What if one person in the group refuses to pay their share?

Address it immediately. If it's a software error, clear it up. If it's a behavioral issue, pay for them once, then stop sharing expenses with them. Do not let one person’s budget mismanagement ruin the group's relationship.

Should we use one person's credit card for everything?

No. This hits their credit limit, earns them all the points (which can cause resentment), and forces them to act as a bank. Rotate who pays for bills or use a group-specific card if possible.

How do we handle different currencies?

Splitwise handles this automatically. Enter the expense in the currency paid (e.g., Euros), and the app will calculate the split based on the exchange rate at the time of entry.

How to manage a group travel budget in Europe

Create a shared digital ledger, like Splitwise, before you leave to track every group expense in real-time. Assign a dedicated 'treasurer' for the trip to hold a communal cash pot for small, daily purchases to avoid constant reimbursement headaches.

Set a transparent daily cap. Before booking anything, have a group call. Agree on a hard daily limit (e.g., $150 per person) that covers food, transport, and entry fees. This prevents the person who wants luxury dining from forcing a budget-conscious traveler into debt.
Use a group expense app. Download Splitwise or Tricount. Every time someone pays for a group meal, a train ticket, or a shared Airbnb bill, they log it immediately. Set the app to 'Equal Split' by default for shared costs, but allow for itemized adjustments if one person orders a bottle of wine while others do not.
Establish a 'communal float'. Each person contributes $200 in local currency to a physical wallet held by the trip treasurer at the start of the trip. Use this only for shared groceries, tips, or rounds of drinks. When the wallet hits $20, collect another $200 from everyone.
Settle up in the final 24 hours. Don't wait until you are home. Review the app balances on the last night of the trip. Use Wise or Revolut to transfer funds instantly so all debts are cleared before you head to the airport.

What if one person in the group refuses to pay their share?: Address it immediately. If it's a software error, clear it up. If it's a behavioral issue, pay for them once, then stop sharing expenses with them. Do not let one person’s budget mismanagement ruin the group's relationship.
Should we use one person's credit card for everything?: No. This hits their credit limit, earns them all the points (which can cause resentment), and forces them to act as a bank. Rotate who pays for bills or use a group-specific card if possible.
How do we handle different currencies?: Splitwise handles this automatically. Enter the expense in the currency paid (e.g., Euros), and the app will calculate the split based on the exchange rate at the time of entry.