How much cash spending money do you take?

[Chilledmummy2016]

Hi all,
we are heading on our first family holiday abroad 2x adults 2x kids, it’s an all inclusive hotel for 7 days. I’ve not done a beach hol in years! I will be using debit card if needed but how much cash do people actually take these days? I took cash last year to the USA especially due to tipping etc but this is a different type of hol and my mind has gone blank!
any advise will be much appreciated ☺️

Very little, most places take card, even small shops since Covid. Maybe €100 as a backup but we rarely spend much of it.

We went to Greece last year and took about 200 Euro in cash - came home with at least half and that was after I made an effort to pay in cash during the last couple of days.

We did an AI last year and spent £500 for 10 days. I had spa trips, we hired a beach cabana, did a couple of boats trips and had a day in the local town buying stuff in the market and eating out. We could have spent £0 - all of that was optional.
We're going to another AI later this year for 7 days. I'm guessing we'll spend £200 ish as I'll do some spa trips again and we will probably hire a cabana.
So in reality you can spend £0 at an AI or you could go mad with excursions.

Just realised you're specifically asking about cash! In that case none, just take Revolut card.

None, use debit card if needed but for ai it's not really necessary unless you're on a trip - we did take local bus out etc but they took cards

None. Starling bank account so no charges to withdraw cash there or pay on card. Withdrew some at the airport on landing.

A couple of hundred for tips and snacks.

I took 50 euro to Greece I June and then debit card

We usually have about €100 cash but then even that we usually just take out the cash machine over there. It’s so little that the couple of euro charge saves me going out of my way to get it here. Almost everywhere takes card.

We’ve just been on a cruise and did exchange €100 before we went as we weren’t sure if we would need it for buses / taxes from port before we had chance to get to a machine and it’s only when I spent €100 on my card later in the trip did I realise what a crap rate I’d got.

We took 200 euro is cash on an all inclusive at the end of July, we spent 50 euros in cash and that was on a bucket and spade, fridge magnets, haribo and banana ice cream near the beach. We paid for a boat trip on debit card which wasn't expensive. We never spend much on all inclusive holidays once we are there.

We spent €250 over 2 weeks AI in cash but child have got away with less in cash. Just make sure you have a fee free card - Monzo, clarity etc

We've just returned from a two week all inclusive. My kids took €10 each from the grandparents. That was it! We did spend a little bit that went on debit cards.

None. I just let my bank know I'm travelling in the App and I don't get charged for any card purchases, so no point getting any cash.

None we took our starling cards :)

I would always take a couple of hundred out, even if AI for tipping the transfer driver, room attendants, waiting staff etc.

I normally take £1000 in cash for our family. This time we're going to Vienna so I might just load up my Revolut card and use that instead.

I have various fee free debit and credit cards but still take £50-£100 of local currency with me. Usually what is left in the drawer from last time I went.

That’s all well and good unless you travel to places where the card machines are more often than not conveniently “broken”.

We went to France a couple of weeks ago, it was not all inclusive, we took about €100 in cash and brought almost all of it home again. Everywhere takes card these days.

France has always been good for cards, even 40 years ago. Germany on the other hand…

Dh and I did an AI last year, we took £1,000 cash and converted it into local currency when we got there and spent nearly all of it. We could have put it on card (it was stuff like day trips and dinners out and tipping the people who came to make up the room every day) - we left what was leftover as a tip to the staff.
We just prefer having cash as an option.

My last few holidays I haven't taken cash at all. Unless you're going to the back of beyond, there'll be an ATM if you find you need it.

For AI we usually take about 200, but we always do at least one or two trips and they usually want cash. Then we make sure we've money to leave cleaners and other tips at the end.

We just prefer having cash as an option

Virtually everywhere you can get cash from ATMs as and when you need it, just like you would at home. These days there is no real need to take great bundles of it with you.

That said, I always take some with me. It’s not that unusual to arrive at an airport to find all the ATMs empty or broken.

We don’t stay AI but we like to have about £50 in local currency but nothing more. Cards for the rest.