Going plastic

I know what you're thinking.

"Another travel blog. Seriously?"

While travel blogs seem to have become more popular than American Idol, let me asure you, this is not one of them.

I do love a good travel blog, and thoroughly believe it's the best way to document your travels while also entertaining--and even educating--your family and friends stateside.

This blog, however, is a travel news blog. Emphasis on the "news."

I have some trips in the works, and I thought what better way to research travel ideas, suggestions and current news than to have my own travel news blog.

For this first entry, I've debated over a monumental topic in travel news to look at. What's the best way to get cheap flights? Is it safe to travel in third world countries? How much should I pack? Do I really need to know the language before I travel to a new country?

Instead, I'm truly embracing my American roots and discussing the use of credit cards while abroad. (You know how us Americans love our plastic.) I found a really informative New York Times article by Susan Stellin that offers helpful tips about using a credit credit card in foreign countries.

Stellin suggests calling your bank before traveling abroad, even if it seems unnecessary. I did this before my backpacking trip to Europe, and find it's a good general rule of thumb. If you don't, the bank can automatically freeze your account. If you're stuck in Timbuktu with no cell phone, you might have a tough time getting in touch with the bank to unfreeze it.

(That scenario gives me chills.)

Stellin also talked about PIN vs. magnetic strip credit cards, which I wasn't too familiar with. Turns out, many foreign countries don't even accept cards with magnetic strips. There are also some foreign cards that have chips implemented in them. While most American credit card companies don't even offer chip credit cards anyway, I think I'd rather just stick with carrying extra cash.

Then again, an American walking around Bangladesh with loads of cash on hand is like an open buffet for local thieves, so it's just as great a risk. I guess the infamous cash vs. credit card debate still isn't over yet.