Money Abroad: Cards, Cash and Forex Without Overpaying
11 August 2026 · TravelJar
Most travellers lose more to conversion charges than they expect, and almost all of it is avoidable.
The principles are simple and hold in most destinations.
The reliable rules
Airport exchange counters are consistently the worst rate available. Changing a small amount for immediate needs and the rest later is the standard approach.
When a card machine abroad offers to charge you in rupees rather than the local currency, that is dynamic currency conversion and it is almost always worse for you. Choosing the local currency is the right answer nearly every time.
- Avoid airport exchange for anything beyond immediate needs
- Always pay in the local currency, not rupees
- Carry some cash — plenty of good places do not take cards
- Tell your bank you are travelling to avoid blocked cards
Cash still matters
Street food, local markets, small guesthouses and tipping generally run on cash across much of Asia. A card-only trip works in Singapore and Dubai and works considerably less well in Vietnam or Meghalaya.
Specific charges, limits and forex rules change and vary by bank, so confirm the details with yours before travelling rather than relying on any article, including this one.