Prices Are High, but It Could Be Worse Packing for vacation inevitably involves some decision making: Do I bring extra sunglasses? Flip flops or sandals? But a more important question is whether you should use a credit or debit card for vacation spending. Debit cards, of course, prevent you from overspending and running up debt. But if you have the discipline to stick to a budget on your getaway, a credit card is the way to go, for several reasons.