To feel confident on a foreign trip, it is best to supplement bank cards with cash
For example, in the UK only pounds are accepted for payment, in China – yuan, in Thailand – baht, in Brazil – reals, in India – rupees, etc. American dollars and euros are considered a universal means of payment in many countries of the world. At least, they can be freely converted into the required currency units at local banks (exchange offices) or from street money changers.
Before the trip, be sure to at least roughly calculate future expenses, which will allow you to determine the amount you will need to take on the road. There are a huge number of resources on the Internet that simplify the calculation process. An excellent example of a site with a clear interface is liga.net, which has a convenient currency converter. In addition, the site contains useful information about exchange rates of bank metals, lending, stock quotes and other financial aspects.
After determining the required amount, a dilemma arises: how to carry money – on a bank card or in cash. It is best to place most of the funds on a bank card, which should:
• have SMS notification about transactions enabled;
• provide the ability to disable all financial transactions;
• be valid in the country you are going to.
It is advisable to get two types of credit cards – Visa and MasterCard, since in some countries one of the presented payment systems may not work. In addition, certain services in developed countries are only available with a credit card (hotel reservations, car rental, ticket purchases). At the same time, it is recommended to pay for purchases, especially in cafes, restaurants or shops, with cash. The fact is that sometimes payment terminals in such establishments break down or the wrong amount is debited after the transaction. In order not to waste time on getting money back due to a bank error, it is best to make small purchases with paper bills.
Thus, when traveling to another country, take care to have the currency of the country you are visiting. Put most of the amount on a plastic card, while leaving some cash for pocket expenses.