


How to travel worldwide without a credit card….Credit and travel…

As all travelers know, having a few credit cards, especially with reward programs, is a big boon, if not a must, for travelers. However, there are times in life when circumstances beyond one’s control severely impact one’s credit score, along with the ability to maintain the use of credit cards.
Credit scores have gone down in the past year. The average FICO score in the United States fell for the first time in over a decade due to the following reasons:
- High interest rates: High interest rates have made it more difficult for consumers to keep up with payments.
- Inflation: Inflation has hit lower-income households harder, causing them to spend down their savings.
- Missed payments: More people have missed payments on their credit cards and other debts.
- Debt levels: Consumer debt levels have risen.
- Closed accounts: Closed accounts or lower credit limits can also lower your score.
- Other factors include inaccurate information on your credit report and identity theft.
With lowered credit scores, obtaining credit cards with travel-worthy credit limits, terms, and conditions may not be easy. Once this happens, when the need for travel arises, one can be in a quandary of paying for flights, hotels, and other travel venues and services.
Here are some suggestions as to how to handle such a situation when faced with booking travel:
Traveling without a credit card is entirely possible with the right preparation and mindset. While credit cards offer convenience, rewards, and security, you can still explore the world using alternative payment methods. Here’s how to make it work:
1. Use a Debit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees
A good debit card can serve as your primary payment method. Look for one that:
- Has low or no foreign transaction fees (Charles Schwab and Wise are good options).
- Offers fee-free ATM withdrawals or reimburses ATM fees.
- Has fraud protection similar to credit cards.
2. Carry a Mix of Cash in Different Currencies
- Always have some local currency for emergencies, especially in countries where cash is king.
- Exchange money at banks or reputable exchange offices rather than airports for better rates.
- Use money belts or hidden pouches to keep cash secure.
3. Use Prepaid Travel Cards
- These functions are like debit cards but allow you to load multiple currencies in advance.
- Providers like Revolut, Wise, and Travelex offer competitive exchange rates.
- Useful for budgeting since you can’t overspend.
4. Rely on Mobile Payment Apps
- Many countries accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, PayPal, and WeChat Pay.
- Some mobile banking apps offer virtual debit cards for safer transactions.
5. Book Hotels and Flights with Debit or Alternative Methods
- Many airlines and hotels accept PayPal, direct bank transfers, or debit cards.
- Use booking sites like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia, which often allow debit payments.
- Consider prepaid hotel reservations to avoid deposit holds on your card.
6. Rent Cars Without a Credit Card (Tricky but Possible)
- Some rental companies allow debit card payments with a hefty deposit and additional paperwork.
- Renting from local agencies rather than big chains may be more straightforward.
- An alternative is to rely on public transport, taxis, or rideshares like Uber and Lyft.
7. Use Budget-Friendly Travel Hacks
- Overland travel (buses, trains) usually accept cash or debit cards.
- Hostels, guesthouses, and Couchsurfing can reduce the need for deposits.
- Meal planning avoids constant ATM withdrawals.
8. Emergency Backup Plan
- It helps if you have a trusted friend or family member who can send you money via Western Union, MoneyGram, or PayPal.
- Keep a small stash of USD or Euros as emergency backup cash.
Traveling without a credit card requires more planning, a mix of payment methods, and financial discipline. But it’s doable! With the right debit card, mobile payment apps, and emergency cash, you can explore the world as freely as ever.
Is worldwide travel possible without a credit card? It would be difficult and require considerable time to figure out how to pay for travel services. In those cases, obtaining a prepaid credit card to add funds from a bank account as needed would be worthwhile. A prepaid credit card A prepaid credit card (often called a prepaid debit card or prepaid travel card) is a payment card that you load with money before using it. Unlike a regular credit card, it does not offer a credit line—you can only spend the amount you’ve preloaded onto the card.
During our travels, we use credit cards to pay for almost everything. However, from time to time, as in the case of booking directly through an owner we already know and trust, we may need to use a bank transfer or other means of transferring money outside the US.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, January 30, 2015:
|

Why use Costco Travel for bookings?…Pluses and minuses…Is a membership required?…
Note: We do not receive compensation for mentioning Costco Travel
Recently, we booked four cruises through Costco Travel for several reasons, including:
- Pricing, plus the benefit of price reductions before the final payment is made
- Complimentary Costco Shop Cards are provided for certain bookings including cruises.
- Annual shopping credits for spending money using membership
- Perks acquired on Costco Citibank card
- Ease of booking (they’ve greatly improved their phone response time).
- Reliability with the Costco brand
See more below:
Photo from ten years ago today, January 29, 2015:
|

Fun new addition to Las Vegas family entertainment offerings…Family friendly events in Las Vegas…

When researching travel news today, I encountered the following article, which might interest ice cream-favoring adults and families considering Las Vegas, Nevada, as a vacation option.
“Las Vegas Is Getting a Museum of Ice Cream With Themed Hotel Suites and an Epic Ice Cream Buffet
The Museum of Ice Cream announced it’s adding to its collection of five pop-ups and five permanent locations with its largest flagship destination. By Stacey Leasca, Published on January 28, 2025
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/TAL-header-museum-of-ice-cream-sprinkle-pool-MOICLV0125-7cfa0c75726042479352a01574f99d45.jpg)
The sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream Las Vegas. Photo: Courtesy of Museum of Ice Cream
“Love a good scoop of ice cream? Then, it’s time to book a flight to Las Vegas.
On Tuesday, the Museum of Ice Cream announced it’s adding to its collection of five pop-ups and five permanent locations with its largest flagship destination, set to open in Las Vegas in 2026. Specifically, it’s opening as the new flagship family-friendly food and beverage destination at the AREA15 immersive entertainment district, and, according to the brand, it will also be its “most ambitious location” to date.
“AREA15 is built on immersive experiences, and Las Vegas is the Entertainment Capital of the World, making it the perfect location for the evolution of the Museum of Ice Cream. Since founding the Museum of Ice Cream, we’ve seen visionary designers like Bjarke Ingalls and Lionel Ohayon push the city into a new era of design, and we are excited to contribute to that legacy,” Maryellis Bunn, the museum’s co-founder and CEO, said. “Our Las Vegas flagship represents the pinnacle of our journey — blending design, hospitality, and participation in ways that balance family-friendly experiences by day and create a global nightlife destination by night.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/TAL-museum-of-ice-cream-las-vegas-buffet-MOICLV0125-cc3bef5aaf8c4c77a38f7d3e38becf8e.jpg)
The Museum of Ice Cream Las Vegas, the brand added in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure, “will redefine immersive entertainment, spanning nearly 30,000 square feet — three times the size of previous locations.” Its new location will include its iconic sprinkle pools, playgrounds, an epic ice cream buffet that the company is calling “the world’s first permanent, dedicated ice cream buffet,” costume parlors, and even an ice cream cake wedding chapel. And perhaps most fun of all, visitors can sleep over in its ice cream-themed hotel suites.
“We’ve been working toward opening in Las Vegas for over five years, and this marks a pivotal moment in our brand’s growth,” said Manish Vora, co-founder and co-CEO. “It comes on the heels of eight years of growth and millions of visitors served worldwide. We have watched the city evolve with groundbreaking attractions like the Sphere, Spiegelworld, and the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. To bring a permanent version of the Museum of Ice Cream to Vegas, we knew we had to elevate everything — size, interactivity, gamification, and theatrics.”
While you can’t visit this new location just yet, you can visit one of the Museum of Ice Cream’s five permanent locations in Austin, Chicago, New York, Singapore, Miami, or Boston. You can also keep track of Vegas’ progress by signing up for updates on the Museum of Ice Cream’s website, museumoficecream.com.
Photo from ten years ago today, January 28, 2015:
No photo was posted on this date ten years ago. The post may be found here.

Thinking back to where we were, as Covid-19 began to hit the world…

As we approach the time when the pandemic began worldwide, as we were preparing to leave for India in 2020, I can’t help but easily recall the days leading to our departure from Phoenix after visiting with Tom’s sisters in Apache Junction for a few months.
Little did we know what was ahead, but according to a quote from our post on January 27, 2020, I think we’d already begun to prepare ourselves, in part, for what was yet to come. But, little did we know…
“Then, besides packing, we’re thinking a little about the Coronavirus, but not as much as some may. There have been only a few cases so far in India, and they’ve been testing all arriving passenger’s temperatures at all major airports. So far, they’ve sent 12 passengers back to China, refusing entry. Hopefully, this diligence will continue.
This morning, I purchased more wipes for our hands and surfaces that we’ll wipe down wherever we go, including the armrests and tray tables on both planes and all characters in our hotel room, including phone, remote, door handles, etc.
Today, our 100 disposable face masks will arrive from Amazon. I had difficulty finding them online, including on the Amazon site. We’d seen a news report in China where people lined up hundreds deep at a pharmacy, hoping to purchase face masks when they were almost sold out.
We’re taking every precaution and striving to be sensible and practical. However, if we had planned to visit China, then I am confident we would have felt the need to change our plans.
Last night, we hosted a happy hour for our neighbors and Tom’s family. We gathered around the outdoor table and enjoyed a few hours of lively conversation, snacks, and drinks.“
Here’s what was happening with Coronavirus in January 2020:
Photo from ten years ago today, January 27, 2015:
We posted this video ten years ago today as we first became familiar with the Laysan Albatross nesting in a neighborhood near us. For more, please click here.

For now, we’ll continue to post travel news updates that may save you time and money…

There are only 34 days until we leave Nevada for South Africa; with little activity happening on our end as I continue to recover from this two-week virus, we don’t have a lot of news to share. I should be back to normal within a week and be able to return to working out, after which I’ll feel even better.
My son Greg and his girlfriend Heather arrive here in 11 days, and I plan to be up to the flurry of activities that will ensue while they are here for five days. Once they leave, it will only be a few weeks until we start packing and preparing to depart. The month of February will fly by.
As a result, most of our upcoming posts will consist of the latest travel news that may impact your travel experiences, expenses, and booking processes. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time and stamina right now to delve into more detailed topics. Once we settle in Marloth Park, we’ll post stories and countless photos of the world around us. We can hardly wait.
One of our dear readers/friends, Lisa, wrote that we don’t have to be concerned about our readers judging our content. Few have said anything negative or pressured us to add more entertaining content during quiet times. Thanks, Lisa, for the vote of confidence. Of course, our goal is always to provide interesting and fun content.
For today’s bit of current travel news, this article may be of interest to those considering travel during Spring Break:
“American Airlines Has Spring Break Flight Deals to Cancun, Miami, and More — Starting at Under $200
A variety of popular destinations are available. By Michael Cappetta
Photo from ten years ago today, January 26, 2015:
|

Updated information on ETA (electronic travel authorization) fees for the UK…

On January 7, we posted new information about the UK requiring ETAs (electronic travel authorization) even when only flying through on a flight layover. This policy change would directly impact us when we fly to South Africa on March 1. See our post here.
We had noted the calendar to apply for the UK ETA in plenty of time for our upcoming flight in only 35 days. Now, we won’t have to.
Their new policy, which went into effect on January 8, 2025, received much criticism from flight passengers who never left the airport during a layover. According to the article below, the ETA for transit passenger layovers will not be required. However, all other listed requirements will remain the same.
Weirdly, the UK is proposing an increase in the ETA fees, established on January 8, as described below:
From Travel and Leisure
“The UK Is Dropping Its ETA Fee for These Specific Passengers — What to Know
It also is proposing an increase in the fee just weeks after launch. By Alison Fox

It’s been a long haul…Finally, getting better…

The most frustrating part of being sick with flu these past 11 days has been losing all the strength I’d acquired from working out since we arrived in Lake Las Vegas on December 18. I worked hard to build strength and stamina, and once I noticed the improvements, I got sick.
Sure, it entered my mind that I may have pushed myself too hard, but instead, I believe I caught it from the sick Uber driver when we went to dinner at Richard’s home weeks ago. Now, I am left with a cough and weakness. Soon, I will slowly begin to work out again and hope to rebuild my strength by the time we leave here for the airport to fly to South Africa in 37 days.
The time until we depart has passed quickly, and in a little over three weeks, I’ll start sorting and packing. Since I’ve lost weight and plan to keep it off, I have several clothing items to donate to Goodwill, along with the wheelchair I no longer need. We will call and make arrangements for pickup or drop the items off at a store next time we go out.
Yesterday, it was two weeks until son Greg and his girlfriend Heather will arrive for a visit. They will stay with Richard during their five-day visit. I am so excited to be with my sons and their significant others for the first time in many years. It’s a good thing I got sick when I did instead of when they were about to arrive.
With Tom’s help, we chopped and diced ingredients for Tom’s low-carb pizza, which we’ll cook tonight. We’re making enough for three nights. Last night, I roasted chicken thighs and legs for me, which I’ll have for the next few nights. All I have to do today is make a salad and put the ingredients on top of the two pizza crusts I made this morning.
Tom mostly cooked for himself while I was sick, while I had simple, light meals. One day, we made a batch of chicken salad for three dinners. It was easy, although I wasn’t able to do much. At least now, I’m feeling well enough to do a few things.
Sorry, I don’t have anything exciting to write about today. Hopefully, I’ll be myself again soon and be more enthusiastic about preparing posts.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago, January 24, 2015:
|

Part 2, no passport?…Travel to These Stunning International Destinations Without One (with alternate documentation)……..

I stumbled across the following article, which may appeal to Americans (or others) who do not have a passport.
Americans without a passport can still travel to these tropical (and international) destinations. By Evie Carrick, Travel and LeisurePublished on January 22, 2025
