NFC and Mobile Phone

Travel Tuesday: Why Mobile Wallets are a Must for World Travelers

Before we jump into the topic at hand, I first want to welcome you to a new feature here on Money@30: Travel Tuesday. Every other week, I’ll be sharing tips and tales from my various travel adventures. While some of these will have a personal finance tie-in, others may just focus on the destination being discussed. In any case, let’s get going!

Not so long ago, I wrote about how having Apple Pay saved my butt in Hong Kong as contactless payments were not just the norm but a necessity in some of the shops and restaurants we visited. Well it turns out that this trend goes beyond that city as visits to Toronto and Paris have also revealed to me just how big contactless payments are in other parts of the world. That’s partially why I was pumped to get my first (and then second) credit card that had contactless technology built-in. Alas, it seems that these aren’t the silver bullet I was seeking, making mobile wallets a must.

I can still recall (it was only a few months ago) the excitement I felt as I pulled out my Amex Platinum card to tap at a boulangerie in France. Previously, my wife and I had grown accustomed to using Apple Pay for such transactions as the alternative chip method took painfully long — and of course outed us as Americans just in case our horrible French didn’t do that already 😉 After tapping my card, a concerning beep emitted from the terminal and the cashier told us to insert the card instead.

Not yet deterred, I assumed that perhaps I had just jumped the gun and tapped too early (you normally need to wait until your total shows on the screen before attempting to pay). Unfortunately, I kept getting the same error every time I tried it. That’s when I realized that it wasn’t me; it was the card.

For whatever reason, it seems that our American contactless cards couldn’t be used abroad. Meanwhile, the Apple Pay method still works like a charm. In fact, while using the chip method often results in us needing to sign a receipt, this step is sometimes skipped when we use Apple Pay — thus making this method doubly faster.

Of course, beyond the speed factor, there are safety benefits to going mobile as well. First, the added step of using biometrics (e.g. TouchID, FaceID, etc.) makes these types of payments more secure. On top of that, if you have all of your credit cards in a mobile wallet, you can carry fewer physical cards on your person — although I would recommend having at least one or two for a back-up.

To be fair, there are surely countries that, like the United States, are still behind on contactless technology, while others lag in credit card acceptance overall. But, for those who are up on their game, trying to use your American card can be a hassle. That’s why, if you don’t already, I’d highly recommend setting up Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or whatever mobile payment option your phone offers to help save you time (and embarrassment) while traveling overseas.

Author
Founder ~ Moneyat30
Kyle is a freelance writer - including being the head writer for Fioney.com. He also serves as editorial director for the Disney fan site LaughingPlace.com and the founder of Money@30.com. In 2015, Kyle and his wife Bekah moved from Los Angeles to Springfield MO in pursuit of greater financial freedom. Together, the pair enjoy travel, coffee, and spending time with their dog Rigby. Additionally, as of 2023, they become first-time homeowners.
Other Articles by Kyle Burbank
person standing in front of exploding fireworks
Hey You Kids, Get Off My Lawn!
With last Friday being July 4th, I decided to take a week off from posting. However, I wanted to share a story from that night (or, really, early the next morning). Backing up, last year, we learned that our neighbors loved fireworks. So we were prepared for a few hours of noise and helping our...
Venetian rewards gems
Travel Tuesday: The Venetian Surveying Guests on Possible Rewards Credit Card
Late last year, I had a chance to cross another Las Vegas Strip property off my list with a stay at The Palazzo at The Venetian. Whether because of that or because I opened a players club card with them as well, this week The Venetian sent me a survey regarding a potential rewards credit...
Allbirds 4th of July sale logo
Allbirds is Celebrating Independence Day with a 50% Off Sale
One funny thing about summer is how a sunny day can quickly turn into a heavy downpour. This is even more prominent in certain parts of the country where you may be headed on a summer vacation (I'm looking at you, Florida!). So, given that weather reality, it makes perfect sense that Allbirds would be...

Leave a Reply

Featured Articles
Hey You Kids, Get Off My Lawn!
With last Friday being July 4th, I decided to take a week off from posting. However, I wanted to share a story from that night (or, really, early the next morning). Backing up, last year, we learned that our neighbors loved fireworks. So we were prepared for a few hours of noise and helping our...
Travel Tuesday: The Venetian Surveying Guests on Possible Rewards Credit Card
Late last year, I had a chance to cross another Las Vegas Strip property off my list with a stay at The Palazzo at The Venetian. Whether because of that or because I opened a players club card with them as well, this week The Venetian sent me a survey regarding a potential rewards credit...
Allbirds is Celebrating Independence Day with a 50% Off Sale
One funny thing about summer is how a sunny day can quickly turn into a heavy downpour. This is even more prominent in certain parts of the country where you may be headed on a summer vacation (I'm looking at you, Florida!). So, given that weather reality, it makes perfect sense that Allbirds would be...
An Amex Platinum Card Revamp is Coming — And I'm Worried
Earlier this week, Chase confirmed pretty much every rumor that had been swirling for the past couple of months by announcing details on a major refresh for its uber popular Sapphire Reserve card. When this refresh launches next week (or in October for current cardholders), it will bring new credits, a reimagined rewards-earning system, and...