Planning a trip overseas requires a great deal of patience, flexibility and attention to detail. After all, you may be booking a complicated flight itinerary, applying for a passport or visa, and securing lodging in a part of the world you’ve never even visited. The good news is, most, if not all, of your travel arrangements can be thoroughly researched and booked prior to your arrival. That’s the easy part. But, you still have to find a way to pay for activities, food and incidentals once you arrive at your destination. Fortunately, the ultimate tool for overseas travel is probably already in your wallet: your credit card.

The right credit card is a must-have item for all types of travel. In fact, in many cases, it’s just as important as your plane ticket, guidebook and passport. Why? Because credit cards offer certain protections and benefits that cash and traveler’s checks just don’t. Those perks can include things like fraud and theft protection, free travel insurance and free transactions overseas. The key is choosing a card that offers the benefits you need, without any pesky fees. Want to learn more about choosing the right card for your overseas trip? The experts have weighed in with some pointers.

Choose chip-and-pin or EMV

Consider a chip-and-pin card, also known as an EMV card, for your overseas trip, says credit expert John Ulzheimer.

“You’ll enjoy a new level of fraud protection overseas because many retailers have been using chip-and-pin technology for some time,” says Ulzheimer.

Apparently, EMV chip technology has become the standard in credit and debit card payments overseas since it makes it much harder for thieves to gain access to sensitive information. Chip-and-pin cards also cannot be “skimmed” like typical magnetic stripe cards, which adds another layer of protection against fraud. Also keep in mind that certain destinations in Europe only accept chip-and-pin cards, and may not have the ability to process older technologies. The bottom line: know before you go.

Know your limits

When it comes to using credit overseas, it also helps to know your limits.

“Make sure you have enough available credit before taking off,” says Rick Ingersoll, also known as the “Frugal Travel Guy.” “Nothing worse than being declined because you are over limit.”

If you discover that your credit limit is lower than might be needed, simply ask your credit card issuer to raise it, or consider carrying more than one card. If you go that route, make sure to keep track of your transactions so that you don’t get stuck with additional fees — or worse — a declined card.

Know your fees

People who haven’t used a credit card outside of the U.S. might not be aware of foreign transaction fees.

“The fees are usually around 3 percent of your purchase and this can add up quickly if you’ll be overseas for a while,” says Beverly Harzog, credit expert and author.

Harzog suggests reading your card’s terms and conditions before bringing it along.

If the card you planned on using does charge foreign transaction fees, take some time to weigh the pros and cons of using it.

“But, if you’re only focused on the fee then clearly the strategy is to pick the card with the lowest foreign transaction fees,” Ulzheimer says.

Also keep in mind that some of the best credit cards waive foreign transaction fees altogether.

Understand local currency conversion

Before you head overseas, you need to understand how far the American dollar will take you.

“If you don’t understand the currency conversion then your purchases could end up shocking you even without the conversion fees,” says Ulzheimer. “I mean, how many of you know how many euros a U.S dollar is worth?”

Failing to understand the currency conversion is a great way to get completely off track with your spending as well, since you may not come face to face with what you really owe until you arrive home. To combat this issue, track your spending so you know how much you’ve spent, says Harzog.

Call your credit card company

Once you’ve decided which credit card to bring on your international trip, you need to inform your card issuer of your plans. That’s because credit card issuers are always on the alert for fraudulent transactions and may become suspicious if you start charging dinners and train tickets away from home. To make sure this doesn’t happen, Ingersoll calls each of his credit card issuers ahead of time to inform them of his travel plans. To add another layer of protection, Ingersoll also carries the overseas phone number of his credit card company, just in case his card should become lost or stolen.

Traveling overseas can be a life-changing experience, albeit a little stressful at times. So, make things easy for yourself; take a look at the cards in your wallet and take some time to understand the unique features each one has to offer. If you don’t currently have a card that meets your needs, get your free credit score to see if it’s up to par. If you’re happy with it, consider signing up for a new credit card that meets all of your requirements. Overseas travel certainly has its challenges, but a little planning can ensure that money isn’t one of them.