Essential credit card tips for a smooth summer vacation | PennyWise podcast

As summer travel heats up, it's crucial to ensure your credit cards are ready for the journey. In this episode of PennyWise, host Nat Cardona and financial expert Sally French from NerdWallet dive into a comprehensive credit card checklist to maximize your travel experience.

They start by emphasizing the importance of bringing a credit card on your trip. Many aspects of travel, such as renting cars or purchasing in-flight amenities, often require a credit card. Sally explains the benefits of using travel credit cards, including earning higher rewards on dining and travel expenses, and the underrated perk of TSA Precheck or Global Entry fee reimbursement offered by many cards.

The episode also highlights the value of airport lounge access provided by certain credit cards. These lounges offer a range of amenities, from complimentary coffee to full buffets and showers, making your wait time at the airport more enjoyable and productive.

Another critical point discussed is notifying your credit card issuer of your travel plans, especially for international trips. This helps prevent your card from being frozen due to suspected fraudulent activity. Sally advises checking if your card requires this notification and how to easily set it up online.

Foreign transaction fees can add up quickly, so the duo recommends researching and applying for travel credit cards that waive these fees. Many cards offer this benefit, ensuring you don't pay extra for your international purchases.

Finally, they discuss the importance of using the most rewarding credit card for your purchases and taking advantage of money-saving offers. Whether it's earning extra points on hotel stays or getting cashback on rideshares, these rewards can significantly offset your travel costs.