Travel season is approaching fast, with 2018 shaping up to be one of the busiest for family vacations in recent memory.

According to nerdwallet.com’s Summer Spending Report 2018, 81 percent of parents in the U.S. with children under age 18 are planning a summer trip, and other research shows about 45 percent of Americans overall plan an annual summer vacation.

Among the findings in the report was that the average cost of a family vacation is $2,256, and nearly three-quarters of respondents plan to use a credit card for at least some of their vacation expenses.

Whether your destination is Disney or Denmark, Bali or the beach, it’s important to take a few steps to protect your finances, especially credit and debit cards, before your departure. That will help ensure your vacation truly provides the relaxation and escape from day-to-day stress you seek.

Safeguard cards

Here are a few ways to safeguard your cards and prepare for your trip:

Notice: Be sure to notify your bank or your other card issuers of your travel plans and itinerary, and that you likely will be making purchases in those locations. That will greatly reduce the chance that a card will be declined or suspended because of “suspicious” activity.

Update: Make sure your bank and card issuers have your current contact information in case they need to get in touch with you while you are away.

Set up alerts: If your card or account has been compromised while you are traveling, you can receive emails and notifications via a Wi-Fi connection even if you have suspended cell service during your trip. This will allow you to act quickly should any problem arise.

Know your chip and PIN: Most U.S. credit and debit cards now are embedded with EMV security chips and transactions generally are verified with the user’s signature. However, outside the U.S., many transactions require a PIN rather than a signature. Be sure you know your PIN so that you can use your credit and debit cards as needed.

More tips

Travel with at least one credit card and one debit card for maximum flexibility.

Make copies of passports, bank contact info and other vital documents in case your wallet, cards or other items are lost or stolen.

Obtain currency for the country or countries you will be visiting in advance, to reduce the need for ATM withdrawals. Keep this currency separate from your credit and debit cards.

Consider buying an RFID-blocking wallet, which prevents thieves from using electronic devices that employ radio frequency identification to steal data from your credit and debit cards.

Use only a secure Wi-Fi network, especially if you are checking your accounts or otherwise working with your financials.

Avoid ATMs at retail stores, restaurants, airports, convenience stores or kiosks, which carry a higher risk for fraud. Cover your password with your hand, so hidden cameras can’t pick up your password.

Never rely on the help of strangers to retrieve a confiscated card and never use an ATM when other people are lingering.

Use an ATM under video surveillance which can be safer. Retrieve your cash and card quickly; some ATMs pull back cash as soon as 30 seconds.

If you encounter problems with your debit card, try withdrawing a lower amount in case the ATM has a withdrawal limit; try a different ATM; or try later; your card’s 24-hour withdrawal maximum is based on U.S. time or the network may be temporarily down.

If you suspect suspicious activity, contact your bank and card issuers.

Kelly Mould is vice president, wealth fiduciary, for Johnson Financial Group.