Your Bank Card Offers Free Services That Are Useful on Vacation - You Might Not Know About Them

Not only being a quick and easy way to pay, bank cards include additional services that are often unknown, but are very useful, especially whilst on holiday.

You probably carry your bank card with you all the time. It's great for making purchases in stores or online. But did you know it also offers several useful benefits when you travel? Some of these can even be lifesavers if things go wrong.

Holidays are a great time to travel, relax, and try new things. However, planning a trip far from home can be challenging. It involves choosing transportation, booking accommodation, renting vehicles, and getting gear for activities like skiing or diving. These tasks can be time consuming and expensive. Adding the cost of travel insurance for flight cancellations, lost luggage, accidents, or other mishaps can make the trip even pricier.

Before you rush to buy extra insurance from airlines or travel agencies, check your bank card contract. Most international payment cards, especially credit cards, include insurance and assistance services that cover you while traveling. For example, your card's insurance can provide compensation or full reimbursement if your trip is postponed or canceled, if you have an accident with a rental car, or if your luggage is lost. Just make sure you paid for these services with your card.

Assistance services can also help in emergencies, like hospitalization abroad, repatriation, early return home, and even legal assistance if you encounter problems. To use these services, you just need a valid bank card. So, if you're planning a long trip, make sure your card is up to date.

The protections offered by bank cards can vary depending on the type of card, its payment network (like Mastercard or Visa), and your bank's conditions. While the insurance and assistance services are generally similar, the amount of compensation, deductibles, exclusions, maximum trip durations, and service levels can differ.

Taking some time to look over your bank card contract can be very helpful. Understanding the benefits included will help you decide if you need extra insurance for your trip, allowing you to travel with greater peace of mind.