In last week's On the Spot column, letter writer Nancy Jones said she was going to London and expressed concern about whether her credit cards would work because they are not Chip and PIN (personal identification number). She said she didn't want to carry a load of cash. What should she do? It turned out to be a more complicated answer than I expected, but I did find a card that I think will work.

The issue with many U.S. credit cards is that they use a magnetic stripe. In many parts of Europe, Asia and Latin America, the standard is a smart card or EMV, short for Europay, MasterCard and Visa. Many of those cards use a PIN.

U.S. cards are beginning to come with a smart chip, but they often are Chip and Signature cards — that is, instead of using a PIN, you sign your card slip and the signatures are compared. David Hogan, executive director with Heartland Payment Systems, one of the largest credit-card processors in the U.S., told me a prominent retailer told him, "'Dave, can't...

There's an adventuress in every woman just waiting to come out.

Name: GlobalAdventuress.com

What it does: Inspires women to travel with firsthand cultural experiences from other women.

What's hot: The website speaks to many destinations and cultures, such as a five-day trip in Bhutan visiting the Dzong fortresses or drinking fruity rakia in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The approach is simple and therefore approachable for a wide variety of women looking for travel inspiration and empowerment. You can search by destination and experience (activities, relaxation, instruction, festivals, etc.). I particularly liked the "Make a Difference" section, where you can learn more about preservation.

What's not:The site encourages women to "Explore. Share. Connect," but in this world of social media I expected more opportunities to connect. There were tools to share stories but no way for women to talk among themselves about their travels. I want a forum or community where I can read discussions and...

Garmin’s newest GPS superstar, the Nuvi-3597 LMTHD, has a crisp, high-resolution color 5-inch display screen and is packed with neat features in a half-inch-thick, 7-ounce body.

The 3597 adjusts automatically to landscape or portrait mode, has a multi-touch pinch and zoom interactive screen, 3-D terrain and building-view options, and lifetime maps and traffic updates.

You get cutting-edge voice-activated navigation, traffic tracking and detour guidance. Bluetooth wireless technology provides detailed weather updates, and access to many of the functions of a paired smartphone, including contact look-up and hands-free phone calls by way of the GPS’ integrated microphone and speaker.

Garmin Nuvi-3597 LMTHD costs $380.

Info: Garmin, (800) 800-1020

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Viking Cruises announced Friday that it's getting into the ocean cruise market -- in a small way.

The luxury river cruise line brings its all-inclusive model to the seas in May 2015 with the newly built Viking Star, a sleek ship that will accommodate 928 passengers. It features two swimming pools, a spa and private verandas with each stateroom.

"It is our view that in the race to build bigger ships, many cruise lines have lost sight of the destinations to which they sail," Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking Cruises, said in a statement. The company expects to add a second ocean ship in 2016 and has orders for four more in the works.

Like for Viking's river cruises, the price covers extras such as shore excursions, meals with wine and beer and Wi-Fi. And the Viking Star will stay in port late into the evening or overnight to give passengers a chance to experience a city's night life or attend the opera. 

Maiden voyages for 2015 include a Viking Homelands cruise (Stockholm; St....

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole in Teton Village, Wyo., sits at the base of the area's famous ski resort and about a mile from the entrance to Grand Teton National Park. As the season shifts from winter to summer, the hotel offers visitors a midweek break on rooms during a 72-hour sale starting at $199 a night.

The deal: The sale rate is good for stays Mondays through Thursdays in a guest room or an urban studio. You may cancel the reservation but you must do so at least 14 days in advance to avoid penalty fees. Room prices don't include tax and the $17 daily resort fee.

When: The offer is good until Monday for stays through June 29.

Tested: I found the rate available June 23-26 for a room with king- or two queen-size beds, or an urban studio, which comes with a fully equipped kitchen. The best available rate on the same dates for the same rooms cost $299 to $339, excluding tax and resort fee.

Info: Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, (800) 631-6281

Mary.Forgione@latimes.com
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American Airlines rolled out a new boarding policy Thursday that allows passengers with one carry-on item that fits under the seats to board planes earlier than others who require overhead bins.

It's all about being able to get to and from destinations on time, the airline says.

"Our tests indicate that this new boarding process will improve our dependability and on-time performance, while being easier and more enjoyable for our customers," Carol Wright, the airline's vice president of customer planning, said in a statement.

The airline said tests earlier this year at airport gates in Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Denver; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Kansas City, Mo.; Minneapolis-St. Paul; and Washington, D.C., showed the process proved to be quicker, and customers liked it too.

But traveling light doesn't mean you go straight to the head of the line.

On boarding domestic flights, American gives preference to first-class passengers and members of the military in uniform, then business class,...