“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money”
-Susan Heller, New York Times, 1987

Travelling is worth every penny spent to me, but that doesn’t mean I’m happy to spend more than I have to.  The more good deals I can get, the more I can travel!

We now have so many people and tools out there to help us find those good deals.  The offers may be overwhelming at times, but if we’re organised and keep our eyes open for new services there are huge benefits out there.  Cheap airlines; travelling midweek; loyalty schemes to get anything from free coffee to free rooms; apartments rather than hotels; local products rather than international brands; walking rather than being transported; the helpful list is massive.

Starbucks loyalty and payment App

But one of the topics that heads the confusion list is “how do I spend the necessary money without paying over the top?”

I have no simple answer to this question.  For a short trip I would simply say, spend cash not card.  For longer trips, a little more planning and investigation is required.  The answers will vary depending on where you come from and where you are going to.  But a quick summary is that cards cost money – most banks charge a fee when you use your credit card abroad, and many charge a fee when you pay with your debit card.  Some also charge a fee when you withdraw cash abroad.  And in some countries, stores and restaurants will charge you extra if you pay with a non-domestic card.

My advice is simple:
– check what your bank charges you when you pay abroad;
– consider changing bank or opening an extra bank account that doesn’t charge abroad;
– check the rules on accepting card payments in your destination country;
– always take some cash with you (assuming your destination allows their currency to be acquired abroad and assuming exchange rates aren’t plummeting rapidly) and search for good exchange and commission rates (usually, not at the airport!);
– check on ATM availability and accessibility at your destination.

If you are based in the UK, go here for up-to-date information on what banks charge when you travel.

Happy Spending!