devloff

I remember last time when I was travelling in the EU, lots of the stores and hotels can be paid by my visa cards, and the bank doesn't charge extra fees with all the transactions. I want to know how much you guys prepare with the amount of cash each time you're travelling?

MmePerdu

Most credit cards do, in fact, charge fees called foreign transaction fees, usually 3%. Capital One being the best known exception. So that's what I use. Also a debit card for cash from ATMs after arrival at the destination and $500 emergency cash which I almost never touch. That's it.

RoamsAround

I carry the equivalent of about $200US in cash (small bills and/or coins) and use very little of it - mostly for gratuities or taxi fares. Like MmePerdu I replenish cash as needed using a debit card at ATM's.

I charge everything I can on my Capital One visa card - no foreign transaction fee plus I get "points" I can use to offset future travel (or use for the "Purchaser Eraser" feature).

Nowadays, you don't need much cash to travel.

thursdaysd

I pick up cash on arrival in a new country (unless I've been there before and kept left over cash). If I'm flying or arriving by train there will be an ATM in the airport or station. If I'm arriving by bus or shared taxi I might change a little cash at the border, but the best exchange rate is always from ATMs.

Note: in addition to foreign conversion fees on most credit cards, they are also charged on most ATM withdrawals. I have both Capital One credit cards and a Cap One checking account, which charge 0%, and a Credit Union card and account which charge 1%.

Watch out for the Dynamic Currency Conversion scam. If you use a credit card the charge should always be in the local currency.

Inform your bank and credit card company that you will be traveling.

I usually take some US $50 or $100 bills for emergency use. The amount depends on the length of the trip. $200 should be plenty for a short trip.

LSky

The same as other people, I carry about $200 (equivalent) and use my cc. We always have USD for the trip back. And come home with enough Euros to get us started on our next trip.

thursdaysd

@RoamsAround - where are you going that you're using USD for tips and taxis???

janisj

>> and use very little of it - mostly for gratuities or taxi fares.<<

OMG . . . Now, there are a <u>Few</u> countries where that is OK or even desirable. But in the vast majority - a definite no no.

MissGreen

$1000 to 2000 in cash.

RoamsAround

thursdaysd and janisj - you misread my post - I said "...the equivalent of about $200US in cash (small bills and/or coins)..." - the operative word being EQUIVALENT". What's wrong with using local currency in cash for taxis and gratuities?

thursdaysd

Sorry, missed the equivalent.

annhig

we usually do what you have all described, [save missGreen] except that I feel uncomfortable if I don't have some actual currency of the country when I arrive, in case my bank have decided that Florence is no longer in Italy, for example.

I would certainly not carry large amounts of cash around unless i needed them for an apartment rental and was going to get rid of it pretty soon. friends of ours decided to take all the money they would need with them [about €1000] and left it in the cab of their camper when they stopped overnight in an "aire" near Marseilles. [yes, i know, several mistakes there - they are not fodorites]. in the night they were robbed and the only things they had left were their clothes, their children [all of which were in the main part of the camper with them] and their passports.

When i asked if they didn't think that getting money from an ATM would be safer, they said that they didn't realise that they would be able to find one in the south of France.

TC

It depends on where I'm going and for what reason. I try primerally to pull local currency from an ATM upon arrival. My ATM card does not charge a fee or currency conversion and they will reimburse for any fee charged by the local bank. I then try to spend every dime before I leave the country by paying down my hotel bill for instance with cash before finishing it with CC. That way I don't have to ask my home bank to do a reverse exchange (talk about a horrible rate!) upon returning home. If its EUR or pesos or the like...a place where I will be returning, I just save the extra in an envelope at home for the next trip.

suze

As TC says, depends where I'm going. What I do for a 2-3 week trip taking a train around Europe is not what I do for going on a 10 day beach vacation in Mexico or Hawaii.

amer_can

To Europe never more than the amount of 200E in 20s,10s and maybe a 50. Then it's ATMs for me or a CC..Never been a problem over the many years of travel. A few US$ are also in my pocket. Local currency (ie Turkish or Francs) is less easy to come by unless you get it at a cash vendor and the price is higher so I/we wait until arrival.

Hobbert

I get about $200 USD worth of local currency when I arrive (my bank charges a 1% ATM fee) and use my credit card for as much as I can. Fortunately, my credit card company has no foreign transaction fee. Would love a chip and pin card though! I've been burned by that a couple times and have been glad to have cash on hand.

annhig

for our upcoming trip, we are taking £100 in each of the currencies of the places where we are going, so that if there is a problem with ATMs, we have something to tide us over while it gets fixed.

sparkchaser

<i>>> and use very little of it - mostly for gratuities or taxi fares.<<

OMG . . . Now, there are a Few countries where that is OK or even desirable. But in the vast majority - a definite no no.</i>

Wat? It's always desirable to pay taxis.

Also, there are more countries that have a tipping culture than don't. Crazy, I know.

janisj

sparkchaser - - that was in response to using US$ for tips and taxis . . .

sparkchaser

ok but that's not what he said. he said <b>equivalent</b>.

november_moon

We pay for most of our day-to-day expenses in cash when we travel rather than charge them. Just a personal preference. We get cash from the ATM as we go along, taking the max allowed for each ATM transaction to minimize fees.