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Travel experts (myself included) will always recommend that you rely primarily on plastic while traveling: specifically, credit cards for big-ticket items and debit ATM cards for cash on arrival. The longstanding issue with that practice has always been foreign transaction fees—but you might be surprised to hear that this pesky type of fee is becoming less and less relevant.

In many cases you can now avoid foreign transaction fees entirely, while in others you’ll pay them, but will ultimately lose less money than any other cash-acquirement option. For foreign travel, especially, you can’t beat plastic: In fact, you may actually need credit cards in more and more places as they opt out of cash all together. Cashless retail outlets are becoming widespread, especially in Sweden and across China, with some places refusing to accept any paper currency at all.

Beating Foreign Transaction Fees on Credit Cards

Credit cards have improved dramatically in recent years for overseas purchases. About a decade ago, most banks had a three percent surcharge on foreign credit card purchases—even purchases in U.S. dollars. But now, most big issuers—including Chase, Bank of America, Capital One, and American Express—offer multiple credit cards with no foreign transaction fees. For the most part, cards that target travelers typically no longer have foreign surcharges. To see a list of cards without foreign transaction fees, see Airfarewatchdog (SmarterTravel’s sister site).

And although you can use a credit card to withdraw cash, that’s not a good idea: With all banks, cash withdrawal on a credit card comes with interest charges, plus fees, as well. The biggest trap for use of credit cards outside the U.S. is now the attempt by some merchants to bill you in dollars rather than local currency. The trap? They convert your bill at a lousy exchange rate. If a transaction ever prompts you to choose between dollars or the local currency, always choose the local currency. Also keep in mind that, even if your card charges a small fee, it’s likely less than the fee any currency exchange counter will take from you.

The best ways to deal with credit card purchases to avoid foreign transaction fees are:

• Use whatever no-surcharge credit card serves you best.
• Don’t let anyone try to bill you in dollars rather than the local currency.
• Don’t use a credit card to acquire cash.
• If your current card adds a surcharge—and you don’t want to apply for a different card—a loss of three percent is still a lot less than your loss converting currency at any exchange counter.

Beating Foreign Transaction Fees on Debit Cards

The foreign transaction fees situation is not as good with debit cards, but still improving.

In most of the world, you can use an ATM card issued by a U.S. bank at an ATM in a foreign country to withdraw local currency. The actual exchange is carried out by the international American Express, MasterCard, or Visa networks, and the exchange fee is typically one percent or less. But most U.S. banks add a surcharge of $3 to $5 per withdrawal from any ATM other than its own ATMs, including virtually all ATMs outside the United States. Many add an exchange surcharge on top of that, as well. And the local ATM operator may add a fee.

For a while, the Global ATM Alliance offered no-fee withdrawals on Bank of America debit cards when used at another member bank’s ATM, but Bank of America later imposed a three-percent exchange surcharge. The main exceptions are many small banks—most notably savings banks, online banks, and credit unions—that waive debit card transaction fees and cover other fees on foreign withdrawals.

And a new debit card problem has emerged in recent years: Many big international hub airports have kicked out ATMs operated by local banks and substituted ATMs operated by exchange bureaus, such as Travelex. The signs on these ATMs say “no fees,” which is somewhat true: Your money is exchanged at the same retail rate you get at the exchange counter, and that rate is typically around 10 to 15 percent worse than the official bank rate. And then there’s your own bank’s fees.

Ways to withdraw local currency from a local ATM without piling on the foreign transaction fees are:

• If your usual ATM card is from a big bank with stiff withdrawal fees, consider opening a no-fee checking account at one of the many small banks that waive or cover foreign ATM charges.
• If you don’t have any local currency when you arrive in a foreign country, avoid airport ATMs operated by exchange bureaus if you can. If you can’t, get only as much as you need to get to your hotel.

And finally: Traveler’s checks? Not if you’re living in the 21st century. You’ll have a lot of trouble finding a bank that will exchange these checks, if you still have them. A lot has changed in travel banking in the past couple of decades—for the better.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 10 Smart Ways to Carry Money While Traveling
• 10 Travel Money Mistakes to Avoid
• What Happens When a Travel Provider Shuts Down Suddenly?

Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuses every day at SmarterTravel.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2012. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

The post How to Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Will you regret not buying travel insurance? Sometimes costly and often confusing, travel insurance coverage might seem like a trip-planning technicality that’s all too easy to ignore. But Murphy’s law is Murphy’s law, and a good policy could afford you priceless peace of mind. Below are a few things to know about travel insurance before you purchase coverage, including which policies might work best for your type of trip, which policies could be completely useless, and how to shop for the best plan.

You Might Need It

Is travel insurance worth it? That’s the big question for any traveler considering travel insurance. Here’s my general rule: If you’re taking a long, expensive, or ambitious trip to a far-flung destination, travel insurance could be a smart choice. If a natural disaster or sudden illness were to ruin your travel plans, would you lose a great deal of money? Is this the trip of a lifetime? Have you been saving for this getaway for years? Are you traveling to a place with poor local healthcare facilities? Are your accommodations and plane tickets costly and nonrefundable? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you’d do well to seriously consider a plan.

Policies generally cost 5 to 15 percent of the total cost of a trip, depending on the age of the traveler, the level of coverage, and your trip details. If a good policy fits within your budget, it certainly can’t hurt to guard your health and your wallet against calamity.

Your Homeowner’s or Renter’s Insurance Might Offer Sufficient Coverage

If it’s simply your valuables you’re worried about, travel insurance might not be your best bet. Although many travel insurance policies include coverage of stolen or lost items, your belongings may already be covered by homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.

Most homeowner’s and renter’s policies will cover your belongings even if they’re off premises, though you may be limited to 10 percent of the total value of your coverage. If you have a policy like this, travel insurance policies that include coverage for baggage or personal items could be unnecessary. Consumer advocate and SmarterTravel contributor Ed Perkins advises, “Buying a bundled policy is clearly overkill if you just want property coverage.”

Your Credit Card Might Be Enough

Check your credit card’s travel protections, too. According to Ed Perkins, “Several premium credit cards include baggage coverage, provided you pay the entire trip cost with the card. The American Express Green Card, for example, covers replacement cost, not just depreciated cost, and it even covers up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage. This is a no-charge extra. Many Mastercard and Visa credit cards also offer similar benefits, depending on the issuing bank.”

Trip Cancellation Insurance Only Covers Select Reasons

Trip cancellation insurance is a good coverage option when you’ve paid a substantial amount of money for a getaway and wouldn’t be able to comfortably absorb the financial loss if your trip fell through. If things don’t work out, you’ll at least get your nonrefundable, prepaid travel costs back.

It’s important to note, though, that you’ll only get a payout if your travel plans are canceled for reasons listed in the policy. For example, the OneTrip Cancellation Plus plan from Allianz Travel covers trips canceled for a range of reasons, including illness or injury to you or a travel companion, the loss of your job, and a natural disaster that prevents you from getting to your destination. Not on the list? If your family member has a baby, if you get a new job voluntarily and can no longer take the time off for vacation, or if your pet falls ill.

You can protect yourself against any conceivable reason for cancellation with a cancel-for-any-reason policy.

Read the Fine Print

This one’s a given, but it’s one of the ultra-important things to know about travel insurance: Read the fine print. In the unlikely event that you’ll have to use your travel insurance policy, you want nothing to come as a surprise. For example, depending on the policy, hurricane coverage doesn’t apply if you buy the insurance after the storm in question has been named; that’s a bit of (seemingly arbitrary) fine print that could essentially nullify a policy purchased too late. Take the time to read the details of your plan and become familiar with the documentation you might need when submitting a claim. Take note of coverage limits and exclusions.

Many travel insurance plans come with a review period; this is a grace period during which you can look over your policy and make adjustments.

You Might Be Covered Under Your Current Health Plan

Check your health insurance policy to see whether you’re covered for medical care in a foreign country. Some plans offer full coverage abroad; others offer spotty coverage; and still others, such as Medicare and Medicaid, don’t provide much medical coverage outside of the U.S. at all.

If you lack adequate medical coverage overseas, consider a travel insurance policy with primary or secondary medical coverage. A primary policy will function as your go-to coverage in the event of accident or illness, whereas a secondary plan can be used as a backup to a health insurance policy that offers limited overseas coverage.

An Evacuation Plan Could Be a Good Idea

Some insurance plans are evacuation plans; that is, in the event you need medical care, your insurance provider will pay for the costs of getting you to a hospital. If you suffer a serious illness or accident while abroad in a remote location, the most expensive component of treatment will likely be evacuation. Depending on where you are, it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fly you to a hospital or your home country for emergency treatment; an evacuation plan will cover these costs.

There are two things you should know about this benefit: First, evacuation policies may only cover the costs of transportation to the hospital—not your medical expenses. Second, you may not be able to choose your hospital. While some policies offer a “hospital of choice” option that allows you to pick a preferred hospital, others don’t and will simply take you to the nearest facility deemed appropriate by the insurance company. As always, read the fine print.

Aggregator Sites Can Help You Shop

An easy way to compare plans when shopping for insurance is to use an online agency that functions as an aggregator. On such sites, you’ll enter details about yourself and your trip and get a results list of suggested policies. Check out sites like InsureMyTrip and Squaremouth, both of which allow users to perform side-by-side comparisons of different travel insurance plans and to read customer reviews.

What to Wear on Your Next Trip

More from SmarterTravel:

• How Annual Travel Insurance Could Save You Money
• The 8 Worst Travel Decisions You Can Make on Vacation
• Cruise Insurance: Everything You Need to Know

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2014. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

The post 8 Vital Things to Know About Travel Insurance appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Airport lounges hold a sort of mystical appeal for the weary budget traveler. What oasis lies behind those discreet doors? What peaceful pleasures are bestowed upon those fortunate enough to cross that threshold? Well, for the most part you’ll find snacks, beverages, comfortable seating, and a generally quieter environment than the terminal gates and food courts. (And sometimes, really magical lounges even have showers.)

Airport lounges can be a much-needed respite, particularly for frequent flyers looking for a moment’s rest amidst a packed schedule and long flight delays or layovers. But access is usually limited to elite frequent flyers or travelers with the means (read: bank account) required to fork over hundreds of dollars a year for membership or elite status.

But if you only want to use a lounge a few to several times a year, there are economical third-party options available, usually in the form of a membership or a pay-as-you-go service. Lounge passes like Priority Pass can also be a great way to save money at the airport if you typically dine or drink on a long layover; pricey airport meals add up quickly. Let’s review two popular examples of these services to weigh the price and advantages of each.

Priority Pass

One of the most popular lounge pass options out there, Priority Pass, is a membership service that provides lounge access at a meaningful discount over airline-affiliated lounges. The program offers three membership tiers:

• Standard (for “occasional travelers”): $99 annual fee plus $32 per lounge visit
• Standard Plus (for “regular travelers”): $249 annual fee; covers 10 visits, additional visits are $32 each
• Prestige (for “frequent travelers”): $429, unlimited lounge visits

Right off the bat, the only Priority Pass tiers that really make sense are the Plus and Prestige. Let’s do some quick math: If you opt for the Standard tier and make five lounge visits in a year, your total cost (including the annual fee) would be $259. That’s $10 more than the Standard Plus tier for half as many lounge visits. In other words, Standard is not a good deal.

Fine, let’s say you purchase the Standard and make just three lounge visits instead of five: You’d spend $195 total, or roughly $65 per visit, which we’ll see later is still a substantial overpay for lounge access. Even if you’re using Standard minimally, it’s not a good deal.

Conversely, the Standard Plus option actually delivers decent value if you use it six or more times per year, and especially if you use the full 10. At six visits, the per-visit cost for the Standard Plus would be $41, going down to $25 per visit if you use the full 10. Just $41 is reasonable for a lounge visit, and $25 is relatively cheap, not to mention about how much you probably already spend on a sub-par airport meal in the busy terminal.

Long story short, for most travelers it’s Standard Plus or bust. (Note: Guests are $32 per visit, regardless of tier.)

As for what you get, Priority Pass grants access to 1,200 lounges. The options include a mix of independently-owned and airline-affiliated options, but if you aren’t picky there’s a good chance you’ll find something in your airport. That said, check before you sign up to make sure your most frequented airports and terminals have facilities covered by Priority Pass. In Boston, for example, Priority Pass only offered facilities in Terminals B, C, and E, and the Terminal B option isn’t lounge access at all: it’s a $28 discount at one of the post-security restaurants, instead. Priority Pass has relationships with several credit cards that offer this restaurant credit, but American Express notably reduced its agreement earlier this month.

Lounge Pass

On the other end of the spectrum we have Lounge Pass, a fairly a straightforward a la carte service that lets you book individual lounge visits. Lounge Pass says you can book these for as little as $19 per visit, but that will vary. The Lounge Pass network is smaller, with just 500 lounges available at 300 airports worldwide.

As for pricing, a quick search of Boston, again, delivered three options (and no odd restaurant discount situations) available for between $35 and $40 per visit. I found similar prices in Seattle ($40), Chicago O’Hare ($40), Dulles in Washington, D.C. ($50), and Newark ($38). Compare these prices to the per-visit cost of a Standard and it’s clear this is the better option for less-frequent travelers, especially considering many of the lounges are the same in both programs.

The Verdict

Priority Pass and Lounge Pass are both owned and operated by the same company, Collinson, which also provides various loyalty and customer experience services to major airlines, as well as to retailers, banks, and other businesses. In effect, these two options are simply different versions of the same product.

Priority Pass does throw in some window-dressing benefits, including vague “exclusive offers,” 24/7 membership support, and a mobile app with a digital membership card and the ability to pre-order take-out from airport restaurants. (But, aren’t the lounges supposed to have food?) These are certainly nice to have, but don’t add significant value to the program.

Ultimately, which version you prefer probably depends on how much money you’re willing to shell out in one purchase, and how often you use or surmise you’d need an airport lounge. Priority Pass is a good pay-ahead option if you fly more often, while Lounge Pass is more pay-as-you-need for less-frequent or non-business travelers.

What to Wear in the Airport

Readers, have you ever booked an airport lounge for your travels? What service did you use? Comment below.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 4 Ways to Get into the Airport Lounge
• New Priority Pass Deals Point to Overcrowded Airport Lounges
• Are Independent Airport Lounges Worth the Price?

The post Priority Pass vs. Lounge Pass: Which Is Better for Affordable Airport Lounge Access? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

The post How to Get Global Entry or TSA PreCheck for Free appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Most car rental companies have long required that their customers use a credit card when reserving a car. Renting a car with a debit card has always meant incurring restrictions and extra fees. But thanks to the rising number of frugal customers who don’t have or don’t want to use credit cards, that’s finally changing.

Dollar Rent-a-Car just announced its new policy specifically aimed at making it easier than ever to reserve a car using a debit card. In a release, the company said its new policy “will eliminate credit checks, reduce proof of return travel and ID requirements, while also lowering the car rental age restriction from 25 to 20 years old.” Thifty will offer the same policy. Hertz owns both companies.

Under the new policy, rentals booked more than 24 hours in advance will only require a debit card and driver’s license. Dollar is also reducing the incidental hold amount from $350 to $200, plus the cost of the rental, for both debit card and credit card rentals. Rentals booked less than 24 hours in advance, or rentals for specialty vehicles, will require two forms of identification and proof of return travel plans.

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The Bias Against Renting a Car with a Debit Card

“Rental car companies tend to view debit-card customers as riskier than those who pay with credit cards,” writes Josh Barro of New York Magazine‘s Intelligencer. “They take the lack of a credit card as a warning sign of bad credit, and therefore think a renter who wishes to pay with a debit card may be less trustworthy with an expensive piece of equipment like a car. They also worry a debit card may be linked to an account that doesn’t contain enough cash to satisfy unexpected charges a customer might incur, such as for a late return.”

Credit cards give rental car companies some protection in the event of a worst-case scenario. If a debit card customer drives off into the sunset with a rental, the company’s recourse is limited to whatever case is available in the customer’s account. Do you have enough money in your debit account to cover the retrieval and likely repair or even replacement of a late-model Ford Focus? Probably not. And you aren’t alone. With a credit card, the company is more likely to receive some compensation for its loss or hardship.

Why It’s Changing

However, the credit card policy has long inconvenienced a large swath of customers, especially younger people. Most car rental companies forbid debit card rentals to customers under 25, and many customers between under 25 are the ones who don’t have credit cards to begin with. Rental companies also hit these customers with an extra fee, even if they do book with a credit card, and credit checks are a hassle that can ding your credit. Never mind that it’s generally good practice to avoid using credit cards when possible.

“For more than 27 years, I’ve been on the radio helping families win with their money, including telling people to cut up their credit cards and only use debit cards,” Dave Ramsey, a financial advisor, said in Dollar’s statement. “I’ve also heard from a lot of callers frustrated while looking for a car rental company that would accept debit cards without all the run around.”

This new policy eliminates those headaches. It’s also no secret that the customer most affected by the policy—customers in their early twenties—are among the most likely to use car-sharing services and other transportation options instead. Eliminating these debit card restrictions might make renting a more appealing and possibly more affordable option for these customers when they travel.  The big question is if other companies will follow suit.

Readers, have you ever rented a car with a debit card? Will this policy make you more likely to rent? Comment below.

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More from SmarterTravel:

• 9 Nasty Truths About Car Rental Insurance
• 10 Clever Car Rental Hacks That’ll Save You Money
• Can Peer-to-Peer Car Rentals Solve Your Airport Parking Problems?

The post No Credit Card? Renting a Car with a Debit Card Just Got Easier appeared first on SmarterTravel.