Tipping and Service Charges Abroad: What You Actually Owe
Service charges and tips vary by country. Learn when a charge is mandatory, when it's optional, and how to avoid extra card fees when paying.
Money & budget
Paying abroad, currency, fees and planning a travel budget.
Currency Exchange Abroad: Banks vs Bureaus, Rates and Fees
Compare exchange rates and fees at banks, bureaus and airport kiosks abroad, and learn how to avoid common traps. Check official sources before you travel.
Travel Money Safety: Carry Cash and Cards Without Losing Them
Practical steps to carry cash and cards safely abroad, and what to do if your money or passport is stolen, based on official UK and EU guidance.
Prepaid Travel Money Cards: What to Check Before You Go
Prepaid travel money cards can be used abroad, but not all work overseas. Check your cardholder agreement, fees and registration before you travel.
Money & budgetMembers
VAT refunds for tourists: how tax-free shopping works
Who can claim VAT back on shopping abroad, the deadlines and minimum amounts, and the steps at the airport, with the rules for the EU, France, the UK and the UAE.
How much cash can you carry across borders?
Declaration thresholds for the EU, the UK, the US, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and India, what counts as cash, and what happens if you don't declare.
Paying by card abroad: why to choose the local currency
What dynamic currency conversion is, how foreign transaction fees work, and why a credit card at an ATM costs more than you think.