A long-awaited overseas trip. When you go to a destination, your credit card is the most important item that controls your fate next to your passport. We will provide you with a complete chronological preparation guide from before departure to after you return, so that you don’t run into troubles such as “I can’t use my credit card!” or “I lost a lot of money due to exorbitant fees!” while you’re there.

Before departure: At least 2 cards, always separate international brands

Situations such as This store only accepts Visa'' or Our terminal only accepts Mastercard’’ frequently occur overseas. Also, there are many cases where when you try to withdraw money from a local ATM, your card gets stuck and won’t come out. Therefore, be sure to bring one Visa and one Mastercard in separate pockets or wallets. JCB is a strong ally in places such as Hawaii, Taiwan, and South Korea, but it cannot be used in many places in Europe, America, and minor countries, so it is safe to position it as a sub card rather than a main card.

During your stay: Should you pay in local currency or Japanese yen? The ultimate choice of

When paying by card at a duty-free shop or hotel overseas, the terminal screen may display the following message: “Do you want to pay in the local currency (e.g. dollars or euros) or Japanese yen (JPY)?” It may seem like kindness, but you need to be careful here. Please be sure to select “Local Currency” here. If you choose Japanese Yen, a very expensive exchange rate called “DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion)” set by that store will be applied, and you will end up paying several percent more. Don’t hesitate to tap on “Local currency”.

During your stay: airport lounge and emergency cash advance

With Priority Pass, which is an additional service for Gold Cards and above, you can spend your transit time comfortably in a luxurious airport lounge. Also, at food stalls where only cash can be used, it is often cheaper to withdraw local currency using a credit card’s ``overseas cash advance’’ option at an ATM in town, rather than lining up at a currency exchange office at the airport and paying high fees.

After returning home: Check your statement and thoroughly check for unauthorized use

Once you have returned home safely from a fun trip, be sure to check your online statement frequently for a month without letting your guard down. There are still cases of people being skimmed at small restaurants and dubious souvenir shops overseas, and fraudulently using them after returning home. If you receive a charge that you do not recognize, please contact your credit card company’s call center immediately so that it will be properly investigated and compensated.

With advance knowledge and thorough preparations, you can enjoy a safe and comfortable overseas trip to the fullest!