What to take on vacation: bank card or cash
Every tourist traveling abroad or traveling through the expanses of his native Russia knows what is most important in any road. Of course, we are talking about money. Without them, nowhere, starting from the purchase of tickets or tours and ending with the purchase of souvenirs, which are stocked up before departure by everyone who wants to please themselves and their loved ones.
A few centuries ago, travelers owned bags of gold, copper or silver coins, other valuables that could be exchanged for certain things or services. Modern payments are increasingly virtual, and in order to have access to your bank account anywhere in the world, it is enough to own just a plastic card. Conveniently? Undoubtedly!
How to save money in Europe? – It is necessary to purchase a tourist card. You can read about all the nuances of the acquisition in our life hack.
Along with credit cards, paper money does not go out of use either. These two options for payment systems allow each person to choose the best option for storing money and making payments. But which method is preferable for tourists who go on a long journey? Let's try to figure it out.
Advantages and disadvantages of cash
As already mentioned, “cash” is the oldest type of payment system. From that we can safely call it both convenient and reliable. But how true is this?
The main advantages of cash signs can be called the following. You can pay with paper money in absolutely any store, market or shopping center. Despite the fact that the electronic payment system is developing at a tremendous pace, today you will not be able to buy a product or pay for a service using your plastic card everywhere. Terminals have not yet become the main attribute of all establishments. But you can always buy any souvenir, even “on hand” in the underpass, having the necessary size of signs in your pocket!
The second advantage of “cash” is the ease of converting into an invisible currency. All you need for this is a payment terminal or an ATM. A couple of minutes and any amount from your wallet will be transferred to plastic.
Well, another positive side of using cash is the ability to take a certain amount with you on the road. But whether it is worth considering this an advantage is up to you.
Along with this, paper funds also have a number of disadvantages. In particular, you are unlikely to be able to purchase the product you like in an online store without a plastic card. But it is on the network that you can find the most favorable price offers! In addition, no one will return the lost amount to you, but a plastic card can be restored by contacting any bank branch. In addition, you can block access to a credit card in a matter of minutes if you have lost it or become a victim of robbers.
With one more important “minus” of paper signs, for sure, each of us has come across at least once in a lifetime. These are problems that may arise when it is necessary to exchange large bills for small ones. But these are trifles.
Thus, paper money is a convenient way of making payments, allowing you to make purchases, exchange, exchange, and so on right on the spot. This is the most popular type of payment in small shops, shops and among street vendors.
Electronic money: what are the “pros”?
Virtual funds have long been dominant in the developed countries of Europe and America, but have a weak position in Asia, Africa and Russia. Undoubtedly, you will not be able to pay with a plastic card in a remote village, mountain settlement, and even in the center of the continent, in the absence of a stable Internet connection.
The main advantages of this type of payment is the ability to quickly and profitably make small and multiple payments. For example, a “credit card” will always help you out when buying transport tickets, in a cinema or a supermarket, as well as when making purchases through the network.
An important advantage of using virtual signs is that there is no need to stand in line, change banknotes and give change. Transactions between buyers and sellers are carried out instantly.
In addition, this type of payment includes other advantages over cash. In particular, when going to the store for expensive purchases, you don't have to put a considerable amount in your wallet, distribute valuable papers in your pockets, and even a case with several million can easily be replaced by a miniature piece of plastic. It's both convenient and safe! And safety is not the least important when traveling on foreign routes.
Preserving virtual values is easier. As mentioned earlier, a lost or stolen card can be instantly blocked, and to restore access to a bank account, you just need to contact the bank branch.
If you have not calculated your expenses or are faced with the need for additional expenses, any amount can be transferred to your card from anywhere in the world.
In order to control your expenses, you no longer have to start a separate notebook. In a couple of clicks, you will receive a detailed printout of income and expenditure transactions on the card. And the last thing: it is impossible to fake virtual signs!
With so many advantages, plastic cards also have disadvantages. First of all, even the most reliable bank will not be able to guarantee the complete safety of such money and security from third-party penetration. And it is not always possible to return the amount.
And in underdeveloped countries, a credit card will generally turn out to be a useless piece of plastic.
conclusions
Going on a trip, every tourist should take a responsible approach to the choice of means. To save yourself from additional problems, it is recommended to stock up on a certain amount of cash and grab a couple of plastic cards. Cash will give you the opportunity to feel more confident and not deny yourself anything, and secure electronic signs will be an excellent alternative when shopping online, in supermarkets and on transport.
Keep the road-road to France? We offer to consider an article dedicated to shopping in this country.