Know AAA: TRAVEL

“Travel Money” products updated

Experienced travelers know that the last five years have seen major changes in the financial aspects of traveling—the introduction of the Euro, the public's desire to make money matters easier while traveling, and concerns over financial security if a purse or wallet is lost or stolen during a trip.

What should you carry while traveling internationally? Travel experts agree that it's best to have a combination of credit cards, a debit card and cash. Credit cards and debit cards are safer than carrying cash, but travelers should be aware there is a fee (ranging from 2% to 12%) to convert a foreign purchase into U.S. dollars. Travelers' checks are becoming less popular as international merchants show a growing reluctance to accept them.

Because of such worldwide travel changes, additional security issues and the desire to make travel easier, AAA Colorado has updated its “travel money” products. Following are the highlights:

AAA Visa Credit Card: Credit cards are ideal for international travelers, primarily because they are accepted worldwide and are safer to carry than cash. Ask what your credit card's conversion rate is; the AAA Visa credit card's conversion rate is 2%—one of the best in the market today. Remember to alert your card issuers in advance that you will be traveling overseas. To complete an application for the AAA Visa credit card call 866-665-3581 and mention code FAAPAJ or go to www.aaa.com and click on “Insurance/Financial.” For customer service on an existing AAA Visa credit card, call 800-807-3068 or visit www.aaanetaccess.com.

Visa TravelMoney Card: You pre-load a dollar amount—minimum card load $250; maximum card load in a AAA office is $9,999 ($1,500 online). The card is accepted at millions of locations that accept Visa debit cards and more than 1 million ATMs. The cards are especially helpful for children traveling overseas because they are reloadable, replaced easily if lost or stolen, and are not attached to any personal account. The conversion rate is 5% and other nominal fees may apply. The Visa TravelMoney Card is available at select AAA offices and online at www.aaa.com.

Foreign Currency Travelers' Checks: AAA Colorado is discontinuing the sale of foreign currency travelers' checks in all offices, effective May 15; U.S. travelers' checks are available at select AAA offices and online at www.aaa.com.

Foreign Currency TipPaks: Effective June 1, 2007, AAA Colorado will begin selling these packs, which provide a quick source of local currency for tips, taxis and other small incidentals the moment you step off the airplane. Each pack costs $100 US and contains a mixture of bills and coins in a single currency—Euro, Canadian Dollar, Mexico Peso or Pound. The packs are available at select AAA offices.

AAA Travel—Get much more than free TourBooks, maps and TripTiks. AAA Domestic Travel Counselors can help plan your road trip. AAA Travel Professionals understand national and international travel, from guided tours to independent adventure. AAA Colorado's travel store (in most offices and online) contains books, atlases, luggage and other travel items. Call 866-235-7070, visit a AAA office, go to www.aaa.com.

 

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