Travel Checklist

Keeping your identity safe and your finances in order when you travel can be tricky. Use this simple checklist to make sure you are prepared for a big vacation:

3 months before:

• Calculate how much you will spend per day during your vacation.
• Create a plan for saving the amount of money you'll need. Avoid relying on credit cards to fund your vacation.
• Research your vacation destination. Will it be easy to find ATMs? Can you use credit cards? Will you need to take a lot of cash with you?

1 month before:

• Make copies of your passports, credit cards, and travel itinerary. Keep one copy with you and leave one at home with a friend or relative that you can contact in an emergency.
• Verify that your credit cards will work internationally by calling your creditors or researching online.
• Investigate what fees you may be charged for using your credit cards and ATM cards overseas.
• Request traveler's checks from your bank to take with you for emergencies.
• Place sensitive records, valuables, and financial documents stored at home in a locked drawer or safe deposit box. A house sitter or robber could steal these files to commit identity theft while you are away.

1 week before:

• Call your credit card issuers to let them know that you'll be traveling internationally. If you don't alert your creditors, they may lock your accounts at the first sign of a suspicious charge from a foreign country.
• Pack lightly, especially if it is going to be inexpensive to shop at your destination. It's fun to bring home new shampoo and clothes from a foreign country as souvenirs.
• Request a mail hold through the US Post Office online.
• Put a vacation hold on any newspapers delivered to your home.
• Pay your credit card, utility, phone, and loan bills in advance online or by mail. You wouldn't want to damage your credit with a late payment while traveling.
• Remove unnecessary identification cards and credit cards from your wallet. Also, leave your checkbook at home.
• Withdraw some cash from the bank to take with you on your trip.

During your trip:

• Enjoy your vacation!
• Carry your credit cards, traveler's checks, cash, and valuables with you on the plane instead of in a checked piece of luggage.
• Use credit cards instead of ATM cards when possible. Fraudulent charges through a credit card are easier to report and remove.
• When traveling internationally, try to make a few large ATM withdrawals instead of many smaller withdrawals. You may be charged a fee for each transaction.
• Avoid using your credit cards to get cash from an ATM or bank. This transaction usually comes with expensive fees and high interest rates.
• Keep receipts of your ATM and credit card transactions for future reference.
• Store your emergency cash, traveler's checks, photocopies of your documents, and other valuables in a hotel safe or locked suitcase when you are away from your room.
• Exchange your currency with an established bank. Hotels, vendors, and people converting money on the street will probably offer expensive exchange rates.
• If possible, occasionally check your bank and credit card accounts online from a secure internet café.
• Keep a close eye on your purse or wallet. If your wallet is lost or stolen, report it immediately to prevent identity theft.

When you return:

• Share your vacation souvenirs and photos with friends!
• Check your accounts for signs of unauthorized purchases or identity theft. Use the receipts you saved to evaluate your bills.
• Check your credit reports and credit scores for signs of international identity theft.
• Collect mail that was held by the US Post Office.
• Deposit any unused cash or traveler's checks back into your bank account.
• Convert leftover international currency back to US dollars at your local bank.
• Use the money you saved before your trip to pay off vacation credit card balances right away.
• Store the photocopies of your passport and credit cards in a safe place for future reference…or future travels!