Almost none. I rarely use cash and I rarely have more than $20 - $40 in my wallet at any given moment, often it's just a few dollars. I also have 2 ATM cards and a variety of credit cards.

OK, so what is "the" answer????????????????????

I make sure we have enough small bills for tips and small purchases, everything else is usually paid by a credit card - I love points.

Also depends on where we are going. If a city, they are ATMs if cash is needed. If wilderness (with a group), I bring more cash.

Dukey1, "the" answer is .... 42. But, I forgot the question.

>I take more than one ATM card!>

Why bother with cash when you can buy the same items with a Visa or Master Card and collect air miles for your next trip.

After DH died, I started collecting $1 bills (or small whatever currency) for tips. In the U.S., it can add up.

Credit cards so widely used, not as much as before. About $50/day overseas; $100 in U.S.A.

"Why bother with cash when you can buy the same items with a Visa or Master Card and collect air miles for your next trip."

For me, it's easier to stick to my budget by paying cash as I go, and that's worth more to me than the extra air miles I would have accrued.

There are times when you need cash. I recently asked for a taxi that takes credit cards and didn't get one. Needed 55 euros!

"Why bother with cash when you can buy the same items with a Visa or Master Card and collect air miles for your next trip."


Depends where you travel. Maybe within the USA that makes sense but outside the country the same rules do not necessarily apply.

Where I vacation in Mexico (and this is a popular resort area not off the beaten path at all) many local businesses like cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, do not even accept plastic.

When I travel to Mexico I use almost exclusively cash and save the credit cards for hotel, and car rental. I am using my credit card less in the US as I am trying to get my balances paid off.

">I take more than one ATM card!>

Why bother with cash when you can buy the same items with a Visa or Master Card and collect air miles for your next trip."

In the US I no longer even carry an ATM card. What makes sense in the US does not necessarily make sense everywhere else. I don't know why people have difficulty with this concept, isn't that one reason to travel?

Well to be fair, this question IS posted on the US forum.

@suze, true, but the conversation had broadened to include travel abroad, and I thought it was clear from my post that I was talking about travel abroad. I was responding to Ackislander who had posted that he only took one ATM card on foreign trips.

OK sure, and I was talking about Mexico, where the no cash thing doesn't work either.

I was just responding to your "why people are having difficulty with this concept" remark.

Some European countries are almost completely cashless. Most countries including the US you can travel 100% without cash I have done that often. The one country which is a hastle is Italy. Vendors often give a significant discount for cash and wont give a receipt...to avoid taxes.

<including the US you can travel 100% without cash >

I predict all it will take is one time of an ATM not working, having your card declined, stolen or eaten by the machine, and you will be singing a different tune.

"Some European countries are almost completely cashless. Most countries including the US you can travel 100% without cash"

Do you mean "most European countries"? Or, perhaps, "most western European countries"? Because there are over 200 countries in the world, and I doubt that statement is true of "most" of them. It's not altogether true even of western Europe, if you get off the tourist trail or sleep and eat in small local guesthouses/cafes. And in Denmark, if IIRC, I was charged extra for using a US CC, so while I could use a CC, I was better off with cash.

I don't know Thursday. I said some countries, so to narrow it down (and you are right I should) I have traveled to Norway twice within the last few years and never used an ATM or had krone. Just a credit card. I did the same in England last June.

suze, My last three trips I didn't use the ATM as I didn't need to use cash fortunately. BUT having said that when I travelled to PV years ago I did take pesos with me (as they are easy to buy from friends or colleagues here in San Diego). I primarily used cash there for tipping.

For that length of time, I put about $500 in low denominations in a money belt and stash it in the suitcase, transferring to the billfold as needed. I try to bring a good supply of $1 and $5 bills for tipping. (I don't leave cash in the suitcase when flying.) I don't necessarily wear the money belt, but it is always an option if needed.