Hello. I'm traveling from the USA to Ireland to the UK. How much cash should I bring, I'm thinking $2500 US, and when should I exchange it for local currency, Euro or Pound? Before I leave, in Ireland, or the UK? Is there a way to go about this so I lose the least amount of value?

I would not carry that much cash in any currency.Not to mention, exchanging actual currency often has a poor exchange rate.

To get the best rate, use your ATM card. But ask for the local rate, not DCC (Dynamic currency conversion). I hope others can chime in on what that means.

Make sure you tell your bank(s) if you plan to use your ATM or credit cards overseas.

Are you going to Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland? There is a difference. You will not be using the pound unless you go to Northern Ireland. Edit: I see now that you are going to the UK. Advice above is the same for all.

Too much cash!

My routine is to take the equivalent of $100 in the local currency of my first stop, purchased for a fee from my bank at home (insist on small bills only).. That's enough to get to my hotel and have a snack without trying to find a cash machine in an airport while jetlagged. All other transactions are by credit card. If actual cash is needed, I use my debit card at an ATM at a bank.

Every time I travel overseas, I go prepared with a couple of different ATM cards and several credit cards. I have used my Capital One ATM card that has no fees in many foreign countries, and I have saved leftover (foreign) cash to bring on the next trip. Each year I've traveled, cash -- local or U.S. dollars -- is becoming less and less needed. I can charge my cards simply by tapping my phone -- even on public transport -- and RARELY have I ever needed cash. I find it's becoming obsolete.

As always, YMMV. Have a great trip.

Welcome to Fodors. If you are the type who is more comfortable carrying some cash at all times -- then maybe $200 in € and maybe a little less in £ -- at the very most. You really don't need any cash but me personally I do like to carry a little. You would use £ 100% iin the UK -- in the Republic it will be 100% €. You can order some € from your own bank or just wait and use the Bureau de Change at your departure airport. But you will almost exclusively be using credit cards for day-to-day spending so definitely don't take a lot of € or £.

ps: I wouldn't fret about seeking out the best exchange rate (your bank vs. the B-d-C) because you'd be buying so little the extra fees will be a drop in the bucket of your trip in full.

Thanks. I was wondering how much cash to take. I traveled around Europe last summer and in some places all they took was cash but most only wanted card, or 'pin' as they called it. My concern about exchanging currency came from two places. Czech uses their own currency and the fees for withdrawing cash were enormous, and I spent a night in Dover and was kinda shocked about how much more I lost going from US to Euro to pound.

Where were you getting your cash at?

ATM? If so, make sure you do not select DCC. That's where it (usually) gets you. It may say something like "do you want to convert to your home currency?" Always say NO.

Or were you going to an exchange bureau?

I think you may have been taken. Withdrawing cash from an ATM doesn't involve big fees. You ask for £ and receive £. There is no 'conversion' going on. Mostly the fees are charged by your own bank back home when they convert the £ to $ to deduct from your account.

> I lost going from US to Euro to pound < that definitey was a learning experience for you going forward. Exchanging one currency (the actual bills/notes) for another is always the most expensive option and you were doing that TWICE over the same transaction. US$ bills to UK£ notes to € you ended up paying double 'conversion fees' and losing on the exchange rates both times. One never 'sells' currency for the same amount you cab buy it -- Just don't do it -- use an ATM.

Avoid Euronet ATMs

Euronet aren't really any more expensive than other non-bank cash machines. Their fees run from free in some locations to €4-ish in others. Its a flat fee and isn't based on the transaction amount. Close to what many ATMs charge for out-of-system withdrawals in the States.

OP will find contactless card (credit or debit) payment increasingly favoured over cash in the UK (I don't know about the position in the Republic but I'd be surprised if it's much different).

You'd only have to worry about your own bank's charges then.

100%. The only thing you have to watch out for is these machines are very wily. They will attempt to get you to do DCC not once but twice. Same as some bank ATMs..

Hopefully you have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees on purchases. (You can use xe.com to get an idea of where the US dollar stands against the euro or the pound.) In England, don't expect to use much cash at all, only credit card (usually contactless/tap to pay payment means, so look for that icon on your card). If you have an iphone, set up your apple wallet ahead of time in the US with your credit cards.

If you'll be in more rural areas, you may want cash. I withdrew cash to ride buses in the countryside as their apps didn't connect to my credit cards correctly, or they offered more expensive day passes rather than cheaper, single tickets. (With my leftover cash, I topped up my Oyster card in London.) In May, I withdrew £50/$66.64 from an HSBC Bank ATM and my US bank charged $2 for the foreign atm fee. (The UK atm didn't tell me what the fee would exactly be, only that "your bank may charge a fee," etc.)

If you're asking what you might budget (outside of air/hotel), for a solo who's not patronizing finer dining or adding alcoholic drinks at most meals, a rough budget is $100/day. In my 11 days, starting from O'Hare airport, I spent $930; $460 for family gifts + $470 for meals/groceries/events & tours. Though half of my trip was in the country for hiking, so little spending those days, and the restaurants I chose were informal; my meals were $20-$26 in those places (no alcohol). In cities, you spend more. I did secure theater tix ahead of time. And for the big sites (Tower of London, Hampton Court, etc.), there are those entry fees.

As your entry is Ireland, maybe google the ATM locations at the airport so you'll know where to withdraw cash after you exit border control.

I heartily agree with so much of the above. And I'd like to summarize it all, if I may:

• Don't be carrying cash! Instead, carry chip no-foreign-transaction fee credit cards and an ATM card (we carry two different ones).
• Never press any button on any machine anywhere that says "conversion". When you are in any country, you should operate in local currency only. Anyone who tells you the conversion is a convenience is a thief.

IMPORTANT PLUS!!!!
Smartphone payment systems work. The last time we were in Ireland in 2023, I was using my Samsung Pay all over the place, even when our drivers would tell us it would not work. Google and Apple Pay are similarly accepted.

FYI--We are heading to the UK/Ireland within 24 hrs. My husband (aka, "The Currency Hoarder") is gathering up his Euros and Pounds scattered throughout his old luggage and dresser drawers as we speak. This time, however, he intends to spend it all. "You know," he says to me this morning (as if I, Ms. "I've-Paid-Everything-With-Credit-Card or My Phone for the Past Decade", wasn't up on this), "It's a credit card world out there now."

Enjoy your trip!
AZ

I've been wondering whether if or when the currency appearance will be changed in the UK due to the change to King Charles? We've had the experience of some (formerly good) bills not being accepted due to them being outdated, so maybe The Currency Hoarder has the right idea to use it up.

UK currency does change, but change of sovreign is not like a guillotine

https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes

Then within the UK there are some other notes (Scottish, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man etc)

Good to know. The British are sooooo civilized, eschewing the guillotine and all.

We took about $1200 on our recent trip to the Balkans as most tour guides require cash unless you've booked on viator or getyourguide. I don't book group tours anymore. A few churches asked for cash.

My experience has taught me to always take a bit of home cash with me as things can and do happen.

1. Phones can get lost or stolen.
2. Credit cards can get hacked.
3. ATMs can get hacked.

All three have happened to me and a friend. If I have a bit of cash, I can exchange it locally if needed. I had my travel only credit card compromised just 2 weeks ago when in Germany. I had my debit card and used that for purchases when not using euros that I already had on me. I also had a couple of hundred local money on me in case something happened to my debit card. I went into a church asking for donations via phone but did see a place for cash when wanting to lit a candle.