When you’re traveling, chances are the only money matters on your mind are how much you’re going to spend and whether or not you have enough money to do everything you want, but there’s so much more to protecting your finances before, during, and even after your travels.

Contact Your Bank and Credit Card Company Before Leaving Town

Many banks and credit card companies have systems that automatically flag unusual or suspicious charges. If most of your normal, everyday charges are in Chicago, but you take a vacation to Orlando, you may find your debit and credit card declined because your bank and credit card companies believe that your card may have been stolen. Talk to them beforehand and let them know where you’re heading during your travels so as to avoid embarrassing declines and potentially stressful situations.

Keep Copies of Financial Documents

It’s likely that your biggest financial problem during your travels will be spending too much money on fancy dinners; however, in the unlikely event that your debit and credit cards are stolen, it’s incredibly helpful to have copies of them, as well as contact information for your bank and credit card companies. Keep copies in the hotel safe or hidden somewhere in your luggage, or better yet, email them to yourself.

Use Automatic Bill Pay Online

Many banks and credit cards allow you to use their bill pay services, which can be particularly useful if your travels happen to take place during a time of the month when you have bills due. This allows you to automate your payments so that your bills will be paid on-time on a date you designate. This will keep you from worrying about having to pay your bills while you’re on vacation, or paying late fees when you return because you didn’t pay them on-time.

Be Careful About Accessing Your Accounts Online

It seems like a great idea to view your bank account and credit card balance while you’re traveling, right? You can see how much money you’re spending, look for any suspicious charges, and stay on top of your budget. While it may sound like a great idea, it really isn’t. No matter where you access your accounts, it’s very easy for someone on the same online network to steal your bank account or credit card information and use it to wipe out your accounts or run up your balance.

Keep An Eye On Your Accounts After You Return

You may think that your worries are over now that you’ve returned from your trip, but it’s important to continue to keep an eye on your accounts once you make it home. Often times, you’ll find suspicious charges on your bank or credit card statements that you’ll want to dispute. These can be as innocent as unexplained charges on your hotel bill, to something more suspicious, like duplicate charges on your credit card at the same boutique, or even huge tips added to your restaurant bill.

Anthony Thompson is a content contributor for companies offering an interest only mortgage, and he insists that reasonable mortgages are still available for all types of borrowers.