Why it's good to have some cash

I am a bit surprised when some take an absolute stance (Only cash!, or Only credit!)

I guess I like to have options. I mean, I travel with at least two cards, in case one becomes a problem, why not carry a bit of cash as well, as backup?

I do admit, when last in London, for just a few nights, I did try to get by without cash since I would be in the UK for such a short while, and had no issues, and even on an extended trip, I rarely use cash (except Germany).

I'm firmly in the "credit card/tap to pay" camp, but still always have some cash handy when traveling - in the US or abroad. With the Euro, it's way simpler for us, since we can return later to another country that uses the Euro and just carry forward our cash. It get's a little muddier with somewhere like the UK where we visit less often, so I'd be more inclined to have less on hand than I do Euros.

As we just stash our leftover paper cash with our passports, it's relatively easy to comb through the cash prior to our next trip to see if we have any money leftover from a prior trip to bring with us. Sometimes (mainly for Euros), I also check our coin jar to see if any coins are in there as those often come in more handy than paper bills for things like a bathroom.

I also check on our bank's website for partner banks and their locations in the places we'll be visiting. I'll hit those ATMs up for a cash refresh if convenient.

But, in 2025, I find I return with pretty much all the cash I started with for most trips. Not an awful "problem" to have, but certainly a little bit of a "waste" - ie cash sitting in a file cabinet waiting to be used. Negligible in the big picture, irksome in a OCD-ish way. Since 10 Euros, 100 Euros, or 1,000 Euros take up about the same space, it's not an issue to have cash handy with out passports (in a moneybelt or hotel safe), and my wallet will always have some local cash too.

We were in Italy earlier this summer hiking in the Dolomites. The bus to return to the town where we started only took cash. We fortunately had some.

So you never know.

Always have cash. Here and when I travel.

Off to the bank to get some today. Also rolls of quarters. My building has washers and dryers in the basement that use quarters or tap debit or credit cards. I prefer quarters.

Like anything else in society machines can fail. Did awhile back at my Trader Joe’s. I went home with groceries while others did not.

Iceland is mostly cashless, but like many places that is not 100%. We have run across a number of sites where the toilets are cash only. Also, small roadside stands.

We were recently in Greenland and I knew we would need some cash. When we were on Disko Island, there were crafters selling their items and it was all cash only, and the crafters did not speak English. I had $200 US worth of Danish KR, and used every penny of it there. I wanted another item, but did not feel like going to the ATM, so I had to pass.

Power failures happen all the time. I've had cash only situations many times here at home in recent years. And yes, some businesses here in the midwest are still cash only, and more that now charge 3-4% to use cards. My cards/Apple Pay fail to work more often than cash.

If you dont want to bring currency home, spend it at the airport, or bite the bullet and use the exchange offices there.

I always travel with local currency, and I find the pushback of the "no cash ever" crowd here absurd.

I rarely use cash anymore at home, but still, I carry plenty of cash, just in case. Why the heck would I do any differently abroad?

Technology is good when it works properly. But.......... Murphy's Law still applies.

There have been several times when having cash has saved the day. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

The same thought applies to having all one's travel documents, reservations, and such on mobile phones.

Replace Stirling Castle with Rosslyn Chapel and my story is the same, but a couple years ago. I was glad I had cash.

We have just toured Cornwall and the wifi was very patchy - some places the card machines wouldn't connect.

I agree with Paul: I've never understood why people take a stance about only charge cards or only cash. Why not have have both? That means that foreign currency must be ordered before the trip, but is that such a big effort? Most every metro area has at least one bank that offers currency services. And if a person has an account at the bank, he/she might not be charged, especially for popular currency (euros, UK pounds, Canada dollars, Japan yen, Mexico pesos and so on).

More important, I like to get currency before a trip because it gets me pumped up. I even used to half-pack my backpack for a trip and go to my local downtown, acting like a visitor in my own city, for the same reason: getting pumped for a trip overseas.

I don’t think I’ve seen one post here in which someone is told not to have any cash on them when they travel around in Europe. I wonder where this notion comes from.
Yes, there are plenty of posts here in which people suggest that one doesn’t need to have a lot of cash in hand, because you can pay for most things by card. Or posts that inform people that some things or places only accept cards. That’s however not the same as telling people not to have any cash money on them at all.

I myself pay literally everything by card/watch/phone. Even the €3,00 ice cream I bought last weekend was paid by card. In fact, I can’t even remember the last time I paid for anything in cash. That doesn’t mean however that I don’t have any cash on me. I always have something like €40 in smaller bills and coins in my wallet and I have some more cash at home.

The fact that you probably don’t need cash, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have anything on you.

We always carry some of the “coin of the realm” when traveling. Needed it a while back at a coffee shop in Sigulda, Latvia who took only cash! Excellent coffee!