subject: What Is Best To Use Abroad; Cash Or Card? [print this page] Obviously, a means of paying your expenses should be on top of the list. There are a couple of options you can use including cash, traveler cheques, debit cards and credit cards. It is possible to use any of the above during your holiday. The main question in this case is which of the four is most appropriate in your case. Each of them has their own pros and cons.
Using cash can be quite convenient as compared to using any of the available cards. This is because you will not be required to waste time looking for a bank or ATM in foreign land. The money will be ready; all you have to do is spend it. On the other hand, exchanging cash in a foreign country is way cheaper than it is when using other forms of exchange such as the banks. The rates for cash and card money are quite different; with the cash rates being lower. The flipside of using cash is that it is risky considering the security aspect of the trip. There are chances of losing the money through robbery, theft or simply just misplacing it. In addition to this, money can be bulky as compared to carrying one card. If you are taking cash on holiday we recommend you hire a safe in your room.
When it comes to using cards, there are a number of pros. For one, chances of you losing money are minimal. Even if you did lose the card, most of them are normally protected and all you will be required to do is replace the card; your money will still be intact. A card is also not as bulky as cash is. Changing of currency can simply be done through the ATM without any hassle. On the other hand, the changing rates at ATMs are normally higher. Plus not all ATMs use your kind of card; remember this is foreign land! We recommend that if you do decide to use your card on holiday, inform your bank before you depart as sometimes they will block your card as they think someone has got your card details and using it fraudulently.
