There's no reason to bring all of your credit cards on vacation. That just increases your risk of having one lost or stolen. "Unload your wallet. Only take the cards with you that you intend to use," says Gail Cunningham, spokeswoman for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Designate one card you plan to use for everything during your vacation. Choose one with a high credit limit so you're prepared for any unforeseen expenses, and if you're traveling overseas, pick a card with a low or zero percent foreign transaction fee. In addition, bring one backup card. Cunningham goes so far as to recommend not bringing your debit card, but that may not be practical if you don't trust yourself not to overspend with a credit card, or if you anticipate having to visit ATMs to take out cash.