How you carry and spend money abroad quietly makes a big difference to your trip budget. There's no single "best" answer, because the right mix depends on your destination, trip length and spending style. What's true everywhere: relying on one standard bank card and grabbing cash at the airport is almost always the most expensive approach. A little planning before you fly is the cheapest travel upgrade you'll ever make.
The options compared
Here's how the main options stack up on the things that matter:
| Option | Typical fees | Exchange rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-currency app (Wise, Revolut) | Very low / none up to limits | Near mid-market (best) | Everyday spending & ATM |
| Travel money card | Low; some load/ATM fees | Good (lock rates ahead) | Budgeting a fixed amount |
| No-FX-fee credit card | No foreign-transaction fee | Good | Big purchases, hotels, rewards |
| Standard bank card | ~2–3% per transaction | Fair, with markup | Backup only |
| Cash | Exchange spread | Poor at airports/hotels | Markets, tips, small vendors |
Fees and features change often and vary by provider and country — treat this as a general comparison and check current terms before you choose.
How to choose: a simple path
- Get one fee-free card for everyday spending. A multi-currency app card or a card with no foreign-transaction fee should be your main way to pay. This single change removes the biggest, most common cost.
- Add a backup card from a different network. Cards get lost, blocked or simply not accepted. A second card (ideally Visa if your first is Mastercard, or vice versa) kept separately is cheap insurance.
- Carry a small amount of local cash. Enough for arrival transport, tips and small vendors — roughly a day or two of spending. Get it from a fee-free ATM at your destination, not the airport kiosk.
- Match the mix to your destination. Card-friendly countries need little cash; cash-heavy destinations need more.
Mistakes that cost you money
Even with the right card, a few habits quietly drain money. The biggest is Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) — when an ATM or terminal offers to charge you "in your home currency." It always uses a worse rate, so always choose the local currency and let your own card convert. Other traps: exchanging large amounts at airport kiosks (the worst rates anywhere), withdrawing tiny amounts repeatedly so flat ATM fees add up, and relying on one card that then gets blocked. Avoid these four and you've captured most of the available savings.
Tips for your destination below
Pick where you're heading for the best mix of card, app and cash, and a quick local tip.
Money tips → the best setup by region
General guidance only — confirm each provider's current fees and terms before you rely on them.
Go deeper
Questions
What's the cheapest way to spend money abroad?
For most people, a multi-currency app card (like Wise or Revolut) or a no-foreign-transaction-fee card, used for almost everything and always charged in the local currency, is cheapest. Add a little local cash for small vendors and tips.
Is a travel card or a multi-currency app better?
Multi-currency apps usually give rates closer to the real mid-market rate, while prepaid travel cards let you lock in a fixed amount and rate, which helps with budgeting. Many travellers use an app card as their main spend and a travel card to cap holiday spending money.
How much cash should I carry?
Roughly one to two days of spending as a buffer, more in cash-heavy destinations and less in card-friendly ones. Top up from fee-free ATMs as you go rather than carrying a large amount at once.
Should I always pay in the local currency?
Yes. When a terminal offers to charge you in your home currency (DCC), it uses a poorer rate with a markup. Always choose the local currency so your own card handles the conversion at a better rate.
Why carry more than one card?
Cards can be lost, stolen, blocked for suspected fraud, or simply not accepted by a particular machine or network. A backup card on a different network, kept separately, means a single problem doesn't leave you stranded.
Is it worth exchanging cash before I leave?
For most destinations, no — you'll get a better rate from a fee-free card or a local ATM on arrival. The exception is remote destinations with few ATMs, where carrying some local currency as backup makes sense.
A planning aid, not financial advice. Card features, fees and exchange rates vary by provider and country and change over time — always check current terms before choosing a travel money option.