I Panicked When I Didn’t Have Cash to Pay My Foreign Cab Fare. Here’s What I Learned

Avoid cash mishaps abroad by making preparations before you leave

a collage of a hand holding a credit card, a card machine that reads payment declined, a historic building, foreign currency and a cab

With cashless transactions becoming increasingly common, you may think you can get by with credit cards and digital payment apps while traveling abroad. However, it’s a good idea to carry some cash with you. Here are some strategies to make sure you’re prepared.

AARP (Getty Images, 4; Shutterstock)

Gina Rich,

AARP

Published October 29, 2025

On a humid summer afternoon in Quebec, Canada, I was sitting on the ground with my teenage daughter, trying to order an Uber back to our hotel. After a guided forest hike with friendly goats, we’d returned to the sleepy neighborhood where the excursion began. While getting an Uber there had been easy, finding one back was proving difficult. I refreshed my app again, only to see the same frustrating words: “No drivers available.”

Noticing our plight, another tourist offered to share her taxi, which she had prearranged with a local driver. My daughter and I slid into the back seat, grateful we wouldn’t be stranded. As the countryside rolled by, the mostly French-speaking driver said our fare would be 40 Canadian dollars. “Great,” I said. “You take credit cards or Venmo, right?”

Wrong. Our driver only accepted cash, and I didn’t have any. With cashless transactions becoming increasingly common, I’d assumed I could get by with credit cards and digital payment apps. On a whim, I’d packed 30 Canadian dollars that I had from a previous trip. But we’d already spent them on souvenirs.

The other passenger was dropped off at her hotel before the driver headed toward our hotel. Mild panic stirred in my chest as the driver said he would take us to a bank. Moments later, I speed-walked with my daughter into a glass lobby full of ATM machines and inserted my card.

The writer and her daughter traveled to Quebec, Canada. Here, the writer is at the Citadelle of Quebec.

Courtesy Gina Rich

A message popped up on the screen: “Card declined.” Stunned, I tried again and got the same result.

“Mom, are we going to get in trouble?” my daughter asked as my head filled with visions of being arrested for fare evasion in a foreign country. I felt uneasy, acutely aware that I was a female traveling with my child.

“The ATM didn’t work, but I’ll ask my hotel for help,” I told the driver. He gave me a wary look but dropped us off and pulled over to wait, while I prepared to throw myself at the mercy of the front desk.

“Bonjour,” I said, my voice shaking as I explained my predicament. I asked if I could borrow cash and add the expense to my room.

To my relief, the clerk smiled. “Of course,” she said. “How much do you need?”

After signing a receipt, I dashed outside clutching my fare and a tip. “Merci,” I said, handing the bills to the driver. Then I returned to our room and waited for my heart rate to come down.

With 11 percent of travelers 50-plus planning to take an international solo vacation, according to AARP’s Travel Trends survey, it’s critical to have cash available when you need it. Here’s what I learned, plus expert advice for avoiding cash mishaps abroad.

Before you go

Plan your cash strategy. My biggest mistake was assuming I wouldn’t need cash on my trip. But I’ve learned that even in countries where cashless payments are widely accepted, you’ll still want cash for tipping and unexpected situations — impromptu cab rides, for instance. Leyla Alyanak, 72, an avid solo traveler and creator of the website Offbeat France, recommends researching your destination’s cash culture online. Expat forums are a good place to ask questions, she says.

The writer and her daughter had dinner with an open-air window view at Le Chic Shack, a casual restaurant in Old Quebec’s Place d’Armes.

Courtesy Gina Rich

Jackie Ruppel, senior vice president of private banking at Johnson Financial Group, suggests bringing the equivalent of $200 to $300 in a mix of bills. If the country you’re visiting relies heavily on cash, you may need more. At a minimum, make sure you have enough to travel from the airport to your accommodation, says Danielle Desir Corbett, who discusses finance and travel on her podcast, The Thought Card. “I’m trying to eliminate stress and anxiety there, so having something on hand is really, really important,” she says.

Secure any necessary currency. Ruppel advises clients to order foreign currency at their local bank prior to traveling. It’s a good idea to request currency one to two weeks before you leave, Corbett adds, particularly if your bank is smaller and may not have a specific currency on hand. Keep in mind that banks typically charge fees to exchange currency.

Communicate with your bank. My second critical misstep? I failed to notify my bank about my upcoming trip, instead assuming some magical algorithm would recognize I was legitimately using my ATM card abroad. But transactions in a foreign country are often a red flag, says Ruppel. “When we see that, we think automatically: Someone got her card number. That’s fraud,” she says.

Let your financial institution know the dates you’re traveling and the countries you’re visiting, so the bank can add a note to your account. Ruppel also recommends traveling with two credit cards, along with your debit or ATM card, so you have options if something is declined.

people on a street outside boutiques and cafes

The trip included a visit to Petit-Champlain, a shopping district in Old Quebec lined with boutiques and cafes.

Courtesy Gina Rich

What to do while you’re there

Carry a moderate supply of cash that you replenish regularly. I was fortunate that my hotel helped me. But not all hotels can provide cash on demand, says Alyanak. She always carries between $50 and $100 in cash when traveling. “You spend $50 on souvenirs, go to an ATM and get those $50 back,” she says.

Be mindful of ATM availability. During peak times like weekends and holidays, ATMs can run out of money. In the small French village where Alyanak lives, “if I go to the ATM after 10 o’clock on Monday morning, there’s no money,” she says. Her tip? Download a map, which can be used offline to find another ATM if needed. If you’re traveling in Europe, you can also try the post office, as many have ATMs, Alyanak says.

During a rainy stroll, the writer and her daughter passed by the decorative fountains near Quebec City Hall.

Courtesy Gina Rich

Store cash securely. Consider using anti-theft bags to keep cash and other valuables safe. For instance, Baggallini, Pacsafe and Rachel Bloom bags have different security features, from locking zippers to GPS tracking. Avoid leaving cash at your hotel, as there may be concerns about the room’s security. “I will carry more cash than I need rather than leave it lying around,” Alyanak says, adding that it’s another reason to make sure you can access ATMs in the country you’re in so you can withdraw cash as needed.

If cash snafus still arise on your trip, remember that having a good relationship with your local banker will help you get back on track quickly. “Making sure you have that is really beneficial when you run into those types of scenarios, because it’s going to happen,” Ruppel says.

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