Learning Spanish Abroad

Money questions - cash, credit card, debit card or travelers’ checks?

Another very frequent question we get asked is: what should I take with me on my Spanish course abroad - cash, credit card, debit card (ATM card) or travelers’ checks?

The basic answer is that it’s best to have some of all of them. The more complicated answer is that the specific make-up of the mixture depends on the country where you’re going to be learning Spanish - in some countries it’s difficult to find ATMs, in others it’s difficult to cash travelers’ checks, etc.

In general you should always carry some cash (local currency and a small stash of dollars), but not too much, since lost cash cannot be replaced and is usually not covered by insurance. Nowadays, ATM cards are extremely useful and have almost taken the place of travelers’ checks, but ALWAYS check with your bank before leaving home just how widely accepted yours is, what fees they will charge you for using it abroad, etc. You can find a list of ATMs throughout the world on the following pages:
VISA ATM locator
MasterCard/Cirrus ATM locator

Finally, I still use travelers’ checks whenever I know that I’ll be able to change them easily. Their great advantage is that they are often accepted in hotels, restaurants, etc; and, above all, that they can be replaced if they are lost.

One last piece of advice - before you leave home for your Spanish course abroad, check out the following site, where you can find guidance for each country:
World Travel Guide
Just find the country where you’re going to be taking your Spanish classes, and click on the page entitled “Money”. You’ll find guidance on how easy it is to find ATMs, cash travelers’ checks, etc.