Personal finances abroad

Its a good idea to carry some local currency with you (you can exchange it at a bank before leaving your home country, exchange upon arrival, or withdraw from a local bank machine, be sure to confirm that your ATM card will work abroad as some countries have different limits for PIN lengths), travelers checks are also a safe option but may be difficult to use in rural areas. Also, most credit cards provide protection against theft, just be sure to let them know you will be traveling abroad or they may interpret your new international activity as a stolen card and put a freeze on your account (requiring a cumbersome phone call to unfreeze).If you'll be gone for a long period of time, consider opening a joint bank account with a trusted family member (or giving this person power of attorney over your existing account). This will enable your relative to make deposits, write checks, and perform other maintenance on your bank account while you are away. Even if your bank has branches in the country where you will be, do not count on being able to do many of these activities yourself few global banks treat customers with accounts from another country the same way they treat local clients.