Safety is the main priority when you are traveling internationally. In fact, an excellent way to ensure your safety traveling abroad is by utilizing a credit card, simply because they come with so many safety features that can protect the traveller, and in turn will protect them from fraud, theft, and lost finances. In this blog we will discuss why a credit card is the safest payment method for international travel, and how they can be a safety net for travellers.
1. Fraud Protection
The best thing about traveling abroad and using a credit card is the fraud protection credit cards provide. If you lose your credit card while traveling, or someone steals it, most credit cards offer a zero-liability policy, which means the credit card provider can’t hold you responsible for fraudulent charges if that person used it fraudulently. Most credit cards will have some form of fraud detection system that can catch an abnormality in your account usage. For example, if your credit card issuer sees your charges at different foreign countries or that you’re withdrawing a lot of money, they will alert you often and quite quick. Some companies will lock your account or temporarily block charges until they verify charges on your credit account.
2. Virtual Credit Cards for Greater Security
One of the newest security features – and one of the best – is the virtual credit card. Virtual cards are the digital versions of your physical credit card. They not only have all the benefits of a credit card, but they also offer some other benefits that make a virtual credit card especially helpful when you travel internationally. While you can make online purchases and physical purchases with virtual credit cards, you can limit your own exposure to fraud and theft. Kiwi has a virtual credit card and makes it easy to use because it’s integrated with UPI, for those who currently use or might use UPI. Using your virtual credit card is smooth and will allow you to easily spend directly from your credit limit. Additionally, using a virtual credit card protects your main account and reduces your chances of your financial account details being disclosed.
3. Global Acceptance and Safe Payment Methods
Another reason that credit cards are the safest payment option for international travellers is global acceptance. Credit card networks are accepted most places in the world and that makes it the easiest way to pay for goods and services during your travels abroad. In-person payment with a credit card is also safe because, most credit cards use chip technology which adds an additional level of security. Anytime the chip is used, a unique code is generated for the transaction making it extremely difficult for fraudsters to copy or duplicate your card.
As a RuPay card, Kiwi is accepted at thousands of merchants across the world, making it an excellent payment option for international travellers. It also has several security benefits including tokenization and two-factor authentication when paying with your card while protecting your financial information for every transaction that is completed with your overall safe payment processes.
4. Benefits of Travel Insurance
Apart from fraud protection, several credit cards offer other benefits associated with traveling, and these benefits can be extremely useful and advantageous when traveling outside of your native country. Travel insurance benefits can include coverage of trip cancellations, interruptions, or delays; lost baggage; emergency medical coverage. For example, many premium credit cards offer travel insurance. This means that many times your credit card issuer will reimburse you for additional expenses, such as accommodation or meals, if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, most credit cards also have emergency medical coverage while traveling abroad.
To finalize, credit cards are undoubtedly the safest and most convenient payment option when traveling abroad. The safety they offer, how widely they are accepted, and how they have perks like travel insurance and emergency assistance make them a necessity for travellers. Kiwi can make this even better by giving you a new option that is as safe as a credit card (as it gives you the same protection) but gives you the convenience of a digital payment option. By choosing the right credit card and using Kiwi, you can be sure your travel experience is safe and hassle-free.
