Travelling with Cash.

It’s never nice to feel uncomfortable or unsafe, when travelling. It stops you from immersing yourself completely into a culture, and can stop you from enjoying your trip all together.

Of course you don’t want to go about, flaunting money without a care in the world, because then you will end up in trouble. But it’s nice to feel relaxed and secure, while still be clever and careful.

I travel with both the van and backpacking, which normally involves a lot of train-hopping. Of course, if I am with the campervan, I have a more secure base, so I don’t have to carry everything on me at all times, but it doesn’t stop me having to think about how I look after any currency I have with me.

So here are my tips on the best ways to make sure that your money is always safe, no matter your travelling style!

1.      Invest in a money belt.
I have a vendetta against bum-bags. Especially those neon coloured, 1990’s monstrosities that never seem to die. However, I do accept that they can be useful. They keep your belongings close and insight at all times, and allow discreet and easy access.
In a vain attempt to avoid the publicity of wearing an actual bum-bag, and also because it is more secure, I carry a money pouch on me. They are flat to your skin, comfortable to wear, and hidden under your clothes, meaning that you can store your cash on you, without having to worry about holding a bag close. My personal choice is Decathalon’s New Feel one, but there are loads out there! Just make sure it is comfortable, and that the strap is wide enough so that it doesn’t dig in.

2.       Hide it in different places.

This is far easier if you are out in a camper, but it also applies if it is just you and your backpack. Don’t put all of your money in one place! Instead have amounts placed in different, secure places. This means that if something does happen, and you lose some, you aren’t completely without!

3.      Get yourself a travel card.

Because of bad exchange rates, expensive transaction fees, and extortionate ATM charges, I always used to carry cash with me, and then if it was a complete and utter emergency, I would use one of my UK Bank Cards.

However, after looking around for a good travel card that doesn’t rip you off with an annual payment, or give you awful exchange rates on currency you haven’t used, I have discovered the Revolut Card! A cash card that works in 3 main currencies; sterling, euros, and US dollars, this card has no charges, no transaction fees, no nothing. It just lets you top up your money, directly from an app on your phone, and then exchange it into nearly any currency you can think off, at the best exchange rates going. It’s a MasterCard, so you can essentially use it anywhere that accepts MasterCard (a saviour for motorway tolls and fuelling stations!) and you can withdraw up to £700 a month with no charges, at ATM’s abroad – so you never have to worry about not having cash available, or having to succumb to the awful exchange rates of city centre bureaus and airports. Definitely my favourite recent discovery, and one that means I don’t have to worry about carrying large amounts of cash!

4.       Keep a record of your bank numbers.

Many debit cards will now let you withdraw a certain amount of cash, without the use of a card. This could just be a real life-saver if something was to happen and you didn’t have access to them! Make sure you keep references to your card/s and bank accounts in a secure place, just in case!

5.       Have a safe box.

If you are travelling with a vehicle, think about fitting a safe box. It’s a bit more weight, and if you are in a small camper, it can mean the loss of a good chunk of storage. However, the security of knowing your cash, and personal documents, are completely secure, is completely worth it.