How Much Cash Do You Take Abroad

[hellosailor]

It all depends on who you have your accounts with. What they used to call the "merchant interchange" or something like that. Some vendors offer flat rates, others are negotiable. I'd bet that Amazon doesn't pay the same rate that you do.(G) Teleflora used to have credit card processing that (quietly) they offered to everyone, not just florists, so they could increase their volume. Costco has some program for members. All sorts of offers out there now, including Square and the other card-swipers.

[sailorboy1]

I believe we have about $150 aboard. But that’s a guess and it may only be $131

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I believe we have about $150 aboard. But that’s a guess and it may only be $131

Probably not very relevant based on how close you are to multiple functioning ATMs. It's when you are far from functioning ATMs and/or far from a place that you can receive a replacement card that having cash onboard counts.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Probably not very relevant based on how close you are to multiple functioning ATMs. It's when you are far from functioning ATMs and/or far from a place that you can receive a replacement card that having cash onboard counts.

Haven’t been to an ATM in at least 3 months and I am sure we have more cash on the boat now than then. So I don’t know how many might be around.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Haven’t been to an ATM in at least 3 months and I am sure we have more cash on the boat now than then. So I don’t know how many might be around.

OK. I guess I should have included being in a place where they don't generally accept credit cards top. This includes lots of places we have cruised to. When you live in the first worldd it's pretty easy to forget the need for cash.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Paul L

. It's when you are far from functioning ATMs and/or far from a place that you can receive a replacement card that having cash onboard counts.

Hence the great aspect of prepaid cards you can get more than one card in your name and just load it when you need to. ( btw reloads are useless without a reloadable card on the same network) so there is some measure of safety there.
And no need to wait for new card.

[hellosailor]

Paul-
I haven't. A number of older forum messages have remarked on the 4/6 digit issue with PINs though. Mainly in the EU, if I recall.
Of course now many of our cards have chips, and some places require chipped cards. While others, even here, have the chip readers but still require you to swipe because they haven't upgraded their software.
I was reading last month about Sweden? Norway? no longer requiring merchants to accept cash at all--and some customers being very upset because they want to use CASH not plastic. There are no longer any worldwide standards.

[Jim Cate]

Does anyone else miss the day of travelers' cheques?

Well, not me! I too well remember standing in queues in Mexican banks for hours trying to cash them. Nope, most places plastic works ok and cash is still accepted in those where plastic is something you pick up off the beach.

Jim

[daletournier]

It depends on where you sail. Cash can solve problems, sometimes problems need to be solved, quickly.

[Olddan1943]

Originally Posted by daletournier

It depends on where you sail. Cash can solve problems, sometimes problems need to be solved, quickly.

I think $5K should handle pretty much all situations.
Don't put is all in one place.
$1s, 5s, 10, 20s, 50s and 100s