• World
    • ASIA
      • Thailand
      • Sri Lanka
    • EUROPE
      • England
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Italy
      • Monaco
      • Norway
        • Northern Norway
        • Central Norway
        • Western Norway
        • Eastern Norway
        • Southern Norway
      • Spain
      • Sweden
    • NORTH AMERICA
      • Cuba
      • Dominican Republic
      • Mexico
      • Belize
      • United States of America
    • OCEANIA
      • New Zealand
      • Australia
    • SOUTH AMERICA
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
  • 7 Things to Do Around the World
  • Norway
  • Travel Smart
    • Solo Traveler
    • Road Trip
    • Itinerary
    • Wine Tasting
    • Postcard
    • The Travel Year
  • About
  • World
    • ASIA
      • Thailand
      • Sri Lanka
    • EUROPE
      • England
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Italy
      • Monaco
      • Norway
        • Northern Norway
        • Central Norway
        • Western Norway
        • Eastern Norway
        • Southern Norway
      • Spain
      • Sweden
    • NORTH AMERICA
      • Cuba
      • Dominican Republic
      • Mexico
      • Belize
      • United States of America
    • OCEANIA
      • New Zealand
      • Australia
    • SOUTH AMERICA
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
  • 7 Things to Do Around the World
  • Norway
  • Travel Smart
    • Solo Traveler
    • Road Trip
    • Itinerary
    • Wine Tasting
    • Postcard
    • The Travel Year
  • About

When Credit Card Stops Working in a Foreign Country

November 22, 2016
When Credit Card Stops Working in a Foreign Country

Little did I know that I was in trouble sitting at the island of San Cristobal in Galapagos. I was enjoying my breakfast and preparing for a new astonishing dive at Kicker Rock. Suddenly my phone was calling. Hello; This is your Credit Card company I’m calling to inform that your credit card has been copied and we had to cancel it. Well that is fine, I have another one, I taught. I’m still safe. Oh, well this little girl, had done a mistake. I had used both of the credit cards before in the travel.

 

 

In the next 3 minutes, I received another phone call with the same message: Hello; This is your Credit Card company 2 calling to inform that your credit card has been copied and we had to cancel it. Well, that is not fine!! I don’t have any other cards! I need some emergency cash! Credit Card Company; I’m really sorry, we can not provide with a re-opening of the card. It is not safe. PANIC ATTACKS STRIKE! I went diving and returned with less than 100 US dollars to get to Belize from Ecuador and a month left of traveling.

 

 

I should have trusted my gut, when I was taking out cash in the ATM of Cusco, Peru. I should have continued to walk to another ATM. It did look shabby and not in a chic way. I was hungry, tired and returning from my hospital stay in Cusco. Not a great combination for preforming smart solutions.

 

Entering Belize and finally arriving to San Pedro. I could resolve my problems. NO, I could not get a new credit card by the bank. I did not have any permit address. They could not send it to my next destination. With other words no help at all. I went to Western Union to ask for help. Sending money from Norway to Belize would take 7 days!! I had 20 US dollars left. I need money tomorrow?! By any chance you have family or friends in America? Thank God, I do! Luckily our family friend, was able to help me out with a Money Transfer. 24 hours lather; I walked out with 1 500 US dollars cash on me in the streets of San Pedro. Not my first chocie, but my only choice.

 

 

I returned back to the Hostel and hide my many all around in my backpack. Looked it in. Then the next day I went from Belize to Mexico traveling around with 1 500 US dollars. Not fun. Everything went good and I continued my last month that ended in 2 weeks in Mexico before returning to Florida where my sister arrived for vacation with my new credit card.

 

Credit Card destroying the Peace of Paradise

 

With almost 4 days in complete panic mood, my body was destroyed. I was desperate for a chiropractor. My body was broken after solving my money problems. The chiropractor wondered what happen to me – Because my body was Fucked Up! Credit Card canceled that’s what happened. Credit Card problem did destroy some of the days I had in Belize. I feel really sad about it.

 

 

Because; Belize is an amazing country!

IMG_8861

Tips on when Credit Card Stops Working in a Foreign Country

 

 

1. Have Options in Credit Card

Have one or two credit cards that you use during the travel. Then have third one for back up! When emergency arrives you can use the third and your last card. Should not be used anywhere on the travel, before the two other cards are cancelled.

 

 

2. Have 200 US dollars cash in Backpack

Even in today’s world, cash is king! Sometimes it really makes your situation from disaster to okay. Having some emergency Cash in US dollars is always a good advice. You can always exchange American dollars anywhere in the world to the local currency.

 

 

3. Have a Credit Card at home & PayPal

When having a credit card at home with friends or family you can easily arrange to pre-book a hotel, order room-service and put it on the card from home. That is kinda great when your credit card on the travel is canceled.

 

4. Have a Family or Friends in America

If there is something good about being America is that things goes fast with it. They can transfer money to you in less than 24 hours with Western Union. Which is awesome if you are in Belize with no cash or credit card.

 

 

5. Always Check over the ATM before putting Card inside

How is the ATM looking? Do it look shabby? Is there anything loose on it? Always try to pull the thing where the card go in, if it feels loose/ glued on, it probably is!  When you are not sure on the ATM, change to another one, better safe than sorry! By any possible chance use an ATM located indoors in a bank.

 

 

 

Any Smart tips to share on; when Credit Card Stops Working?

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Related

Share

Backpack  / TRAVEL SMART

Pauline
My name is Pauline, and I'm a Norwegian girl who started to explore the beautiful world for some time, and now I can't stop. I have to see what's out there. I love discovering new places, meeting new people, have crazy experiences and unique stories to tell. Life is for living, and I like living in adventures.

2 Comments


Pauline
November 27, 2016 at 12:29 PM

Jeg trur faktisk det er bedre å være litt paranoid!! Jeg skal i hvertfall ha med meg litt flere kort denne gangen en sist gang jeg var på tur. Og det med utløpsdatoen er jo viktig, det hadde jeg faktisk helt glemt av! Må faktisk husk å sjekke før jeg drar i Januar på nye eventyr. Bedre å være forberedet enn å bli tatt på senga! Så stressa som jeg var i Belize med ingen penger var ikke gøy! Det løste seg heldigvis!



GlobetrotterElisa
November 23, 2016 at 9:17 AM

Auch… jammen godt det løste seg! Jeg har alltid 2 debet kort og 2 kreditt kort med meg! For tiden er jeg faktisk eier av 3 (!!!) kredittkort (men et av dem er egentlig bare en back up). Høres ut som jeg er litt paranoid… he he, men jeg har opplevd både å bli frastjålet kort og det samme som deg – at kortet blir sperret og det tredje: at kortet mitt utløp. Den siste kom litt brått på da jeg ikke sjekket datoen på kortet før jeg dro. Det er et tips om man skal være borte lenge… Så, nå er jeg derfor alltid godt forberedt!



Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Follow the Adventure

    Follow the Adventure
  • 7 Must-Read Posts

  • 8-Day in Rhodes Without a Car: Beach & History Trip to Explore the Island8-Day in Rhodes Without a Car: Beach & History Trip to Explore the IslandEurope
    7 Tips for Packing to Norway from a Norwegian7 Tips for Packing to Norway from a NorwegianNorway
    Guide to Getsemani The Authentic Neighborhood in Cartagena de IndiasGuide to Getsemani The Authentic Neighborhood in Cartagena de IndiasColombia
    5 Places To Eat in Lofoten, Norway5 Places To Eat in Lofoten, NorwayLofoten
    5 Breakfast Places in Oslo5 Breakfast Places in OsloEastern Norway
    7 Days in Sicily Without a Car7 Days in Sicily Without a CarEurope
    5 Places to Eat in Getsemani in Colombia5 Places to Eat in Getsemani in ColombiaColombia


    • Sustainable Travel with Pauline Travels
  • paulinetravels

    A Norwegian Travel Voice & Trying to Impact the World by Nudging People to Choose More Sustainable Travel.

    Want to know about a cool and undiscovered place i Want to know about a cool and undiscovered place in Norway? Varanger a hidden gem up north right between mythical tails, brave locals, northern light and Sami culture. You can truly forget time when visiting the Varanger peninsula! Also do you belive in energy places? Some places have a different frequency. Where is the last place you were with an energy feeling? Do you think about this when traveling? #visitnorway #varanger #varangerpeninsula #northernnorway #varangerhalvøya  #varangerbirding #mindfultravel
    O M G. Waiting for some green nature up in the Arc O M G. Waiting for some green nature up in the Arctic North! I know when it comes it is beautiful! I’m ready and been ready since March 🤣 Well maybe sooon. 🌱How about you? Are you having spring & cherry blossom? 🌸 #arcticsummer soon coming !! #lofoten #visitlofoten #lofoteninfo #lofotenislands
    Save for you next Cuba trip! La Lluvia de Oro!! 🇨🇺 Cuba and the people! That’s why you go to Cuba! To experience something that touches your soul and leave a little more lively, embracing the moment and the music! That’s what we love about old Havana you can always find great live music, with energy, singing and dancing! Yes a small escape to be in the moment and let go of any other thoughts. Be right here and now, that’s what Cuba invites you into experience if you decide to let go and follow the flow of Havana Vieja. #havanavieja #havanavieja🇨🇺 #havana #havanacuba #cubatravel #visitcuba
    Cuba 🇨🇺 A special travel. Always with many t Cuba 🇨🇺 A special travel. Always with many things. Some easy and some complicated. People are easy, always friendly and always with time to talk. Forgetting your phone is easy in Cuba. Forgetting time is easy in Cuba. It’s complicated to let go of the challenge of life, like some places do not have electricity and cellphone service, and gasoline is more challenging than ever and som have very little.  However food is always here, as long you are a tourist and can buy food. If you are inventing new recipes you are also good. #cuba #cubatravel #cubaporlavida #travelcuba #cubatrip #havana
    Follow on Instagram

© Copyright Pauline Travels

 

Loading Comments...