Should I pay off my credit card before a big trip?

Paying down the balance before a big trip is smart for two reasons. First, it frees up available credit, which lowers your utilization and can give you headroom for travel charges and any unexpected costs abroad. Second, it stops interest from compounding while you're away and not thinking about your finances. Aim to bring the balance to zero, or as low as you can, before you leave, and set up autopay for at least the minimum so a payment due date during your trip doesn't slip and trigger a late fee or penalty APR. Don't drain your emergency fund to do it, though – you want cash available for travel surprises. After the trip, attack any new vacation charges quickly so a few fun weeks don't turn into months of high-interest debt. A clean slate going in makes the spending easier to manage on the way out.