Vacationing outside the U.S. soon? Sounds exciting! Whether you’re headed to Paris or Peru, take steps to protect your finances and make the most of your money.  

Travel websites and apps have made it easy to get great deals on transportation, lodging and sight-seeing worldwide. But your international vacation planning isn’t finished the instant that last reservation is made. In the digital age, it’s become even more important to create an international travel checklist. After all, nothing will put a damper on that dream trip more quickly than a debit card crisis in Cairo.

The good news is Ameris Bank has created a handy checklist of travel tips to help you avoid potentially stressful situations. 

Travel Plan Notification 

Fraud prevention is important to Ameris Bank. Before you head to the airport or cruise terminal, tell us which countries you’ll visit and your travel dates. This way, we won’t be worried when we see debit card charges for mountain climbing gear in St. Moritz or museum tickets in Morocco. Without prior travel notification, your account might be frozen because of what seems like suspicious spending in a foreign country.
  
Bonus tip: Take the same pre-trip notification steps for your credit card. 

Sign Up Online

Before you leave, make sure you’re signed up for our free online and mobile banking services. When you’re away, you can view account information via smartphone, tablet or hotel computer. That will allow you to transfer money between accounts as needed and check to see that all listed withdrawals are legitimate. 

Bonus tip: Since you’re logging in from a new location, you’ll likely need to answer security questions to access your account. Make sure you know the right answers before leaving home.

Know Your Limits

It’s important to understand if there are any daily spending limits on your debit card. If you unexpectedly exceed your limit, you might miss out on those Mayan blouses in Mexico or religious artifacts in Rome.
 
Bonus tip: We can temporarily raise your daily spending limits for special purposes, such as vacations. Ask about this service before you leave home.

Get Those Numbers

Sure, you know your PIN by heart. Be sure to save Ameris Bank’s customer service number, so you can call in case of an emergency: 866-616-6020. While you’re at it, make note of the equivalent number for your credit card companies.

Bonus tip: Before jetting off, ask your cell service provider about international calling rates. There are many tales of travelers who forgot to switch their service and return home to find thousand-dollar phone bills. Major carriers offer modestly priced international calling plans. You can also buy contract-free phones that offer fair rates for international calls. 

Give Yourself Options

You may be planning to lean heavily on a credit card that offers rewards for frequent use. Experts say travelers should carry cash, a debit card and at least two different credit cards. You never know when a card’s magnetic strip will wear out or a place won’t accept a particular card.

Bonus tip: Always pack the credit card you used to book reservations, even if you don’t plan to use it for payments. By checking the card number, businesses can verify your identity and cut down on fraud.
Change Money Wisely

It’s tempting to sprint to the currency exchange booth at the airport to get those euros, pesos or yen. But that’s a recipe for a rip-off. Check with Ameris first for the best exchange rates. If we don’t offer what you need, use overseas ATMs linked to reputable banks, credit card companies or global networks, like PLUS, Cirrus, Maestro or the ATM Global Alliance.

Bonus tip: When traveling, visit ATMs located inside or just outside of banks. ATMs in cafés and town squares are more likely targeted by thieves using surveillance cameras to capture data and empty accounts.

Bon Voyage

All of us at Ameris hope your trip goes off without a hitch. But should you run into any issues, we are always here to help!



Reviewed April 2025

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only, and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.