In 2025, the idea of carrying cash can feel downright old-fashioned. With digital payments more common than ever — especially among younger people — many Americans go weeks and even months without using cash.
But whatever your life in the US is like, traveling internationally is different. In many cases, paying in cash is not just an option, it’s your only option. That’s why we believe that now more than ever, it’s worth tallying up the truly essential reasons to carry cash when traveling outside the country.
-
Public restrooms: Let’s start with the absolute basics — needing to “go” wherever you happen to go. Here in the US, seeing a coin slot on a bathroom facility would be a strange sight, but paid restrooms remain common almost everywhere else in the world. There’s nothing worse than a once-in-a-lifetime journey grinding to a halt because you don’t have a few pesos or half a euro for the loo. Trust us on this one: any trip worth taking warrants at least a little petty cash for bathroom breaks.
-
Taxis: For American travelers, it might feel like Uber and its competitors have conquered the globe, making every corner of the planet traversable by app. That simply isn’t the case: many countries across Europe, Asia, and elsewhere don’t allow Uber or Lyft. Some countries have their own alternative apps, but tracking them down and setting up can be a headache, if they even cover the area you’re traveling in. Unless you know for a fact that Uber is widely available in the area you’re traveling in, we strongly recommend carrying some cash to accommodate a taxi — many of whom will prefer or outright require a cash payment.
-
Tour guides: Guided day trips are one of the most common types of excursions for travelers. Many of the hard-working guides on these trips rely on tips to make their living, and you can bet that even if they happen to take digital payments — which they may not — they generally prefer a cash tip.
-
Street vendors: In many parts of the world, street vendors only accept cash. Without it, you may miss out on a perfect souvenir, a delectable local specialty, or that bottle of cold water you desperately need.
-
Small tips: Sometimes, cash is the only practical way to leave a tip. Whether you’re thanking a concierge for helping with your luggage or leaving something for housekeeping, having a few small bills on hand makes it easy to offer a gesture of gratitude.
-
Emergencies: As we recently saw for ourselves, traveling with cash can be a godsend during a power outage or similar emergency, potentially making or breaking a trip. But it doesn’t take a historic power outage: what if your credit card gets stolen or compromised and you need to pay for a place to stay for the night?
-
Service outages: Traveling is full of hiccups — not full-on emergencies, but little things breaking down or not going to plan. Maybe the card reader at the store isn’t working, or you arrived too late to your destination to withdraw the cash you need, or the metro system only takes exact change. Experienced travelers know to expect the unexpected and prepare for these inevitable hiccups, which cash has a way of smoothing over.
-
Avoiding fees: Many credit and debit cards slap a foreign transaction fee onto an international purchase, typically up to 3%. Many shops add fees or enforce a minimum purchase requirement when you pay by card to offset their own transaction expenses. In other words, you stand a good chance of encountering a situation in which you will pay more if you don’t have cash.
-
Splitting expenses: Perhaps you want to pay back a vacation friend for a round at the bar, or split a dish with a fellow traveler who doesn’t have Venmo ready to go on their phone. Just because expense-splitting apps exist doesn’t mean they’ll be practical or accessible during your trip. When in doubt, handing over a few bills is still the fastest way to settle up.
-
Skimming and scams: Even in the US, debit and credit card skimming remains frighteningly widespread. Globally, the problem is even worse. Savvy travelers should have a backup — cash — when presented with a situation that just feels “off” and where the exposure of your debit or credit card information simply isn’t worth the risk.
-
Budgeting: While it’s legitimate to have concerns about carrying large amounts of cash while traveling, there is a reason the “envelope system” of budgeting has been around for decades. In short, this system involves setting aside a pre-planned supply of cash (typically in an envelope) and limiting yourself to this money to make payments. Practitioners swear by the tactile nature of this approach, and for the compulsive “swiper”, it can be a game-changer to keep you accountable to your spending. This won’t make sense for every traveler, but it’s a legitimate reason to carry cash and leave the cards in the hotel room.
There you have it. We hope this list has given you a healthy appreciation for the many merits of carrying cash during your travels.
Heading out on a trip? It’s worth bearing in mind that there’s only one way to ensure you don’t get gouged by pricey airport kiosks or borderline criminal ATMs: withdraw your currency beforehand. With SafeDinar.com, you can skip the stress and start your trip prepared with competitive exchange rates on currencies your bank might not even carry.
