I carry cash for tips at table service restaurants. I know I CAN charge that but I've just always had cash on hand for that purpose. It also would cover something of my magic band stopped working, which (knock on wood) hasn't happened.
Its probably not NECESSARY to carry cash though.
I hadn't thought about tips. Yes, I prefer to tip in cash.
Also, on a side note bevause I see you plan to use your credit card... It's always good to let your bank know when and where you will be travelling. You wouldn't want your bank to freeze your card because the expenditures make them think it could have been stollen?
Actually that happened to me, and it wasn't a big deal:
I went with my husband on a business trip to Florida, and after checking into our hotel room we made a grocery store run. He was hosting a company get-together later, so he picked up beer and snackies -- and he paid with our personal credit card /wanted a separate receipt so he could be reimbursed after the trip.
I took a separate cart and picked up food for our personal use. I went through a separate cash register (just trying to get out quickly), and my personal credit card was declined! How embarassing. I had cash, but it pretty much wiped me out.
It was easy to fix: my credit card emailed me immediately, saying my card had been used twice within a matter of minutes /in another state (all true). I responded to the email /proved my identity /my card was reinstated immediately. If I had realized what was going on, I literally could've stepped aside for a moment and done it in the grocery store.
It was just an odd coincidence that we went through two lines /used the same card -- but it's not something I'd care to repeat.
BALLOONS. After you stand in line for 20 minutes in 90 degree heat to get your kid a balloon(who pretty much thinks balloons are better than toys) and then you find out they only accept cash, you'll learn to keep a couple 20s on you at all time in the parks
.
Face painters like cash too but they also accept other forms.
This is the type of thing I was trying to think about -- but this is an all-adult trip, and I don't see us buying these two specific things.
I see the point. I can't get cash back at the grocery store anymore. Not a big deal though, since I rarely spend cash in my everyday life.
I have been where the "system" went down and the kiosks where only accepting cash. We usually charge everything back to our room but do carry about $40 in cash just in case.
Unlikely but possible.
I brought cash on my last trip but didn't use it apart from a few tips for things like bell services. I rarely use cash these days at all, but figured it was worth having a small safety net. Figure I'll do the same next time: keep around $20 on me at any given time just in case the system goes down, but otherwise not worry about it (if I were responsible for others in my party I might raise that to $20 per person).
We're staying in a rental house, so no bell services (and no housekeeping). But, yes, I don't want to be unable to tip where it's appropriate. And that means small bills /a variety of bills.
Thanks, All, for your insight. I think I do want to take a small amount of cash. I think $20 in small bills is adequate.
