Traveling without worry is the desire of any tourist, but there are small details that can turn quiet vacations into financial headaches. Many travelers rely only on debit or credit cards, but this choice does not always make up for when they reach the destination.
The error of traveling without cash
According to a study published in July 2025, going on vacation without taking money can be expensive for some British tourists. The inquiry, conducted by the Be Clever With Your Cash platform, showed that 39% of travelers have already experienced situations where they needed cash and did not, the Birmingham Mail says.
This survey, made by opinion with two thousand British who traveled abroad, revealed that many of these difficulties are associated with unexpected expenses.
Expenses that require cash
The most common situations where tourists felt the need to use money were the payment of tips, taxi races and shopping on small trades or local markets that do not accept cards.
In many cases, those who did not take cash eventually resort to automatic boxes, being penalized with additional fees charged by foreign banks or local operators.
Emergency surveys
The data show that many travelers who made emergency surveys during the holidays were surprised by commissions applied to the automatic terminals. These rates, added to the margin of currency conversion, resulted in high final costs. Other tourists preferred to resort to the exchange rates at airports to raise money at the last minute, but eventually paid more due to the less advantageous rates practiced in these places.
Concern outside the big cities
According to the same source, in addition to airports and main cities, difficulties increase in rural and less touristy areas. In these places, it is often found establishments without payment terminals, which requires visitors to resort exclusively to cash.
This situation reinforces the need to travel with some amount of money, even small, for basic expenses at the destination.
Amelia Murray, a financial expert at Be Clever With Your Cash, warns that many travelers have a “blind spot” regarding the use of cash. He explained, “many people assume that having a card without commissions is enough, but they can be caught off guard with TMJ fees or poorly favorable shrinnings.”
Avoid unpleasant surprises
Amelia, cited by the same source, argues that it is not about transporting large amounts of money, but being prepared for situations where the card is not accepted. Small purchases, tips or local transport may require immediate payment in local currency.
Therefore, it recommends that each traveler prepare a cash cushion: a small cash security fund for these unforeseen expenses.
Check rates before leaving
The expert also advises all tourists to confirm the conditions of her cards before traveling. Knowing the rates applied in international surveys and the percentage of currency conversion can avoid surprises in the bank statement. Also, whenever possible, it should avoid the automatic conversion offered by foreign payment terminals, opting for local currency, where the exchange rate is often more favorable.
Another recommendation, according to the same source mentioned above, is verified by whether travel insurance covers any losses or money theft. A study released by Defaqto in May indicated that 91% of annual policies and 86% of single travel policies include losing or stolen cash coverage.
Limits vary according to the policy
According to the same analysis, about 35% of single travel policies cover values between 200 and 299 pounds (236 to 353 euros), while 24% offer protection for amounts between 300 and 399 pounds (354 to 471 euros). Knowing these limits before traveling is essential to avoid damage in case of unforeseen events.
Organization is the key
According to, travel without proper financial planning can generate extra expenses that would easily be avoided. Preparing some cash money, knowing the card conditions well and having complete insurance are guarantees of a quarter and safer vacation.
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