Do you need to take much cash if you have a 0% travel credit card?

AdventureRocks

Never been abroad before so this might be daft question.

If I have a travel credit card which is 0% on withdrawals and has APR of 18.9% do I need to really take much cash with me? Could I not just with draw what I need there or spend on card? As £100 spend would only equal £1.50ish interest cheaper than conversion rates..?

Bad idea?

blindman

AdventureRocks wrote: »

Never been abroad before so this might be daft question.

If I have a travel credit card which is 0% on withdrawals and has APR of 18.9% do I need to really take much cash with me? Could I not just with draw what I need there or spend on card? As £100 spend would only equal £1.50ish interest cheaper than conversion rates..?

Bad idea?

Dependant on the country-you can not have to spend any cash.

I usually stop at the first ATM and withdraw a small amount -for those odd occasions- and then spend all on the credit card.

I always take a backup CC though just in case the first one is refused\blocked\stolen.

Shimrod

I take enough cash (£50-100 in local currency) to cover any immediate costs I might have getting to accommodation from the airport, and a drink/snack. Beyond that I rely on credit cards, and depending on the country, withdraw cash from an ATM as and when.

The reason for taking some with me is so that any card issues can be resolved in a more relaxing environment. It's never happened to me yet, but I consider the commission on the cash I take with me as a worthwhile 'insurance' cost.

callum9999

blindman wrote: »

Dependant on the country-you can not have to spend any cash.

I usually stop at the first ATM and withdraw a small amount -for those odd occasions- and then spend all on the credit card.

I always take a backup CC though just in case the first one is refused\blocked\stolen.

And backup money in case they both get declined by ATMs (some countries have dodgy/partially incompatible systems - some ATM brands, particularly in places like Africa, have rejected every card I had on me) or you can't find a working one when you arrive. Just enough to convert so you can get to your accommodation should be enough.

I used to do the same as Shimrod and take it in local currency but, especially if you're flying, any arrival port is bound to have a bureau de change so I just take pounds (or Euros/USD if I have it left over).

blindman

callum9999 wrote: »

And backup money in case they both get declined by ATMs

I used to do the same as Shimrod and take it in local currency but, especially if you're flying, any arrival port is bound to have a bureau de change so I just take pounds (or Euros/USD if I have it left over).

I do usually consider the country to which I am going and if it is prudent to get some local currency before I fly or have say £30 in ££'s to change there.

Never take £50-£100 :eek:

Doshwaster

I haven't bought currency before departure for at least 5 years. I just pop my Clarity card into the first ATM I see and will always have some Sterling plus some leftover Euro/Dollars as a backup in case there is no working machine on arrival (though this has never happened yet)

In terms of going cash free, it depends on the country and what you are doing. I've been on short business trips to Scandinavia and Switzerland and not used cash at all (though Germany is oddly still a cash culture). In Asia cash is still king and I'm not sure I'd trust some retailers with my credit card anyway. In the US a small amount of cash is still useful for tips.

As above, make sure you have a backup credit card which you keep separate from your wallet just in case the worst happens.

Shimrod

blindman wrote: »

I do usually consider the country to which I am going and if it is prudent to get some local currency before I fly or have say £30 in ££'s to change there.
Never take £50-£100 :eek:

Horses for courses.... I'd rather get out of the airport as quickly as possible to start the holiday, and an extra £5 or so on currency bought before I go is worth it to me.

Doesn't always work like that though - the last holiday I had, I couldn't buy the currency for either country before I arrived there.

jonesMUFCforever

OP Always have a plan B in place --- just in case.
If you lose the card what would you do? Take as many cards with you that you have got and put them in different places so if you lose one you don't lose the lot.

PeacefulWaters

I've just turned up in Spain with €10 and half a dozen cards.

I'll bring €50 home with me for next time but I'm fairly comfortable cash free.

USA with $0 last summer as well. Worked fine.

Sharon87

What's wrong with taking £50-£100? It's not much!

I personally prefer cash on holiday, even if I have an overseas credit card. The things I spend money on on holiday are mostly cash based transactions (bars for example!)

eDicky

Sharon87 wrote: »

What's wrong with taking £50-£100? It's not much!

I personally prefer cash on holiday, even if I have an overseas credit card. The things I spend money on on holiday are mostly cash based transactions (bars for example!)

The whole point is that you can draw your cash from an ATM in-country using your 'overseas' credit card, at the best possible rates.

Why pay more, by buying cash from a bureau de change beforehand..?

£30 worth left over from previous trips should be plenty to get you into town, in case there's a queue for the airport ATM etc.