Credit/Debit/ATM card security
Increasingly, it’s a cashless world.
It was several years ago, in Amsterdam, when we entered our first store that only accepted credit cards. They didn’t take cash at all, a rubber duck store of all places.
Now, an increasing number of merchants accept only credit cards or electronic payments. In fact, on a day in June 2026 in Washington, DC, as we passed two children at a lemonade stand and my husband said he didn’t have any small bills, the boy said, “It’s okay, we take Venmo.”
So yeah, most of the time not having cash works out. But as a regular traveler, there are two times when cash really does make a difference.
Two times cash really makes a difference.
One, for local purchases, especially but not always small ones. Maybe a kid in Washington DC takes Venmo, but when I’ve been traveling, often vendors setting up outdoors prefer cash, even American dollars — I’ve found this everywhere from Ecuador to Crete. And in stores, I have often been offered a “cash discount.” Purchased some beautiful silver earrings last year as a gift with dollars.
Two, and even for non-shoppers, this matters: for tips, especially for hotel housekeeping staff. Many hotels have come up with digital options, including QR codes and Venmo/PayPal. And that’s certainly better than nothing. But I still bring cash with me, and on occasions when I’ve handed money directly to staff, they are always especially grateful.
Most hotels don’t cheat their staff on tips.
My sense is that most hotels don’t cheat their staff on tips, but I’ve heard enough stories of employers that do, and I have no idea sometimes, unless it’s someone’s personal username, how much gets to the individual you’re trying to tip, or if it gets shared with various employees, and how much tax might be taken out.
The same with rideshare drivers and wait staff. Especially for exceptional service, it feels good to make sure your driver/server is getting the money. And while yes, tipping can feel ridiculous when even purchasing a loaf of bread has a suggested tip, it still feels appropriate for drinks and food that are actually made. This includes “free” items – for example, at an airport lounge with included beverages. And sometimes at a no-host bar event at a meeting/convention etc., where bartenders may be working especially hard.
I don’t suggest that most tips should be cash,
This isn’t suggesting that most transactions should be cash, or that there’s a need to travel with a great deal of money. But stopping at a bank -even an ATM – before a trip isn’t that hard. (Note: if you can only get $20s from your ATM, I’ve found using a $ 20 bill, if you can, for small airport purchases will get you change. Recently at a United lounge, a fellow traveler who ordered two drinks asked the bartender if he could put a $20 in the tip jar and take $15 back in small bills. The bartender was more than fine with it.
Sometimes cash can really pay off.
Sometimes a small amount of cash can really pay off.
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Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
