Wait until you read this story!…

The sunset after leaving Mpumalanga/Kruger/Nelspruit Airport yesterday afternoon.

Note: We are at Heathrow Airport in London as we put together today’s post. We wrote the content yesterday after the event occurred.

I don’t know where to begin.

We’d decided to leave early for the airport in case of issues on the N4. I’d downloaded an app on my phone that provides up-to-the-minute notifications if there are problems along the highway on our route.

Everything was going smoothly until about 20 minutes before we arrived at the Mpumalanga/Kruger/Nelspruit Airport. We stopped, as usual, at the same petrol station we’ve used dozens of times to refuel the rental car at this last petrol station on the way to the airport.

Tom had the fuel topped off. As we were leaving the station, an employee, one of many employees who were wearing high-visibility vests with “security” emblazoned on the front and back, approached us and said the following:

“There’s been a bad accident on the road to the airport, and the road is closed. But they are letting people heading to the airport get through using a token. You must return to the petrol station to buy the token.”

Patrons stood in line at a bank of four ATMs while these “supposed” employees assisted them in getting the token using a credit or debit card.

Tom didn’t know our South African SIM phone number, and the two cards he tried didn’t work. At this point, he became very suspicious.

Suspecting it was a scam, he left the station to find me waiting in the car, as worried as I could be, for at least 30 minutes. I was so relieved when I finally saw him walking toward the car.

He explained what happened and said, ” It was a scam. Let’s head to the airport. There won’t be an accident or a road closure. ”

He was right. We breezed down the road for the final 20 minutes to the airport, but he kept saying we needed to call those two credit card companies and cancel the cards.

When we checked in for the flight, we finally had time to call both credit card companies. One of the cards was charged over US $2745, ZAR 48985, to an investment company. However, the credit card company suspected it was a fraudulent charge, and they put a hold on it, waiting for Tom to call to see if we’d approve of the charge.

Fortunately, Tom called both cards in time to cancel them. The two new cards will arrive in the mail in the US while we are there.

This post is a warning to all travelers on their way to or from the Nelspruit Airport. But this type of scam could happen anywhere in the world.

Tom is not naive and is a very savvy traveler. But as tourists, we aren’t always aware of how things are done under certain circumstances in a foreign country. At first, it was easy to think that such a token was a normal process on a busy highway.

We’ll be back at our next opportunity.

We board the next flight from Heathrow to Minneapolis for another nine-hour flight. The flight to London was over 11 hours. We didn’t sleep more than a few hours off and on. Now we are waiting with a five-hour layover, with only two more hours to go. We both feel surprisingly well.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 25, 2015:

Balcony view of our cabin on a Royal Caribbean ship heading from Honolulu to Sydney. For more photos, please click here.

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

Another unusual fruit for sale jn Kauai…a soursop. Soursop is the fruit of Annona muricata, a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree. It is native to the tropical regions of the Americas and the Caribbean and is widely propagated. It is in the same genus, Annona, as Cherimoya and is in the Annonaceae family.

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 ratesHigh interest rates have made it more difficult for consumers to keep up with payments. 
  • InflationInflation has hit lower-income households harder, causing them to spend down their savings. 
  • Missed paymentsMore people have missed payments on their credit cards and other debts. 
  • Debt levelsConsumer debt levels have risen. 
  • Closed accountsClosed 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:

This fruit is red rambutan, also known as hairy lychee. The rambutan is a medium-sized tropical tree in the family Sapindaceae. The name also refers to the edible fruit produced by this tree. The rambutan is native to Southeast Asia. It is closely related to several other edible tropical fruits, including the lychee, longan, pulasan, and quenepa. For more photos, please click here.