How do I save money when I travel?

You’ve probably dreamt of travelling all year long, planning it down to the last detail. But as it gets closer, many tourists have the same problem – how to keep their money safe while travelling. There’s no need to rack your brains to come up with various hiding places. After all, everything is much simpler than it may seem at first glance. And one of the best ways to protect your finances is with a virtual card, which allows you not to carry cash or even plastic everywhere. But more about that in detail.

Of course, the first thing you think about when you’re travelling is how to visit as many amazing places as possible, seeing the sights and not miss out on anything while having fun. However, if you let your guard down, you could be putting your money at serious risk. It is often the unsuspecting tourists who are on the lookout for thieves. Luckily, there are a few things you should know when travelling abroad as well as across the country. By taking all the necessary precautions, you can enjoy your cherished holiday.

Top tips for saving money when travelling

There are, of course, plenty of great tips on how to avoid being scammed in holiday resorts. Let’s look at the main ones:

1. Advise your bank of your upcoming trip. Very often banks boast a sophisticated fraud monitoring system. It is even possible that the bank will freeze your account if you are shopping in another country while living in one, thinking it to be fraudulent. You are therefore advised to inform your bank when and where you will be travelling. This will make your financial transactions much easier. But it’s also worth making sure that your bank has your mobile phone number so that it can contact you in case fraud is detected.
2. Get rid of any extra cash in your wallet. It’s also best to get rid of any extra discount cards, discount coupons or other plastic that you don’t really need. Cash, on the other hand, is better placed on your Internet card. It is worth noting that you can open an online current account with different banks. You can choose the one that offers the best conditions for you.
3. If you do take cash with you when you travel, it is advisable not to keep it all in one place. If you carry only a small amount of cash with you (in your front pocket, wallet or special money belt). The rest is best hidden securely in a locked safe in your hotel room, for example.
4. When flying or moving, you’d better make sure you don’t put your money in your luggage. This is one of the most important rules when travelling abroad, as your suitcase may need to be searched.
5. If you decide to withdraw cash from an ATM, you should be careful about where you decide to do so. It is best to use only ATMs that are inside bank buildings or directly adjacent to them while on the street for these transactions. It is important to avoid any ATMs that show signs of tampering or if there are any devices in the card’s exit hole. Beware of anything that could help fraudsters read your card information.
6. Set up mobile banking with notification of your card transactions. This way you can always monitor your money, even if you have a virtual debit card.
7. Even if you have issued a prepaid card and linked a free online account to your smartphone, watch or bracelet, you should also be extremely careful. Never use free Wi-Fi internet to access your accounts. Also, you should keep your smartphone password secure.

WestStein Prepaid Card as an aid to keeping your finances safe

You can open a WestStein prepaid card in just 5 minutes. It’s really quick, easy and convenient. In addition to being offered a virtual account, you can get a plastic card to which your salary will be paid, with which you can shop worldwide in euros, and much more. You can apply for a prepaid Mastercard right now by placing an order on our website. We offer the possibility of having up to three of these cards in one current account for your convenience.

Remember that even on holiday you should not relax and leave your savings to fate and luck. Be extremely vigilant, protect your current account and don’t make your wallet an easy prey for crooks. And we, for our part, wish you a pleasant holiday!