These days, many of us have stopped carrying cash altogether.
Many shops, restaurants and transport providers have become cashless, meaning ‘tapping on’ is the quickest and easiest option.
But according to travel experts, it is always wise to carry a small amount of cash when travelling abroad.
It comes as 39 per cent of those surveyed by the website Be Clever With Your Cash reported unexpected situations where physical cash was essential during their travels, according to The Independent.
The research found that most often, cash was required for tipping, paying for taxi journeys and shopping at smaller, independent retailers.
And while prepaid travel cards and online banking have made it more convenient to use contactless payments, travellers who find themselves without cash in a moment of need could end up paying extra.
In a survey carried out by Opinium, the research revealed that some people who had to make an emergency cash machine withdrawal on their last trip overseas were charged an ATM fee.
Others reported they turned to airport exchange desks for last-minute cash, even though they may potentially be getting a worse deal than if they had shopped around for their travel money.
These days, many of us have stopped carrying cash altogether. Many shops, restaurants and transport providers have become cashless, meaning ‘tapping on’ is the quickest and easiest option
Amelia Murray, a money expert at Be Clever With Your Cash, said: ‘There’s still a blind spot when it comes to cash.
‘Many people assume that having a fee-free card is enough, but that can be a false economy if you end up using an ATM abroad that charges or get stung by poor exchange rates.’
If you’re struggling to work out conversions while abroad, there is also a handy tool on iPhones that can help.
Your mobile phone’s built-in calculator app can be used to convert currencies.
On iPhones and iPads, tap the ‘Calculator Mode’ button, turn on ‘Convert,’ then choose the currencies you want to convert from and to.
This update came with the iOS 18 update last September, but many people still haven’t heard about it.
There is also a similar feature on Windows, which can be enabled through settings.
On Windows, head to the navigation menu in the Calculator app and select ‘Currency’ to perform conversions.
Your mobile phone’s built-in calculator app can be used to convert currencies
It comes as Hays Travel previously shared their top tips for carrying cash while travelling.
The travel company recommends storing your money in more than one place to make sure you’re never left without some backup cash in case of an emergency.
Similarly, when going out, it’s best practice to only take out the money you need each day.
This way, you can minimise the amount of cash you lose if a wallet or purse is misplaced or stolen.
There is also the option of a wearable wallet, which is often slim enough to hide under clothing easily and stop would-be thieves.
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