Travel Money Guides

Japan remains a famously cash-friendly society, so even in a high-tech country you should always carry physical yen. The yen has no decimal subunit in everyday use, so prices are quoted in whole numbers, and you'll handle a surprising amount of coins.

Thailand runs largely on cash, especially outside big malls and hotels, so the baht is essential day to day. Exchange rates in Thailand are often competitive, and you'll generally do better changing money in-country than before you arrive.

The United States is overwhelmingly card-based, and you can travel comfortably with little or no cash. Tipping, however, is a significant and expected part of the cost of many services, so budget for it as a real expense.

The UK is one of the most card- and contactless-friendly places in the world, and you can travel almost entirely cashless. The pound sterling is the currency throughout, but be aware that Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own distinct banknotes.

France uses the euro and is very card-friendly, with contactless accepted almost everywhere from bakeries to the Metro. You'll need little cash, but a small amount is useful for tips, markets and small village shops.

Italy uses the euro and is increasingly card-friendly, though cash culture remains stronger here than in much of Western Europe. Carry some cash for small cafes, markets and rural towns, while using cards for larger purchases.

Spain uses the euro (EUR), shared across most of the European Union, so any euros you have from other eurozone trips work here too. Spain is highly card-friendly, but small bars, markets, and rural areas still appreciate cash, and a few places set minimum amounts for card payments.

Germany uses the euro (EUR), so euros from other eurozone countries are equally valid here. Germany is famously cash-friendly compared with the rest of Western Europe, and many small businesses, bakeries, and even some restaurants still prefer or only accept cash, so never rely on cards alone.

South Korea uses the Korean won (KRW), and it is one of the most card-friendly countries in the world, with cards accepted almost everywhere, even for tiny purchases. Cash is rarely essential, but a small amount is handy for traditional markets, street food, and some small independent vendors.

Mainland China uses the renminbi/yuan (CNY), but the country runs overwhelmingly on mobile payments via Alipay and WeChat Pay rather than cash or cards. Foreign visitors can now link international Visa/Mastercard to these apps, which is the single most important thing to set up before you travel, though carrying some cash as a backup remains wise.

Taiwan uses the New Taiwan dollar (TWD), and despite being high-tech, it remains a notably cash-oriented society, especially at night markets, small eateries, and local shops. Carry enough cash for daily spending, and use the EasyCard transit card to cover transport and many small purchases conveniently.

Hong Kong uses the Hong Kong dollar (HKD), and the city is well set up for both cards and cash, with the Octopus card being the everyday essential for transport and small purchases. An unusual quirk: banknotes are issued by three different commercial banks, so the same denomination can look quite different.

Singapore uses the Singapore dollar (SGD, often shown as S$), and it's one of the easiest places in Asia to manage money. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, ATMs are plentiful, and licensed money changers in the city offer excellent rates with full transparency.

Malaysia uses the ringgit (MYR, shown as RM), and it offers great value for travelers. Cards are widely accepted in cities, but cash is still king at street stalls, markets and in rural areas. Licensed money changers give strong rates and are easy to find in malls.

Indonesia uses the rupiah (IDR, shown as Rp), a currency with lots of zeros that can confuse newcomers. Cash is essential outside major hotels and cities, and Bali in particular is notorious for dishonest money changers, so choosing where and how you exchange matters a lot.

The Philippines uses the peso (PHP, shown as P), and it remains a largely cash-based country once you leave the big malls and hotels. Small notes are gold for jeepneys, tricycles, sari-sari stores and markets, and US dollars are the easiest foreign currency to exchange.

Vietnam uses the dong (VND, shown as d), a currency with enormous numbers that easily trips up visitors. Cash rules for street food, markets and small vendors, and the lookalike high-value notes plus all those zeros make careful counting essential.

India uses the rupee (INR, shown as Rs), and it's best to exchange money after you arrive rather than beforehand. The rupee has long been treated as a closed currency with import restrictions, so foreign visitors should plan to change cash or withdraw from ATMs on the ground.

The UAE uses the dirham (AED), which is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate, so its value is very stable. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are among the most card-friendly places in the world, but traditional souks and small shops still run on cash and expect haggling.

Turkey uses the Turkish lira (TRY), a currency that has experienced high inflation and significant volatility in recent years. Because rates can move quickly, it's wise to exchange smaller amounts more often rather than converting a large sum at once, and to check the current rate before each transaction.

Mexico uses the Mexican peso (MXN), and while tourist hotspots may quote prices in US dollars, you'll almost always get a better deal paying in pesos. Cash is king for street food, markets and small towns, but cards work well in cities and resort areas.

Brazil uses the real (BRL, plural reais), and the country is highly card-oriented, with contactless and the instant-payment system Pix used almost everywhere. You'll still want some cash for small vendors, beach kiosks and rural areas, but day-to-day you can rely heavily on cards.

Australia uses the Australian dollar (AUD) and is one of the most cashless societies in the world, where tap-to-pay cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere. You can comfortably travel with little or no cash, though a small amount is handy for markets and remote areas.

Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF), not the euro, even though it's surrounded by eurozone countries, so don't assume euros are the default. It's one of the most expensive countries in the world, and while cards are accepted almost everywhere, having some francs on hand is still useful.