How to calculate your international emergency cash fund
Carry enough emergency cash to cover 48 hours of unplanned expenses, including a last-minute hotel room, meals, and a taxi to the airport. Aim for a minimum of $500 USD per person, kept separate from your primary wallet.
- Calculate a 'Bad Day' baseline. Look up the cost of a mid-range hotel room for one night, three restaurant meals, and a taxi ride across the city you are visiting. Multiply this by two to account for unexpected delays or missed flights.
- Choose your storage method. Split your emergency cash into two locations. Keep 50% in a hidden money belt or inside a zippered pocket in your luggage, and keep the other 50% in a secondary physical wallet kept in your hotel room safe.
- Add a 'Get Home' buffer. If you are traveling to a region with limited banking infrastructure, add an extra $200 in small denominations of USD or EUR. These are globally recognized and easily exchanged if your debit card is blocked or lost.
- Verify card backups. Ensure you have a secondary debit card or credit card from a different financial institution than your primary card. Keep this card in your passport wallet, never in your main pocket.
- Should I carry all my emergency money in local currency?
- No. Carry 75% in a major stable currency like USD or EUR, and 25% in the local currency. Major currencies are easier to exchange in a crisis than obscure local banknotes.
- What if I get robbed?
- Never resist a robbery. Your emergency stash is designed to be hidden; if the thief finds your primary wallet, the emergency cash remains safe for you to continue your trip or get to an embassy.