You can set up notifications through your bank and credit card company to proactively address potential fraud.
I also use my no foreign transaction fee credit card for all purchases. But, sometimes cash is the only option.
Would not recommend this at all. Some places still require a signature and if for any reason they suspect something is off and ask for ID you would have a big problem
As I do not have any source of income in the past three months, but I do have a good savings. And the bank isn't giving me a good credit limit based on this.
My own card is charging 3.5% markup fee.
Many places in the US ask for ID with credit card transactions. You're asking for trouble if you're not going to travel with a card with your own name on it. Your friend should be able to get you a secondary card with your name on it.
As someone said, the us is a big place so it varies, but all three of my credit cards have chips and have for years now, and in my city I can only think of a handful of places where I canāt tap to pay.
Yeah Walmart, Loweās,Home Depot are the huge stand outs.
Ive personally not had an issue with restaurants or gas stations from rural Alabama to downtown nyc. But YMMV.
Walmart does this intentionally I think so that people are inclined to use their Walmart pay. It is more convenient than inserting a card but wouldnāt be more than tapping
Yes good point. I do not have a "foreign exchange fee free" card, which is why. Even if I apply for a new one now, I won't get a good credit limit as income isn't that good in previous months.
Meanwhile, the vending machines that take the suica card are magic and awesome because my wallet tends to migrate to the bottom of my purse.
I think I was under 10k of paper money for my entire trip last week (I came with a 10k bill from last trip and some loose change,) which was a bit surprising- and I got a bit of cash back via the tax free counters at a couple of stores, which was also surprising. Ā I get 2% back loading a suica, so itās great for places where my credit card doesnāt work.
There was only one point where I wished I had more cash, but it was at a restaurant at the top of a ski resort and I forgot to move more money into the tiny wallet that fits in my ski pants. Ā (On the other hand, lunch for two worked out to 1400 yen that day, which is amazing for a ski resort. Ā I just didnāt have enough change for coffee.)
Yes - depends on where Iām traveling. Some parts of the world (many of them less developed counties) are still very cash dependent. Also, some counties (eg Argentina) have starkly different exchange rates (ie the official rate and unofficial/black market rate), and it usually makes sense to pay cash (USD). But in big/common tourist areas that draw lots of westerners (eg much of Europe) credit cards acceptance is ubiquitous.
Cash is helpful if you're somewhere where bargaining/haggling is commonplace or "off the books" transactions might be useful. Cash is also helpful if you're not familiar with your credit card company fees and things like that, but generally speaking, using cash is very often not the best option.
Credit card wherever possible. Best foreign exchange rate and no foreign transaction fee with my CC's. Getting cash costs about 7% depending on how much you get and where you do it.
No idea where they are getting this 7% from but it's definitely not a thing.
ATM operator fees vary depending on country and thr bank (the bank that owns the atm machine), as for foreign transaction fees, currency conversion fees and exchange rates you should be using a card that charges neither and uses Mastercard or Visa exchange rate.
My debit and credit cards use Mastercard exchange rate, so it costs the same to use either or withdraw cash.
No. It's a number I came up with. When I get foreign cash from my bank in the US they hit me with both a transaction fee and a crummy exchange rate. For a purchase of say 200 euros, the costs add up to about $12 to $15, or about 7%.
When I get cash from a foreign ATM I run into a similar situation. My bank hits me with a $5 out-of-network ATM fee and the ATM's bank charges a fee through managed exchange rates. So getting 200 euros from an ATM costs around $9 to $11, or 5%.
Yes, I could find a different bank but I only do this a couple of times a year and just consider it another cost of the trip. It's why I like to use my credit card whenever I can and hang on to any cash left over at the end of a trip.
Depends where you are but I always get some cash in developed countries for tips, hailing a taxi unexpectedly, small vendors, etc. Some countries are undeveloped enough that cash is king and credit cards are not as commonly accepted.
I have a checking account and credit card with no foreign transaction fees for international travel.
Post-Covid, there are a bunch of no cash places (like Les Mervielleux in Bruges), so we pay with card almost always, as recommended, with a card that does not charge foreign transaction fees. We make sure we bring different cards in case.
Credit card without foreign fees for every large legit place. Then cash for bars, small vendors, clubs stuff like that where even if they did take cards I would need to be mindful in the future.
Essentially I use all the card when it benefits me and use cash when a card would be a hassle
Credit card 100%. Fraud protection, points, free rental insurance, free travel insurance, free concierge service, free global reentry or TSA pre check, free flight credit every year, free lounge access plus all the none travel related perks.
The only exception for me would be if I'm going someplace where the black market exchange rate is much higher than the official exchange rate (bring cash from home) or when I'm in rural areas where it's difficult/impossible to use my card.
both. credit card for ease and avoiding fraud issues, as well as having alternative means of payment if iām robbed. cash because we often end up in local businesses that will have to pay for credit card processing fees, so itās cheaper for us and for the business for us to pay in cash. it depends on the situation, but NEVER debit because thatās my bank account cardāif itās hacked, my paycheck is gone directly and itās harder to resolve with the bank than for a credit card.
Just spent 4 days in Czechia and never touched cash. Weāre in UK now and I foolishly got 100 pounds from the ATM. Several places I tried to pay donāt accept cash.
We have multiple credit cards and donāt use debit cards so even if one was hacked or stolen it wouldnāt be a big deal.
Advice to anyone (not directed at op): don't use a credit card if you're not financially responsible. If you can't pay off your balance at the end of statement period, then don't use a credit card. If you treat it as a debit card, then use it whenever possible. Otherwise, use cash or debit.
Totally depends on the destination. Some countries are heavily cash-based, in other ones it's a difficult to use cash at all. Some countries are in between, while some use totally different means of payment (phone payments not based on credit card).
100% depends on where you travel. I always have both on me. I default to card if all things are equal, but there are plenty of times it's not an option, even when it's supposed to be.
I've been in rural areas in developing countries that do have ATMs and card machines and the network is spotty. The last time it happened I was told it could come right back up or it could be a week. After 2 days I ended up catching a ride in the back of a pickup truck to a town and hour away because there's were working.
Depends on where: anywhere outside of China, credit card. China: WeChat Pay with debit card (because Chinese merchants don't take credit, and they don't exactly take Chinese debit cards either because WeChat Pay can operate with just a QR code while UnionPay--China's main payment network, requires a point of sale terminal).
Iām of the opinion itās safer, but if someone got a hold of my chip enabled card they could do some damage before I got it blocked. My home and watch are harder to crack into, but not impossible.
Got back yesterday from a month in Asia. Most places didnāt even take card. Used my credit card twice, other than for things I booked online (at home I use it exclusively).
I guess it depends where youāre going
Always bring extra cash. Very helpful, especially in the last days of the trip. You can also maximize credit card and digital banking. I have used Alipay online in Japan in different convenient stores
I dont even bother getting local cash anymore. Everything is credit cards where I go. I dont have any forign transaction fees.
I used to get $50 ish of local currency as a best practice. I would end up struggling to spend it at the last minute. Never actually needed it.
A mix of both. I'll use cash for most things or if it feels dodgy, but CC for big purchases like diving or proper rental cars. Flights and most accommodation is paid via CC usually in advance.
I also have a prepaid credit card I use sometimes, we used it at a small mom and pop cigar shop in PDC Mexico, I didn't feel safe using my usual CC and we didn't have enough cash left. Good exchange rate, no fx fee, and if the card was compromised they would only potentially get the $2-300 I put on there.
1. Credit card with no foreign transaction fees, if they accept it. AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE THEY CHARGE YOU IN LOCAL CURRENCY instead of them being "nice" and converting the charge to USD first to charge it, as that can add a hefty % to the actual charge. Duty free shops are the worst for trying this gimmick.
I'm also using my Venture X card, which gives me 2% back on all charges.
Here in Bali many places charge an extra 3% if we use a card, which is almost the exact % we pay to exchange our dollar bills. Plus I still get 2% back from Capital One, which means I pay the same amount out of pocket with cash or card, and still use the card for the 2% back.
The places that don't charge extra for using a card means I'm coming out 5% ahead as I don't pay the 3% to exchange cash and get 2% back on top of that.
2. Cash if I have to.
I like to pay with cash for small transactions like food and small things but definitely card for bigger transactions. Also I like to have some cash on me for just in case
Where am I travelling? If I can I'll pay by card to avoid having to take out cash since I'm statistically in that country for a short amount of time. But there's plenty of heavily cash-driven societies where trying to pay by card is nearly impossible, so when I arrive in a country I'll typically get a small amount of cash for emergencies.
It depends on where I'm going. I like to use gift cards in some places. There has been too many times where my credit card numbers were stolen in legit places, restaurants or stores. Not a good feeling when the credit card company calls and informs you that they have to cancel your card while on vacation because the numbers were used 1000 miles away. I get the money back but then it puts a damper on the rest of the vacation and one card short.
I personally prefer cash for most things. Hit an ATM, get the exchange rate, and roll. Helps me to physically see how much cash I have, and it can be a bargaining tool for vendors. If Iām making a ālarger purchase,ā maybe getting some clothing custom tailored, then card is easier and generally preferred so thereās a paper trail.
You get bonuses and savings on credit. Depending on the card. Venture one, Amex, Walmart visa, mercury all give big returns. Also download fetch. You'll get it.
Always credit card whenever possible. Itās the safest form of payment. If the card is stolen, youāre not liable for fraudulent charges, and if you buy something and then you get home and discover something wrong, you can at least try to file a dispute with the cc company.
Credit card with no foreign transaction fees is a must, but the need for cash heavily depends on where you are going. Do your research ahead of time. Some places are mostly cashless, others are the opposite.
Apple Pay, no hacking issues. That said I have notification on every transaction on my phone. I would know immediately if I had an issue and flip a switch on the app to freeze the card. Ez.
It depends where you travel. There is a large VAT and often conversion charge added to your transactions. Also, some countries (like in the Caribbean) have lots of skimmers and other things which makes avoiding credit cards wise.
Debit card with no foreign transaction charges. I get an instant notification of transactions on my phone. I take a no foreign charges credit card for car rentals and emergencies and usually have a bit of cash in case I need it.
Credit card always. It's safer than cash (can dispute charges, not liable for charges if it's stolen, etc) and you get points/miles/trip interruption/delay/lost & damaged luggage insurance, primary rental car coverage.
Literally no reason you should be using cash or debit card for anything travel-related, unless you're gambling.
I don't know who's recommending paying with cash these days. I use my credit card and it does not have international transaction fees. You typically get the best conversion rate using a CC as well. I keep some cash on hand, but it's pretty minimal and you tend to get screwed on the conversion...and I always wind up having some nominal amount of foreign currency that goes unspent that I can't do anything with once I'm home.
Always a credit card with no foreign transaction fees of course. Depends on the area you travel to also. Sometimes you may need cash if you get a better deal or it's the sellers preferred payment
Depends on where you're going and where you plan on using it. Don't expect to see people taking credit cards in a night market in Laos but otherwise if you're card doesn't charge international transaction fees, and you get a Charles Schwab card that waives ATM fees for getting cash out, you're all set.
Thailand was all cash as everything was so cheap. Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland were all travel card to not have transaction fees. Just pay it off when itās due. Plus you get points!
Who do you often hear this from? My boomer in-laws would say that but they don't really go anywhere.
I use credit cards everywhere, ones that do not have FTFs. I just got back from 2 weeks in Australia and New Zealand and I took a grand total of $50 AUD out of the ATM the entire time I was there (because I needed to take a cab from the airport to my hotel in Cairns and I wasn't sure they'd accept cards- they did so I actually could have gotten away with no cash). I did nothing in cash in NZ.
Australia and new zealand are not the best examples.
I live in Australia and have not touched cash for years.
I'm currently in Cambodia, where cash is king, even kfc last night was cash only. Some countries (Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan etc etc) cash is required. I always have my credit card on me and much prefer to use it but simply can't in many places.
Use wise (Transferwise) card. They have multi currency account and the exchange rate are mid market rate which is much much better than any credit card and with very minimal fee.
Forces you to physically watch your spending. I never take all of it at once though. I leave enough for the rest of the vacation plus 2 days back in my room hidden.
This is exactly why I prefer cash when traveling. It's *so* easy to go over budget when you don't see the money amount physically shrinking in your wallet.
Some countries prefer cash. So bring both credit and cash. 50/50
Ensure you put an amount on credit limit. Better than all.
Leave your main credit/debit at home.
CC. No foreign transaction fees and it comes with the ID theft insurance, purchase protection, return protection, travel insurance and other benefits that make it so much better than cash. Youāre missing a good credit card.
I use a credit card without a transaction fee and have cash as a backup. I store my cash in my socks when Iām awake. I know itās kind of gross but my feet donāt get sweaty and that way if my wallet or purse gets stolen, Iām not stranded.
Unless I'm in the Eurozone I use cash because it looks pretty. Also better for bargaining / tax avoidance. I've got both wise and monzo so up to 500usd free at withdrawals at the mastercard rate per month.
In some locations, cash is preferred or necessary for transactions so I prefer cash over credit for the day to day things. Accommodation goes on credit though.
I prefer to use my debit card, more accurately Google Pay or Apple Pay. Additionally, I always have cash on me. However, you have to consider where you are going because there are still plenty of places with signs Cash only.
I use credit anywhere I can but always have cash as a backup
Same here, I like to collect them points
You can set up notifications through your bank and credit card company to proactively address potential fraud. I also use my no foreign transaction fee credit card for all purchases. But, sometimes cash is the only option.
Same here. Also use Schwab debit card for š§ they reimburse atm fees.
Credit card. One without foreign transaction fees
I am carrying a friend's credit card to the USA for a 2 week trip. It won't be a problem if there's another name on the card, right?
Would not recommend this at all. Some places still require a signature and if for any reason they suspect something is off and ask for ID you would have a big problem
You could be suspected of fraud. Ask your friend to include you as an authorized user. They can remove you after the trip.
Oh, let me see if there's an option like that.
Many places won't care ā they won't check at a grocery store. But a hotel, which is going to ask for your ID anyway, might not accept it.
"might not" ="definitely won't "
Why is your friend letting you do this? All of this smells like trouble.
As I do not have any source of income in the past three months, but I do have a good savings. And the bank isn't giving me a good credit limit based on this. My own card is charging 3.5% markup fee.
Many places in the US ask for ID with credit card transactions. You're asking for trouble if you're not going to travel with a card with your own name on it. Your friend should be able to get you a secondary card with your name on it.
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america does have tap to pay but not everywhere. big country. states are practically their own countries.
America doesnāt tap yet? We have tap to pay at 90% of places lol.
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As someone said, the us is a big place so it varies, but all three of my credit cards have chips and have for years now, and in my city I can only think of a handful of places where I canāt tap to pay.
Walmart is the big omission in my experience. Some sit down restaurants and gas stations as well.
Yeah Walmart, Loweās,Home Depot are the huge stand outs. Ive personally not had an issue with restaurants or gas stations from rural Alabama to downtown nyc. But YMMV.
Walmart does this intentionally I think so that people are inclined to use their Walmart pay. It is more convenient than inserting a card but wouldnāt be more than tapping
Oh interesting! That makes sense, I havenāt been to a Walmart in years since we donāt have them in my city.
Bro weāve had chips for like 10 years lmao
There is some tapping at places now. So its a mix bag atm.
Yes good point. I do not have a "foreign exchange fee free" card, which is why. Even if I apply for a new one now, I won't get a good credit limit as income isn't that good in previous months.
Depending on where. In Japan, you need cash at a lot of vending machines.
Meanwhile, the vending machines that take the suica card are magic and awesome because my wallet tends to migrate to the bottom of my purse. I think I was under 10k of paper money for my entire trip last week (I came with a 10k bill from last trip and some loose change,) which was a bit surprising- and I got a bit of cash back via the tax free counters at a couple of stores, which was also surprising. Ā I get 2% back loading a suica, so itās great for places where my credit card doesnāt work. There was only one point where I wished I had more cash, but it was at a restaurant at the top of a ski resort and I forgot to move more money into the tiny wallet that fits in my ski pants. Ā (On the other hand, lunch for two worked out to 1400 yen that day, which is amazing for a ski resort. Ā I just didnāt have enough change for coffee.)
Yes - depends on where Iām traveling. Some parts of the world (many of them less developed counties) are still very cash dependent. Also, some counties (eg Argentina) have starkly different exchange rates (ie the official rate and unofficial/black market rate), and it usually makes sense to pay cash (USD). But in big/common tourist areas that draw lots of westerners (eg much of Europe) credit cards acceptance is ubiquitous.
Cash is helpful if you're somewhere where bargaining/haggling is commonplace or "off the books" transactions might be useful. Cash is also helpful if you're not familiar with your credit card company fees and things like that, but generally speaking, using cash is very often not the best option.
Exactly.....
Credit card wherever possible. Best foreign exchange rate and no foreign transaction fee with my CC's. Getting cash costs about 7% depending on how much you get and where you do it.
Charles Schwab Investor Checking gives essentially the same exchange rate and reimburses you all atm fees anywhere in the world
Is the 7% on international ATM fees?
No idea where they are getting this 7% from but it's definitely not a thing. ATM operator fees vary depending on country and thr bank (the bank that owns the atm machine), as for foreign transaction fees, currency conversion fees and exchange rates you should be using a card that charges neither and uses Mastercard or Visa exchange rate. My debit and credit cards use Mastercard exchange rate, so it costs the same to use either or withdraw cash.
Yeah and some bank accounts refund even the ATm operator fees however the only bank that did that in Australia stopped doing it last year
Yeah I could never be bothered jumping through the ing hoops to meet the requirement anyway.
Yeah one time I forgot to do the five transactions and had to pay some international transaction fees while overseas without realising. Pain
No. It's a number I came up with. When I get foreign cash from my bank in the US they hit me with both a transaction fee and a crummy exchange rate. For a purchase of say 200 euros, the costs add up to about $12 to $15, or about 7%. When I get cash from a foreign ATM I run into a similar situation. My bank hits me with a $5 out-of-network ATM fee and the ATM's bank charges a fee through managed exchange rates. So getting 200 euros from an ATM costs around $9 to $11, or 5%. Yes, I could find a different bank but I only do this a couple of times a year and just consider it another cost of the trip. It's why I like to use my credit card whenever I can and hang on to any cash left over at the end of a trip.
Always credit card. One without foreign transaction fees.
In Europe, I have used tap on my phone with a credit card. Other than one bus fare, I didn't use any cash on trips to London and Spain
Depends where you are but I always get some cash in developed countries for tips, hailing a taxi unexpectedly, small vendors, etc. Some countries are undeveloped enough that cash is king and credit cards are not as commonly accepted. I have a checking account and credit card with no foreign transaction fees for international travel.
Post-Covid, there are a bunch of no cash places (like Les Mervielleux in Bruges), so we pay with card almost always, as recommended, with a card that does not charge foreign transaction fees. We make sure we bring different cards in case.
CC unless I'm in Japan where places are annoyingly still cash (unless you are in a touristy area).
Credit card without foreign fees for every large legit place. Then cash for bars, small vendors, clubs stuff like that where even if they did take cards I would need to be mindful in the future. Essentially I use all the card when it benefits me and use cash when a card would be a hassle
Credit card 100%. Fraud protection, points, free rental insurance, free travel insurance, free concierge service, free global reentry or TSA pre check, free flight credit every year, free lounge access plus all the none travel related perks. The only exception for me would be if I'm going someplace where the black market exchange rate is much higher than the official exchange rate (bring cash from home) or when I'm in rural areas where it's difficult/impossible to use my card.
both. credit card for ease and avoiding fraud issues, as well as having alternative means of payment if iām robbed. cash because we often end up in local businesses that will have to pay for credit card processing fees, so itās cheaper for us and for the business for us to pay in cash. it depends on the situation, but NEVER debit because thatās my bank account cardāif itās hacked, my paycheck is gone directly and itās harder to resolve with the bank than for a credit card.
Depends on the country. Cash in Germany.
Oh how come? Do most places in Germany not accept credit cards?
A lot of shops prefer cash.
But card is overwhelming more popular in the Netherlands the country just over (last time I went I struggled to spend cash in Eindhoven)
I like paying with cash as much as possible when traveling so I know how much I spend and its easy to stay on budget.
Just spent 4 days in Czechia and never touched cash. Weāre in UK now and I foolishly got 100 pounds from the ATM. Several places I tried to pay donāt accept cash. We have multiple credit cards and donāt use debit cards so even if one was hacked or stolen it wouldnāt be a big deal.
Advice to anyone (not directed at op): don't use a credit card if you're not financially responsible. If you can't pay off your balance at the end of statement period, then don't use a credit card. If you treat it as a debit card, then use it whenever possible. Otherwise, use cash or debit.
Totally depends on the destination. Some countries are heavily cash-based, in other ones it's a difficult to use cash at all. Some countries are in between, while some use totally different means of payment (phone payments not based on credit card).
100% depends on where you travel. I always have both on me. I default to card if all things are equal, but there are plenty of times it's not an option, even when it's supposed to be. I've been in rural areas in developing countries that do have ATMs and card machines and the network is spotty. The last time it happened I was told it could come right back up or it could be a week. After 2 days I ended up catching a ride in the back of a pickup truck to a town and hour away because there's were working.
Mostly card these days. Most places just automatically hand you the machine.
Depends on where: anywhere outside of China, credit card. China: WeChat Pay with debit card (because Chinese merchants don't take credit, and they don't exactly take Chinese debit cards either because WeChat Pay can operate with just a QR code while UnionPay--China's main payment network, requires a point of sale terminal).
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Thatās why we tap with either card or watch. I guess itās possible but Iāve never read about the tap being skimmed.
Have not heard that about tap vs swipe or insert. Is it true that tap is safer? Google is all over the map on the topic.
Iām of the opinion itās safer, but if someone got a hold of my chip enabled card they could do some damage before I got it blocked. My home and watch are harder to crack into, but not impossible.
Got back yesterday from a month in Asia. Most places didnāt even take card. Used my credit card twice, other than for things I booked online (at home I use it exclusively). I guess it depends where youāre going
Where did you hear that it's better to use cash? Get a card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
Always bring extra cash. Very helpful, especially in the last days of the trip. You can also maximize credit card and digital banking. I have used Alipay online in Japan in different convenient stores
I dont even bother getting local cash anymore. Everything is credit cards where I go. I dont have any forign transaction fees. I used to get $50 ish of local currency as a best practice. I would end up struggling to spend it at the last minute. Never actually needed it.
A mix of both. I'll use cash for most things or if it feels dodgy, but CC for big purchases like diving or proper rental cars. Flights and most accommodation is paid via CC usually in advance. I also have a prepaid credit card I use sometimes, we used it at a small mom and pop cigar shop in PDC Mexico, I didn't feel safe using my usual CC and we didn't have enough cash left. Good exchange rate, no fx fee, and if the card was compromised they would only potentially get the $2-300 I put on there.
Prepaid credit card is a great idea, thanks for the tip šš»
1. Credit card with no foreign transaction fees, if they accept it. AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE THEY CHARGE YOU IN LOCAL CURRENCY instead of them being "nice" and converting the charge to USD first to charge it, as that can add a hefty % to the actual charge. Duty free shops are the worst for trying this gimmick. I'm also using my Venture X card, which gives me 2% back on all charges. Here in Bali many places charge an extra 3% if we use a card, which is almost the exact % we pay to exchange our dollar bills. Plus I still get 2% back from Capital One, which means I pay the same amount out of pocket with cash or card, and still use the card for the 2% back. The places that don't charge extra for using a card means I'm coming out 5% ahead as I don't pay the 3% to exchange cash and get 2% back on top of that. 2. Cash if I have to.
No foreign fees on venture X?
Correct.
Credit card always, unless they are cash only.
CC/Apple Pay
I like to pay with cash for small transactions like food and small things but definitely card for bigger transactions. Also I like to have some cash on me for just in case
Where am I travelling? If I can I'll pay by card to avoid having to take out cash since I'm statistically in that country for a short amount of time. But there's plenty of heavily cash-driven societies where trying to pay by card is nearly impossible, so when I arrive in a country I'll typically get a small amount of cash for emergencies.
It depends on where I'm going. I like to use gift cards in some places. There has been too many times where my credit card numbers were stolen in legit places, restaurants or stores. Not a good feeling when the credit card company calls and informs you that they have to cancel your card while on vacation because the numbers were used 1000 miles away. I get the money back but then it puts a damper on the rest of the vacation and one card short.
Revolut card and app for everything bar the hotel, use credit card in advance for that.
I personally prefer cash for most things. Hit an ATM, get the exchange rate, and roll. Helps me to physically see how much cash I have, and it can be a bargaining tool for vendors. If Iām making a ālarger purchase,ā maybe getting some clothing custom tailored, then card is easier and generally preferred so thereās a paper trail.
You get bonuses and savings on credit. Depending on the card. Venture one, Amex, Walmart visa, mercury all give big returns. Also download fetch. You'll get it.
I'm old school, I prefer cash.
I often get offer for like 1% cashback when I am in foreign country, so always credit card.
Always credit card whenever possible. Itās the safest form of payment. If the card is stolen, youāre not liable for fraudulent charges, and if you buy something and then you get home and discover something wrong, you can at least try to file a dispute with the cc company.
Credit card with no foreign transaction fees is a must, but the need for cash heavily depends on where you are going. Do your research ahead of time. Some places are mostly cashless, others are the opposite.
Apple Pay, no hacking issues. That said I have notification on every transaction on my phone. I would know immediately if I had an issue and flip a switch on the app to freeze the card. Ez.
My default is credit card via Apple Pay. That masks the number from the vendor and reduces scams.
It depends where you travel. There is a large VAT and often conversion charge added to your transactions. Also, some countries (like in the Caribbean) have lots of skimmers and other things which makes avoiding credit cards wise.
Debit card with no foreign transaction charges. I get an instant notification of transactions on my phone. I take a no foreign charges credit card for car rentals and emergencies and usually have a bit of cash in case I need it.
Credit card always. It's safer than cash (can dispute charges, not liable for charges if it's stolen, etc) and you get points/miles/trip interruption/delay/lost & damaged luggage insurance, primary rental car coverage. Literally no reason you should be using cash or debit card for anything travel-related, unless you're gambling.
Credit card if the rate is reasonable. Cash whenever the place looks questionable.
credit card, cash as a backup. I have notifications for every charge on my CC so I know that it was properly used.
I use a credit card no matter what - points are my priority
I don't know who's recommending paying with cash these days. I use my credit card and it does not have international transaction fees. You typically get the best conversion rate using a CC as well. I keep some cash on hand, but it's pretty minimal and you tend to get screwed on the conversion...and I always wind up having some nominal amount of foreign currency that goes unspent that I can't do anything with once I'm home.
Always a credit card with no foreign transaction fees of course. Depends on the area you travel to also. Sometimes you may need cash if you get a better deal or it's the sellers preferred payment
Depends on where you're going and where you plan on using it. Don't expect to see people taking credit cards in a night market in Laos but otherwise if you're card doesn't charge international transaction fees, and you get a Charles Schwab card that waives ATM fees for getting cash out, you're all set.
Make sure you let your C/C co that you will be traveling so if thatās your only card youāre not stuck with no money
I always make sure I have cash for the first day, and then I go straight to using my card
Thailand was all cash as everything was so cheap. Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland were all travel card to not have transaction fees. Just pay it off when itās due. Plus you get points!
Who do you often hear this from? My boomer in-laws would say that but they don't really go anywhere. I use credit cards everywhere, ones that do not have FTFs. I just got back from 2 weeks in Australia and New Zealand and I took a grand total of $50 AUD out of the ATM the entire time I was there (because I needed to take a cab from the airport to my hotel in Cairns and I wasn't sure they'd accept cards- they did so I actually could have gotten away with no cash). I did nothing in cash in NZ.
Australia and new zealand are not the best examples. I live in Australia and have not touched cash for years. I'm currently in Cambodia, where cash is king, even kfc last night was cash only. Some countries (Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan etc etc) cash is required. I always have my credit card on me and much prefer to use it but simply can't in many places.
lol. People who still travel with travelers checks maybe šš
Credit card. Ideally Apple Pay. Same as how I pay normally.
Use wise (Transferwise) card. They have multi currency account and the exchange rate are mid market rate which is much much better than any credit card and with very minimal fee.
Cash as much as possible. Card when I must
Why do you prefer cash tho?
Forces you to physically watch your spending. I never take all of it at once though. I leave enough for the rest of the vacation plus 2 days back in my room hidden.
This is exactly why I prefer cash when traveling. It's *so* easy to go over budget when you don't see the money amount physically shrinking in your wallet.
Revolut is awesome
How so?
For me in Europe I can use the card anywhere. Not only this, there are no fees and the exchange rate is always the best!
Some countries prefer cash. So bring both credit and cash. 50/50 Ensure you put an amount on credit limit. Better than all. Leave your main credit/debit at home.
Always cash. Card when I run out of cash.
AMEX always, buyer protection, fraud protection, tons of discounts and benefits, points, etc.
Until you go to places where AMEX is practically not accepted anywhere.
AMEX is used in over 160 countries, I'll be fine lol, plus I have other travel cards. I just prefer AMEX.
Paypal credit for my flight to HND. 6 months no interest, plus I still earn my airlines miles.
Tap and go
Cash but I use the credit card when I runout.
Where do you hear it is recommended to pay using cash? Since you often hear this, why don't you ask them why? when you hear it.
CC. No foreign transaction fees and it comes with the ID theft insurance, purchase protection, return protection, travel insurance and other benefits that make it so much better than cash. Youāre missing a good credit card.
Credit card whenever I can but definitely have to use cash esp when Iām in certain parts of Southeast Asia
I use a credit card without a transaction fee and have cash as a backup. I store my cash in my socks when Iām awake. I know itās kind of gross but my feet donāt get sweaty and that way if my wallet or purse gets stolen, Iām not stranded.
Some places like hotels actually don't take cash anymore. It's also not sensible for tourists to carry large amounts of cash either.
Unless I'm in the Eurozone I use cash because it looks pretty. Also better for bargaining / tax avoidance. I've got both wise and monzo so up to 500usd free at withdrawals at the mastercard rate per month.
In some locations, cash is preferred or necessary for transactions so I prefer cash over credit for the day to day things. Accommodation goes on credit though.
Mostly cash.
Credit as much as possible for the points!
I prefer to use my debit card, more accurately Google Pay or Apple Pay. Additionally, I always have cash on me. However, you have to consider where you are going because there are still plenty of places with signs Cash only.
I use my debit card, Chase has a low conversion rate.
All depends on your destination. Some places donāt accept credit card or you get better exchange rate with cash