I always carry enough for bail.

Good plan. I also read recently that Morgan Freeman wears valuable earrings to pay for his funeral in case in dies out of the country.

With credit cards and ATMs, there is little need to carry much cash. I always start out with about $100 and get more cash if I need it. I seldom need more.

Before departing I verify which of my bank cards can be used free of charge or low cost at ATMs in the states or countries to which I will travel.

It has now reached the general consciousness that if one pays credit accounts in full when they are due, it is better to charge than to pay cash.

HTtY

I agree htty. It has been my experience that if you pay with a credit card you do get a better exchange rate.

A smart girl always has cab fare.

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It completely depends on the kind of card you have if that is true or not.

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A better exchange rate than what? An ATM? Depends, as suze says, entirely on your cards. Since my go-to travel cards, both ATM and CC, are from Capital One, it makes no difference.

Just wait until you are standing, low on funds, at an ATM machine, in a foreign country, and your new chip bank debit card is declined. You try another machine, declined. And so on.

You will change your tune about having cash as a Plan B I guarantee it. Been there done that.

@suze - That's what the second ATM card is for. I have never had a card refused by more than two machines, and even that is extremely rare, and I have visited over 70 countries in the last 16 years. A few of them didn't have ATM machines at all, or not machines that would take US cards, so you needed crisp new USD to exchange for local cash (e.g. Uzbekistan last year).

The best solution, cash, ATM and/or credit card depends entirely on where you are going. There is no one "correct" answer.

The best solution, cash, ATM and/or credit card depends entirely on where you are going. There is no one "correct" answer.

Thank you for wising us up to the fact that whatever answers we gave there is a place somewhere in the world that our suggestions will be erroneous.

Good to know.

HTtY

I usually carry $100-150. Small bills for tips, etc. I usually use my credit card as much as possible but I will never forget having dinner in a restaurant and then discovering that they did not take cards. At the time I never even considered that there was a restaurant that did not take cards. Now I am prepared.

will never forget having dinner in a restaurant and then discovering that they did not take cards

That happened to me at Sharrow Bay on Ullswater back in the 70s. Very embarrassing. I was treating my hosts. I presume Sharrow Bay now has a more enlightened policy.

HTtY

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Very true.

For example as far as best exchange rates we have a BofA ATM card that if you use their partner bank in the country you are traveling the exchange rate for cash is better than credit card. However, for convenience credit cards (at least ours does) gives an excellent exchange rate.

Sometimes I remind myself that I really ought to carry a little cash, because of friend of mine landed at JFK during a blackout, with no money. Cabs weren't taking cards in those days.

But then, I forget. I usually have no cash at all.

I always used to take not more than 100$. It was ok. But once, in Dallas it was, I stuck there with spinal pain, had to go to dallas urgent care clinic and spent over one week there. I've run out of my cash quicker than I expected(((( It was https://frontlineer.com/ if somebody ever needs a 24 hour emergency in Dallas)))))) Hope you don't!!!! But if you do, make sure you have enough cash.
And once I went to the festival. I had 200$. It was enough, but I didn't regard the fact I had no backtickets. I had to hitch hike)))) But the beer was good there)

We found a lot of places that didn't take credit cards in Europe. I think they just don't want to pay the fees.

I think It's safe to say that it is better to have more cash than you need than too little. HTtY

Europe is "old-fashioned" That's why credit cards aren't as popular there. When I went to Europe, I use my credit card to book a hotel and to reserve tickets.

Cyber hacks! Cash is King in a state of emergency.

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thursdaysd~ well good for you. I am very happy you have been to over 70 countries in the last 16 years.

But that does not change the fact a couple years ago my newly issued chipped BoA debit card would not work in ANY bank machine in Mexico. And BoA knew it.

No, it doesn't change the fact, but it does prove that it's a rare occurrence, anecdotally, anyway.

But that does not change the fact a couple years ago my newly issued chipped BoA debit card would not work in ANY bank machine in Mexico.

A few years back my American Express card stopped working about one week into a two-week trip to France. Upon examining the card, I discovered that somebody along the way had put Scotch tape over a portion of the card so it wouldn't register correctly when swiped.

I now used a Capital One Visa card when traveling abroad, and stopped paying the transaction fees American Express charges.

HTtY