12 Aug 2016

Traveling to another country? Watch out for additional credit card fees!

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

U.S. citizens should be aware of the additional fees their credit cards may rack up when used in another country (including Canada and Mexico). The two major types of fees are foreign transaction fees and currency conversion fees.

A foreign transaction fee is assessed by the credit card issuer and is usually charged as a percentage of each purchase, generally around 3%. A currency conversion fee, on the other hand, is assessed by the card’s payment processor and is, therefore, less obvious. To find out the full currency conversion fee, a traveler might have to compare their store receipt to the transaction cost on their statement.

Fortunately, there are ways to avoid these additional costs. Some credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees, and some credit card issuers pay the currency conversion fee to the payment processor for the customer. Travelers should consult their credit card company about these fees before making international purchases. And, if you will be in another country for quite a while - be sure to shop around for a "foreign-friendly" credit card before you leave!

Read the full article here:
What Is a Foreign Transaction Fee? #wanderlusting

Travel Tips

Reduce travel stress

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Traveling is stressful, and the stress doesn’t necessarily stop when you reach your destination. So make life easier by having the addresses you need on hand. Also, set the GPS in your phone for audible directions to get you where you’re going. Rent a car, unless you are somewhere taxis or public transit are easier to use, and when you rent, use a loyalty program to save time and paperwork. Check the weather too, to avoid surprises. Finally, allow yourself plenty of extra time.

19 Jan 2015

Are you warming your car before driving? You could be fined.

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Many of us have been told to warm our cars before driving in the winter. Although that was a good procedure in cars before 1990, this is not a good procedure today.

18 Jan 2015

Almost all travelers now use the internet for travel bookings

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Only 10% of the people booking their travels do not use the internet. All others do use various travel sites to book their travels. That is a huge increase since 2006.

18 Jan 2015

You might want to avoid these cities if you are planning a road trip

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

You might want to avoid a car trip to Washington, DC; New York; and Boston, since these are deemed to be the worse cities in America to drive in.

17 Jan 2015

Would you book a hotel room with your car’s GPS?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Book a room nearby with your car's GPS

General Motors has a new service that will let you book hotel rooms right through your car. The paid service is called "AtYourService", and will allow you to find and book a room near you through OnStar at the hotel of your choice, right through Priceline.com.