Traveling requires a great deal of planning and making sure finances are in order is one piece of that. You will likely want to carry or have access to some cash when traveling. Whether you are going to be sightseeing, shopping, or simply just eating while away from home, ensuring you can get to your money is essential. Knowing where ATMs are and the cost to use them is an important factor in making your trip a success.
If you are flying, you may even want to use an ATM in the airport. ATMs could be located in different locations depending on the specific airport you are in. For example, there may be an ATM close to the ticketing lobby or by the security checkpoint. Other common areas may be by baggage claim or the car rental desk. Larger airports may have ATMs located throughout various concourses and terminals.
Depending on the location, an airport may have one bank provide the ATMs or several banking institutions may have an ATM placed in the airport. Checking with your bank to see where they have ATMs located in your destination city can help you be prepared ahead of time. Also, many banks have agreements with other ATMs that allow you to use them for no fee.
Using an ATM in the city of arrival will be your fastest way to have cash on hand for the rest of your trip. If you are flying internationally, then you will also need to be prepared for currency exchange. Here are some tips for using an ATM in another country:
-Find out which ATMs are affiliated with your local bank. This will save you a lot of money in service charges and potential fees. Most banks back home will have an affiliation with a network of ATMs that are accessible for a smaller or no fee.
-Check on your withdrawal limits. Banks have daily withdrawal limits and potentially monthly withdrawal limits. You may want to ask your bank to increase your withdrawal limit during your period of travel. When doing currency exchange, this could be especially important.
-Brief yourself on fees ATMs may have. Preparing yourself mentally for the cost affiliated with using an ATM in another county will make it less stressful than encountering that at the moment. Having an accurate budget for your travel will help you stay on track with spending for your trip.
-Call your bank in advance of travel to find out what partnerships they have. You may have other questions they can help you with. Letting your bank know of your travel is also a good idea in the event they watch for unusual activity.
-Review the PIN requirement for the ATM you may be using. Often ATM PINs are 4 digits but they can also be 6 digits PINs. Banks may vary based on the area they are in. Again, checking with your bank in advance will help you be prepared for this. If you have a 4-digit PIN and a 6-digit PIN is required, you can try adding 2 zeroes before your PIN and see if this will meet the requirement.
-Be cautious using your ATM card. As always, make sure you use your ATM card safely. If you see anything alarming about the ATM or possible gadget or skimmer, skip the ATM. Make sure you remove your card from the machine and take it with you! Leaving your card behind will certainly lead to a stressful trip.