International travel has gotten easier in many ways, but a little planning can still save you money, stress, and time. Here are a few practical tips we’ve picked up through our own travels.
Use the right credit card. Many destinations now prefer credit cards over cash. A card with no foreign transaction fees is key. If asked whether to pay in U.S. dollars or the local currency, choose the local currency. Credit card conversion rates are often better than the merchant’s. I personally use the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which includes travel insurance. While it’s not a substitute for comprehensive coverage on major trips, we’ve used it multiple times to cover hotel costs for weather delays airlines wouldn’t reimburse.
Be strategic about cash. For tips, taxis, or cash-based economies, avoid exchanging money at airports, hotels, or tourist areas where fees are usually higher. Instead, use a local bank ATM once you arrive for better rates.
Back up your passport. Take a clear photo of your passport and store it securely on your phone or in cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox). On one trip, we left our passports in a hotel safe and didn’t realize it until after a six-hour train ride. Having copies helped us navigate customs until the hotel could ship them back.
Skip expensive cell phone plans with an eSIM. An eSIM lets you add a prepaid local data plan to your smartphone phone without swapping SIM cards. The local phone number itself may not matter, but the data access for maps, translation apps, ride-shares, and messaging all work seamlessly. We find WhatsApp the most reliable way to stay in touch abroad as iMessage and Google Message may not work on your eSIM. Pro tip: Many US Carriers will lock down new phones and prevent eSIM activation for a period after purchase or until the device is paid off. Contact your carrier in advance of your tip to ensure your device is not locked.
Pack light. Avoid baggage fees by packing less and using local laundry services. I recently spent 10 days in Costa Rica with only a carry-on. I used AI tools like Copilot or ChatGPT to generate a weather- and activity-based packing list and identify a laundry service that picked up from the hotel and returned everything the next day for under $20. Pro tip: many vendors outside the U.S. use WhatsApp for easy communication.
Share your best tips with us. What are your best travel tips? Share them with us. We always learn so much from you.
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