One thing that all honeymooners need to give careful consideration to is spending money.
Even if you are planning to head off somewhere offering 'all inclusive' accomodation, you will still need cash for tips, taxis and more. This article looks at the various options and highlights some of the key things to think about when considering the spending money element of the honeymoon.
Foreign Currency
Even if you plan only to use Travellers Cheques or Credit/Debit cards, it is wise to make sure that you have at least some foreign currency to hand before you set off. Taxis, drinks on arrival, road tolls, tips etc. all need to be paid, and the chance of them taking cheque or card – zero! We would recommend around fifty pounds worth of foreign currency (try to get hold of coins as well as notes) should be enough to get you by, but of course taxis and transfers can impact on this in a big way, so do your research on this front before you go.
Travellers Cheques
The safest form of taking money abroad is to use Travellers Cheques. Normally available in denominations of £10, £20, £50 and £100, these can simply be signed for (you will need some form of identification, ideally a passport, to do so) and cashed in. Replacements are available quickly should you lose them or have them stolen making them a far safer method of taking money abroad than currency alone. If you use these rather than cards, you have the added advantage of knowing exactly how much you’ve spent and how much you can afford to spend.
Cards
Credit and Debit cards are accepted the world over (although be aware that some are accepted in more places that others), so rather than lumping around a huge wad of cash each night, consider just talking your plastic friend. That said, be aware and keep check on how much you are spending so you don’t get stung on your return to the UK. If you are planning to rely on cards, double check the expiry dates, conversion surcharges, limits and current balances before you head off.
Know your Onions
No, we are not talking about a purchase you may make from a Frenchman in a beret and striped top, instead we are talking about knowing the value of money. Pack a pocket conversion table, or at the very least have a system worked out to help you calculate approximate values – that ornamental plate may look lovely, but at £75 is it worth it? Likewise, familiarise yourself with the currency asap – it’s funny how notes often look alike and unless you ‘know your onions’ you could easily end up tipping £50 when you only meant to tip a fiver.
Safety
Holidaymakers often become slapdash on holiday with their money and sometimes seem to be of the opinion that crime only occurs in the UK – if only this was the case, more of us would move abroad! Be as careful on your honeymoon with money as you would at home – keep purses, handbags and wallets accessible, but to you only. On the same front, Travellers Cheques are a far safer method of taking spending money away than simple foreign currency (if lost are stolen they can often be replaced within 24 hours) and for that small amount of hassle when you need to cash them in, it is probably worth it. Invest in a safe for your room and use it to store all your valuables - particularly passports and cash/cheques.
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