Cards, cash and tipping abroad: a guide for crew

Card fees, local cash, ATM safety, paying in local currency, and tipping in the US, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Italy, Spain and Australia.

A layover is a short stop with a lot of small payments: a taxi, a noodle stall, a pharmacy. Fees and tipping habits vary by country, and a little preparation saves money and keeps your cards safe.

Card fees

Your card issuer charges the overseas fees. CHOICE, Australia's consumer organisation, says the major Australian banks charge a currency conversion fee on overseas credit card and debit card purchases, and that fee-free travel cards exist. Debit card ATM withdrawals often cost extra, the ATM owner may add a fee, and many small withdrawals add up. Check your own card's overseas fees before you fly.

Some merchants add a surcharge for credit cards. Tourism Australia warns that this can happen in Australia.

Pay in the local currency

A shop or restaurant abroad may offer to charge your card in your home currency instead of the local one. This is called dynamic currency conversion. CHOICE says the merchant's exchange rate can include a profit margin, and your card provider may add a second fee on a foreign purchase even when you pay in your home currency. Its advice is to pay in the foreign currency and let Visa or Mastercard set the rate. Choose the local currency when the terminal asks.

Carry some cash

CHOICE notes that cash helps in remote places where paying by card may not be an option, and that you should not carry large amounts. Smartraveller says hawker centres and small shops in Singapore may not take cards. Carry cards and cash in different places, as Smartraveller suggests for Thailand, so one lost bag does not take everything.

In bars and clubs, Smartraveller's advice for Japan is to avoid taking large amounts of money and to be careful with your debit and credit cards. It reports drinks being spiked and victims being taken to ATMs to withdraw cash.

ATM safety

Use ATMs inside banks, shops or shopping centres. Smartraveller says so for Italy and Spain, and for Spain it adds that you should avoid ATMs on streets with weak lighting, and more so at night.
Check the machine for skimming devices before you put your card in, as Smartraveller advises for Thailand.
Cover your PIN, and keep your card in sight. Smartraveller advises both for Indonesia.
Tell your bank when you are travelling and check that your cards work there, as Smartraveller advises for Indonesia and Vietnam.

Tipping

Check the bill first, because many places add a service charge. These norms come from official tourism and tax sites and travel publishers. Treat the figures as guides.

United States: Visit The USA suggests 15 to 20 percent for a sit-down meal and 10 percent at a buffet.
Japan: the national tourism organisation says tipping is not common in bars, cafes, restaurants and taxis.
Thailand and Indonesia: Lonely Planet says tipping is not customary away from tourist areas beyond rounding up the bill, although staff at tourist spots are used to tips from international visitors.
Singapore: Singapore's tax authority says restaurants and similar businesses often add a service charge of around 10 percent. Find it on the bill before you add a tip.
Italy: the official tourism site says tipping is not compulsory and has no set rules, but about 10 percent is customary when you are happy with the service.
Spain: the official tourism site says tipping is not obligatory, and that it is common in bars, restaurants and taxis, in the range of 5 to 10 percent.
Australia: Tourism Australia says tipping is your choice and that about 10 percent is common in upmarket restaurants.

Our guide to common scams in Southeast Asia covers the ones to watch for, and mobile data when you land covers getting online for maps and rideshare.

On Chocks lists ATMs and shops under Essentials, and crew mark places with Cards ok. The Open now filter shows which ones are open when you need cash.