travel cash advance is cash

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do i contact to receive health and critical safety information before and while on travel.

You may access Travel Leaders Traveler Health and Safety Hotline by phone or email:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 646 257 4619 / +1 877 312 0505

Business Hours:  24 hours a day, 7 days a week

*It is highly recommended that travelers save these numbers and email in their cell phone contacts list*

Travel Leaders has partnered with Exlog-Global, a global risk management provider, to address critical traveler safety and security concerns.

The hotline is staffed by highly trained response coordinators, security specialists, and risk analysts, backed by an on-call duty officer. The hotline staff are available to support questions and concerns related to:

• Current travel requirements for specific destinations
• Insight into risk levels at specific destinations around lodging and meeting venues
• Guidance related to secure transportation
• Rapid response and assistance during a critical incident
• Advice on how to avoid or mitigate risk during a critical risk incident
• Basic health related advice prior to or during travel
• Please note that if you are experiencing a medical emergency that requires immediate attention, contact your local emergency number for assistance.

How do I complete a request for travel approval?

ORISE uses Concur to manage participants’ requests for travel approval. Refer to the Travel Request job aid for step-by-step instructions for completing requests, it can be found in the Job Aids section.

What is a travel cash advance and purpose?

Travel cash advance is a cash advance made to a traveler prior to departure for travel when funds are needed for travel related expenses. Advances are intended to be used for ground transportation, meals, incidentals, and other expenses directly related to the travel activity.

You may request a cash advance for expenses incurred prior to or during your trip that ORISE may not pay in advance on your behalf. Requests may not exceed the cost of the trip. (See section 4.2 of the Participant Guidelines)

How do I request a cash advance?

A cash advance may be requested in Concur on the Travel Request. Please refer to the Travel Request job aid for instructions.

Can I purchase my airline ticket for domestic travel?

Yes, after your Travel Request has been approved, you may purchase your ticket, or you may request ORISE to purchase the ticket on your behalf. It is recommended you allow ORISE to purchase your ticket. If you book your own ticket, you may incur costs that may not be reimbursable, and you may be responsible for the cost of the ticket if the trip is cancelled. Also, Travel Central will be unable to assist you if changes are needed to your ticket.

If I purchase my own domestic airline ticket, are there restrictions I must follow?

Yes, there are restrictions. Ticket purchases are limited to the lowest priced airfare to meet the business requirements. Upgrades are not reimbursable.

Refer to the Participant Travel Guide for more details.

Can I reserve lodging through Airbnb?

No. Airbnb, VRBO, or similar lodging facilities are not an approved lodging option and therefore any associated costs are unallowable and will not be reimbursed. You may use the Concur Booking Tool to make your lodging reservations. You may also contact our Travel Central for assistance identifying appropriate lodging.

Can I drive my personal vehicle instead of flying or renting a car?

Yes, however restrictions apply. A cost comparison must be approved in advance of travel if you elect to drive your personal vehicle more than 350 miles one-way. A cost comparison is not needed if a justification exists for the use of a personal vehicle in lieu of air travel. For example, you are hosting a seminar that requires transporting boxes of training materials. More information can be found in the ORISE Participant Travel Guide under the Personally Owned Vehicle section.

Can I make my own rental car reservation?

Yes. You must make your reservation through Concur Online Booking Tool, use Enterprise or National, and provide ORISE’s corporate rate number XZ56018.

However, we encourage you to use ORISE’s contracted travel agency, Travel Leaders Corporate (TLC), to reserve your rental car. Reserving a rental car through TLC allows you to obtain discounted rates and Driver Protection and Liability Insurance that is provided to ORISE. This insurance is available at no additional cost only for vehicles rented in the U.S. and Puerto Rico through our corporate rate number.

For more information about rental cars and their associated fees/add-ons view the  Rental Car  information.

Can I be reimbursed for insurance added to a rental car?

No, insurance costs are not reimbursable. For more information about rental cars and their associated fees/add-ons view the Rental Car information in Section 7.16 of the  ORISE Participant Travel Guide .

Are there age restrictions for rental cars?

Yes, the minimum age to rent a vehicle is 21 years-of-age. This restriction is established by car rental agencies.

What happens if my trip is cancelled?

Immediately contact Travel Central if your trip is cancelled. You are responsible to cancel your airline ticket and lodging and rental car reservations, or initiate cancellations through ORISE’s contracted travel agency, Travel Leaders Corporate (TLC), if you used the agency to make the reservations or booked using Concur Booking Tool. Travel Central will cancel your trip in Concur. An Expense Report may be required if you incurred allowable costs or received a cash advance.

What is my annual travel budget?

You should direct questions related to your travel budget/allowance to your ORISE program point of contact.

What happens if I exceed the travel ceiling established by my program?

You may be responsible for any costs that exceed your travel ceiling.

If I pay for my own conference registration fee, can I be reimbursed prior to the start of my trip?

Yes. You may request a cash advance on the Travel Request. Once your trip is approved in Concur, ORISE can issue the payment to you. The registration payment receipt must be included in your Expense Report after your trip ends.

Do I complete a Request in Concur for virtual and local conferences and conferences requiring travel?

Yes, you must complete a Travel Request in Concur for virtual conferences, local conferences if there are cost associated with attendance to the conference, and in-person conferences requiring travel. The Travel Request should include all anticipated cost, such as registration fee, mileage, parking, tolls, etc.

Can I be reimbursed for membership fees?

Yes, if allowed by your program. You may submit membership fees on a non-travel request, and after approved you will submit an Expense Report as “non-travel expenses.” Contact your ORISE point of contact to discuss allowability.

Can I take personal travel in combination with business travel?

Yes, however there are restrictions.  The primary purpose of the travel must be business-related and personal travel must be incidental to the business requirement.  An airfare cost comparison of business travel only vs. combined business and personal travel is required and must be completed by ORISE’s contracted travel agency, Travel Leaders Corporate (TLC).  Carefully review other restrictions and requirements in the ORISE Participant Travel Guide under the Combining Personal and Business Travel section.

Where do I find per diem rates?

Domestic travel per diem rates and meal breakdowns are located at these U.S. General Services Administration websites:

• Domestic M&IE Rates
• Domestic M&IE Breakdown

If I am a foreign national, can I travel?

If you are a foreign national, you will need to contact our Immigration Office before you travel.

International Travel

Can i travel internationally.

Some programs allow international travel. Contact your ORISE point of contact to discuss allowability.

Where can I find the foreign MIE rates?

Foreign per diem rates may be found on the U.S. Department of State Office of Allowances’ website .

Can I be reimbursed for laundry while traveling internationally?

Laundry and dry-cleaning expenses are part of the incidental portion of the meals and incidental expenses rate for foreign areas and may not be claimed as a separate expense.

Am I eligible for an "official passport?"

Travelers must use regular passports and are not permitted to use “official passports.” Travelers are responsible for obtaining their own passports, but the cost of obtaining or renewing a passport for official travel may be reimbursed on the Expense Report.

Will Travel Central process my travel visa?

You are responsible for obtaining or renewing the appropriate visa for the countries to be visited. For visa information visit the U.S. Department of State’s website .

Can I purchase my own airline ticket for foreign travel?

No. ORISE’s contracted travel agency, Travel Leaders Corporate (TLC), must purchase the airline ticket to ensure compliance with the Fly America Act.

How long does it take to process a foreign trip?

We recommend submitting your travel request 45 days in advance to ensure sufficient time to process the trip.

If I am a foreign national, can I travel outside the U.S.?

If you are a foreign national, you will need to contact our Immigration Office for documentation you will need to return to the States.

If my trip is over 30 days, will that affect my reimbursement?

When a traveler’s assignment involves a stay in excess of 30 days at one location, the per diem rate will be reduced to no more than 55% of the applicable per diem rate for the locality. Actual lodging costs or 55% of the lodging ceiling for the location will be reimbursed. Travelers staying in a country 30 or more days may require a medical clearance.

Post-Travel

How do i request reimbursement for my travel expenses.

To request reimbursement for travel expenses, you will need to complete an Expense Report in Concur. A Job Aid with step-by-step instructions for completing the Expense Report can be found in the Job Aids section.

What is the deadline for submitting my travel expense report?

Submit your Expense Report within 10 business days after the return date of your trip.

How long will it take to get my travel reimbursement?

It normally takes around 10 business days to receive reimbursement for your travel expenses after an Expense Report is submitted and the audit is completed. NOTE: Expense Reports are audited for completeness and compliance. Your Expense Report may be returned for corrections during the audit process.

How will I receive my travel reimbursement?

You will receive reimbursement via direct deposit if you provided your ORISE program contact a completed Electronic Funds Transfer form.

You will receive a check at the address you provided your ORISE program contact if you have not provided a completed Electronic Funds Transfer form.

Do I add the cost of my airline ticket and agency fee to my Expense Report if ORISE or TLC purchased my ticket?

Yes. You must upload the receipt for your airline ticket on your Expense Report and you must include the cost of the agency fee. Refer to the Expense Report job aid for step-by-step instructions.

What is the agency fee?

The agency fee is ORAU’s contracted agency’s, Traveler Leaders Corp (TLC), fee for processing the airline ticket. This fee must be included on your Expense Report.

Do I need to submit an Expense Report if I received a cash advance?

Yes. An Expense Report must be completed to collect receipts for expenses, account for all expenses and process the correct reimbursement.

What if my cash advance was more than my travel expenses?

If you received a cash advance for more than the total of your travel expenses, then the excess cash advance must be paid back. You may pay it back by credit card or by stipend deduction. Contact Travel Central for repayment instructions.

Do I deduct provided meals on my Expense Report?

Yes. Meals that are provided, such as meals included in a conference registration fee, paid for by a third party or furnished by the government, must be deducted on the Expense Report. Refer to the Expense Report job aid for instructions.

Can I be reimbursed for baggage fees?

Yes, baggage fees are reimbursable for the first checked or first carry-on bag.

Fees for additional bags, exceeded weight or exceeded size may be reimbursable if there is a sufficient business reason to support the cost and the reason is provided on the Expense Report.

Why are there discrepancies in the total amount I submitted on my Expense Report and the amount I was paid?

All Expense Reports are audited according to the ORAU Travel Policy and may result in adjusted reimbursement amounts. You may contact Travel Central for questions regarding reimbursement discrepancies.  You may be contacted during the audit process to provide additional information or receipts.

NOTE:  The most common errors resulting in adjusted amounts are per diem miscalculations, missing receipts, and unallowable costs (particularly on rental cars).  You should enter comments on your Expense Report alerting auditors of unusual circumstances for example, lodging is not included because you stayed with a relative.

What is the earliest date I can begin my relocation move?

Typical relocations occur within 30 days of the appointment start date, any relocation occurring more than 30 days prior to the appointment start date should be approved in advance by your ORISE point of contact.

When will I be reimbursed for relocation expenses?

Relocation expenses will be reimbursed after your appointment has officially started, you submit an Expense Report in Concur, and the audit is completed.

NOTE: Expense Reports are audited for completeness and compliance. Your Expense Report may be returned for corrections during the audit process.  Refer to the Expense Report job aid to complete an Expense Report.

I accepted my appointment, and I am approved to relocate domestically for my appointment. Can I purchase my airline ticket?

Yes, you may purchase your ticket. However, tickets purchased before accepting the appointment letter are not reimbursable. Actual travel may not begin before 30 days of your appointment start date.

It is recommended you allow ORISE to purchase your ticket. If you book your own ticket, you may incur costs that may not be reimbursable and Travel Central will be unable to assist you if changes are needed to your ticket.

Contact Travel Central for international relocations.

What does the term “standard CONUS rate for lodging and per diem” mean?

“Standard CONUS” rate means the per diem amount that is applicable for all U.S. locations that do not have a stated U.S. General Services Administration meals and incidental expenses (GSA M&IE) rate.

During my relocation, I am approved to receive lodging reimbursement at the standard continental U.S. (CONUS) rate per night. Can I pay a higher nightly rate and cover the difference out of my own pocket?

Yes, you can cover the difference.

I accepted my appointment, and I am approved to relocate for my appointment, can I pay friends to help me move and be reimbursed?

No. You may use a legitimate moving business and must provide legitimate business receipts with your Expense Report.

I accepted my appointment, and I am approved to relocate for my appointment, can I be reimbursed for shipping my car?

Yes. Shipping your car may be reimbursed up to the amount in your relocation allowance and if a U.S. shipping company carrier was used. However, insurance is not reimbursable.

I accepted my appointment, and I am approved to relocate for my appointment, can I be reimbursed for furniture purchases?

No, furniture purchases are not an allowable expense.

Who do I contact if I need to change my reservations while I am on travel?

If you used the Concur Booking Tool or ORISE’s contracted travel agency, Travel Leaders Corporate (TLC), you may contact TLC to change your reservations.  Contact them immediately at:

Telephone: 888-403-1983 - Local: 919-786-0885

Email: orau @tlcorporate.com (Please copy Travel Central and your program point of contact.)

Business Hours:  Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 5:00PM ET

Use the telephone number above for after-hours services.

You are responsible to make changes to your reservation if you made your own reservations

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Card/Account Holders and Approving Officials Travel Training

Lesson 7: The Week Before the Trip

What is a quick checklist to review to make sure that i’m ready for my trip, travel checklist.

When packing for your trip, don’t forget:

• Your government issued picture ID card/badge or driver’s license.
• A copy of your travel authorization.
• Your GSA SmartPay® Travel card/account to pay for official travel expenses.
• Personal cash or personal credit cards to pay for personal expenses.
• Lodging tax exempt forms, if required.
• A record of expenses – write down your expenses and save receipts. Lodging receipts are required by all agencies. Follow agency policy with regard to other receipts.

What are some examples of reimbursable and non-reimbursable expenses for my upcoming trip?

Reimbursable expenses.

• Airfare and baggage fees.
• Maximum lodging amount allowed for the per diem locality excluding lodging tax.
• Meals (up to the rate for the per diem locality).
• Personal calls (per agency policy).
• Work related telephone calls and faxing.
• Laundry and dry cleaning (at the TDY location and only after consecutive nights lodging on official domestic travel).
• Car rental (approved).
• Shuttle, taxi and tips.
• ATM fees if allowed by your agency (cash advances for official travel only).

Non-reimbursable expenses

• Business or First Class airfares without prior written approval.
• Amount in excess of lodging amount allowed for the per diem locality unless previously approved.
• Meal costs over the rate for the per diem locality.
• Gifts and souvenirs.
• Postcards and postage.
• Personal expenses.

How do I get my airline tickets?

Most Travel Management Centers (TMC) or Commercial Travel Offices (CTO) use e-ticketing and will send your itinerary and ticket confirmation through email. With e-ticketing, you will not get a physical ticket, only information about the reservation. If your TMC/CTO mails airline tickets, pick up your ticket as close to the date of departure as possible.

Federal employees may retain, for personal use, frequent flyer miles earned while on official government travel.

Can I receive a cash advance?

In accordance with agency policy, you may obtain cash to cover all anticipated out-of-pocket cash expenses for the trip before you leave. The preferred and most efficient method to obtain a cash advance is by using your government travel card to withdraw cash from an ATM machine. As a reminder, do not withdraw cash for personal use.

training.smartpay.gsa.gov

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Travel Advances

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION               Washington, DC 20405                

OAS 5735.1 CHGE 1 December 2, 2021

GSA ORDER  

SUBJECT:  Travel Advances

1.  Purpose . This Order provides guidance for the issuance and management of travel advances. The GSA SmartPay® travel card provides a means of funding travel advances through ATM withdrawals so that travelers do not need to separately request travel advances or use personal funds to travel on official business. However, when an employee or expense is exempt from travel card use or due to a regulatory exception or extenuating circumstances, an advance of funds may be authorized to perform official travel.

2.   Scope and Applicability . This directive provides standards, instructions and procedures governing the management, authorization, issuance, repayment, and collection of travel advances. The provisions apply to all GSA employees. This order applies to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to the extent that the OIG determines it is consistent with the OIG’s independent authority under the Inspector General Act and does not conflict with other OIG policies or the OIG mission. This policy applies to the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) only to the extent that the CBCA determines it is consistent with the CBCA’s independent authority under the Contract Disputes Act and does not conflict with other CBCA policies or the CBCA mission.

3.  Cancellation . This directive cancels and supersedes OAS 5735.1, Travel Advances.

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PER DIEM LOOK-UP

1 choose a location.

Error, The Per Diem API is not responding. Please try again later.

No results could be found for the location you've entered.

Rates for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories and Possessions are set by the Department of Defense .

Rates for foreign countries are set by the State Department .

2 Choose a date

Rates are available between 10/1/2021 and 09/30/2024.

The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date.

Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.

Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."

Per diem localities with county definitions shall include "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."

When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.

• Travel & Entertainment
• Travel Planning

Travel Advances

Travel advances are payments made before a trip takes place. They can be cash to an employee or non-employee traveler.

Travel advances are granted when the traveler does not qualify for, or does not yet have, a Travel and Entertainment card. Travel advances will be allowed for group travel meal expenses or foreign per diem (lodging and meals and incidental expenses), unless an exception is granted for other expenses. Submit the cash advance request to Accounts Payable between 10 and 30 days before the beginning of the trip.

UC Santa Barbara has programs in place to minimize out-of-pocket expenses for university business travelers:

• U.S. Bank Visa Corporate Credit Card - used for travel expenses
• Central Travel System (CTS) - for airfare purchases through Connexxus
• Direct bill Payment to vendor

Departments and travelers are strongly encouraged to use these programs to reduce departmental and administrative costs associated with administering cash advances.

Requesting Advances

If a cash advance is required, a request is made through the Concur Request. Please follow the instructions in the "How to Request a Cash Advance" Knowledgebase Article .

Recovery of Advances

The traveler must account for the total amount of all expenses and advances by submitting a travel expense report within 21 days of completion of the trip.

• If the amount advanced is less than the expenses entered on the travel expense report, the traveler will be paid the difference.
• If the advance exceeds the reimbursable expenses, the traveler must write a check payable to UC Regents for the excess.
• The traveler must submit a travel expense report even if he or she is not owed any additional reimbursement.

Delinquent Travel Advances

After 60 days have elapsed from the date the travel expense report was due, Business & Financial Services will initiate action to recover the advanced amount. If the employee fails to substantiate expenses and to return any unused cash advance amounts within 120 days after the completion of a trip, the university is obligated under IRS regulations to consider such amounts as income to the employee.

For more on this policy, see UC Business and Finance Bulletin Policy and Regulations Governing Travel G-28 .

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• Accruals/Deferred Revenue
• Revenue vs. Expense Reimbursement
• Revenue Matrix
• Transferring Funds

Travel Advances and Prepaid Expenses

• Processing Entries to WCM
• Sponsored Financial Services
• Capital Assets
• Cost Analysis

Travel costs are routinely incurred by staff members, faculty, and students on behalf of the university. Travel advances are funds occasionally issued to those eligible to receive them – in order to cover travel costs. Prepaid travel represents money already spent (e.g., flights, hotel expenses, etc.) in advance of expected travel. For accounting purposes, these funds are recorded as assets on the university’s balance sheet until they are depleted. For more information about advances, see University Policy 3.21, Advances, Petty Cash, and Accounts Receivable .

On this page: Clearing Advances | Administering Advances

Clearing Advances

• Site Projects
• Participant Fees
• Cornell may advance funds in special circumstances, namely for travel , site projects, and participant fees.
• Generally, advances are limited to Cornell faculty, staff, and students.
• Units should charge operating accounts directly for visitor-related expenses.

Travel advances are processed and recovered through Concur. See Advances on the Travel website.

Site Projects

The procedures for clearing a site project advance are the same as those for clearing travel advances (see above), with one exception:

• Upon completion of the project, the responsible unit must provide documentation accounting for all project expenses. This accounting certifies that all project payments are complete. It also reduces the risk of duplicate pay for projects that include multiple individuals, numerous sources of support, etc.

Generally, a final accounting should include the following:

• Name of each individual involved in the project
• Individual's relationship to the project (instructor, student, etc.)
• Dates and location of travel for participant
• Type of expense for each individual (e.g., transportation, meals, lodging, auto rental, miscellaneous, etc.)
• How each expense was paid (e.g., paid by another institution, by air requisition, by previous payment request, etc.)

Participant Fees

These advances provide cash for the purpose of paying a number of small-dollar amounts to human subjects involved in research projects.

• Use a Payment Request to clear the advance, even if no money is due the payee
• Attach documentation supporting the amount paid to each participant. The documentation should include the participant's name, dollar amount, date paid, and if possible, the participant's signature

Note:  If you cannot include the participant's name due to confidentiality, indicate that the information is confidential and that it is available from the "principal investigator" upon request.

Administering Advances

Units that have advance accounts should do the following:

• Design procedures based on separation of duties
• Submit appropriate advance forms with original signatures
• Debit a balance sheet account for the advance - not an operating account
• Review advance accounts throughout the year
• Follow up on any advance not cleared in a timely manner
• Prepare a fiscal year-end account reconciliation to document that the year-end balance is accurate

• Faculty & Staff
• University of Wisconsin System
• Planning University Travel
• Group Travel

Travel Cash Advance Procedures

The UW System has a contract with  US Bank  to provide no-fee travel cards for the purpose of reducing or eliminating the need for travel cash advances and employee out-of-pocket spending. All UW employees who travel on UW business at least once per calendar year should apply for a travel card to be used to pay for the majority of their University sponsored travel expenses.  Since the bulk of travel-related expenses may be charged to a UW purchasing card or placed on an employee-issued travel card, employees should refrain from requesting a travel advance unless absolutely necessary.  Need for travel cash advances versus card payment must be supported by explanation on the request.

For the limited cases where a travel cash advance is necessary:

• Only faculty and staff on the payroll at the time of the advance request, or new employees in connection with a household move, may be eligible to receive a travel cash advance. Parameters concerning eligibility and dollar limits for a travel advance may be set by the institution business office.
• Advances for moving expenses are supported by a copy of the lowest estimate and the approval letter authorizing reimbursement. (Refer to UW System Administrative Policy 240 Relocation and Temporary or Indefinite Work Assignments )
• In those instances where an advance is necessary and allowable, the travel cash advance will not exceed 100% of the estimated expenses to be paid by the traveler. Advance amounts must be rounded to the nearest $1.
• Estimates for travel costs that will be paid using the travel cash advance must be included on the travel authorization.
• Advances must be returned immediately if the trip is cancelled or accounted for on the expense report by the employee who received the advance no later than 30 days following completion of the scheduled trip . Advances not accounted for within 30 days after completion of the trip must be deducted from the employee’s next paycheck to avoid treatment of the advance as taxable income.
• The amount due the traveler will be reduced by any travel cash advance received and a reimbursement will be issued for the net amount due. In cases where the advance exceeded the claimed reimbursement expenditures, a check payable to the UW institution must be submitted to the institution’s Controller’s/Travel Office.
• An additional advance will not be granted to an employee who has a previous advance which is overdue and unaccounted for.
• Incurring expenses which exceed the amount of the travel advance or deduction of the travel advance from an employee’s salary check does not eliminate the requirement that the employee account for the expenditures on an expense report in accordance with I.R.S. and University Accountable Plan rules.
• Requests for a travel cash advance should be submitted no later than 15 days prior to travel, which allows sufficient lead time for processing. Travel cash advance payment will not be issued prior to seven days before departure unless a justification is provided that supports the need to pay the advance earlier.
• The travel authorization requesting the travel cash advance is submitted in e-reimbursement by the traveler and approved by the supervisor or approver role.
• Group travel cash advances may be issued for student group travel for activities such as forensics, outreach, athletics, music and drama as a single-trip advance. Advances for group travel may equal 100% of the estimated travel cost for the entire length of the trip, but must be accounted for in the same manner and with the same due dates as regular travel cash advance. Reimbursement claims for cash allowances provided by employees to students or others must be supported by a receipt statement signed by the recipient that states the amount received and which expenses are covered by the allowance.
• Institutions should have adequate controls in place to ensure that these funds are obtained only for official business purposes and that they are recovered and accounted for before the employee terminates UW employment.

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Travel Cash Advance

What is a travel cash advance.

A "Travel Cash Advance" (Cash Advance) is the payment of funds to an individual to be used in the future during an authorized trip, project, or event. Because the university offers several preferred payment options (i.e., corporate cards, purchasing cards, and Clincards) that are more secure and less expensive for all parties to administer, cash advances are only issued with approval from leadership.

Cash advances are sometimes necessary for efficiency or because they are the only means acceptable to the payment requirements of the service rendered. Cash advances are intended to cover anticipated expenses associated with:

• A University business trip
• A University-sponsored event

Accounts Payable oversees the implementation of the Cash advances. For complete instructions on how to obtain a cash advance, see the instructions below. Remember to keep all receipts and documentation needed to reconcile your cash advance.

Travel Cash Advance Overview

Who is eligible for a travel cash advance.

Only Emory employees are eligible for travel cash advances.

These travel advances are given only if one of the following conditions exist:

• The employee is not eligible for a Corporate Credit Card.
• The employee has applied for but has not yet received the Corporate Credit Card.
• The employee is traveling to a destination that might not accept corporate credit cards.
• The employee does not have a personal credit card.

Is There a Minimum Amount?

The minimum amount for a Travel Cash Advance is $50.00.

How Do I Get a Travel Cash Advance?

Step by Step

• Complete the Travel Cash Advance Request Form (DOCX) and have your immediate supervisor approve it.
• Sign and date the Travel Cash Advance Request Agreement (DOCX) .
• Click here to see How to Request a Travel Cash Advance in Compass (DOCX) .

Accounts Payable will receive an email notification of your request and they will process it within one business day.

The requested funds will be issued to you in the same manner that you receive your paycheck.

Note : If you are paid via ACH, payment should be in your bank account between 24 and 48 hours. If you have more than one bank account, be sure to check all accounts for the funds in case the default bank account did not get selected for deposit.

When Do I Need to Submit the Travel Cash Advance Request?

A travel cash advance may be requested between 5 and 20 business days from your departure date.

What Do I Need to Do After My Trip?

• For instructions, please review the How Do I Reconcile Cash Advances   Job Aid.
• Write out a check made payable to Emory University.
• Send the check to Accounts Payable located at:       Emory University      ATTN: Accounts Payable - 3rd Floor       1599 Clifton Road NE      Atlanta, GA 30321

What Happens If I Don’t Reconcile My Travel Cash Advance?

If your Travel Cash Advance is not reconciled (via the submission of an expense report) within 60 days from the date of your return, the cash advance will be treated as taxable income and included on your W-2 Form or Form 1042-S.

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A cash advance allows you to use your credit card to get a short-term cash loan at a bank or ATM. Unlike a cash withdrawal from a bank account, a cash advance has to be paid back — just like anything else you put on your credit card. Think of it as using your credit card to "buy" cash rather than goods or services.

It's convenient, but it's quite expensive.

How a cash advance works

If you carry only credit cards for day-to-day spending, you could find yourself in a pinch when confronted with a cash-only situation, such as buying lunch from a street vendor, veggies at a farmers market or a sandwich at a mom-and-pop deli. In that case, a cash advance might be tempting. Some people also turn to credit card cash advances when they need paper money but don't have enough in their bank account.

If your credit card has a PIN, you can get cash advances directly from an ATM. Otherwise, you can take your card to a bank that offers advances through your card's payment network, such as Mastercard or Visa. You'll have to show ID.

Be aware that most credit card companies won’t allow you to take your entire credit line in the form of a cash advance. For most people, cash advances are capped at a few hundred dollars. This means that you can’t rely on your credit card to provide you with very much cash in the event of an emergency.

» MORE: Are credit card cash advances a good idea?

Why cash advances are expensive

Getting a cash advance is easy, but it's one the costliest ways to get your hands on some cash. This is because cash advances can come with a variety of expenses:

Cash advance fees. These are imposed by your card issuer. Some cards charge a flat fee per cash advance, say $5 or $10. Others charge a percentage of the amount advanced — often as much as 5%. Sometimes it's a percentage with a minimum dollar amount — such as 3% or $10, whichever is greater.

ATM or bank fees. These are imposed by the financial institution that handles the transaction — the owner of the ATM or the bank where you get your advance.

Interest. This can be costly in two ways. First, the interest rate that a credit card charges on cash advances is often much higher than the rate charged on purchases. Second, interest on cash advances usually starts accruing immediately. There's no grace period like you can get with purchases.

» MORE: What is a credit card cash advance limit and how can you change it?

Given the costs associated with taking a cash advance, you may be in dire financial straits if you’re considering one because there aren't enough funds in your bank account. Cash advances should be used only in extreme emergencies. If you find yourself relying on them, it may be time to make some changes or seek help, say, through a credit counseling agency or expert.

» MORE: Preventing a card from being used for cash advances

Alternatives to cash advances

If you do find yourself facing a cash crisis and you’re not sure where to turn, consider the options below. None may be exactly ideal, but they could end up costing less than a cash advance in the long run:

A personal loan. This will be expensive if your credit isn’t great, but the interest charges and terms will still be more favorable than a cash advance. ( Learn more about personal loans. )

Promotional offers from your card's issuer. In recent years, several credit card issuers have unveiled cheaper ways to tap into your credit line , including the ability to essentially turn your available credit into an installment loan without requiring a new loan application. You'll still be charged interest on such a feature, but potentially at a fairly reasonable rate.

Borrowing money from friends or family. This might be awkward, but the savings will be worth it.

Overdrawing your checking account. Instead of taking a cash advance at an ATM, consider overdrawing your checking account with your debit card. You’ll face a fee, but you won’t have to worry about paying interest.

In summary, taking a cash advance on your credit card means taking on a very expensive short-term loan. This is almost never a good idea, so consider all other options before using a cash advance.

What's next?

» Explore whether a cash advance makes sense for you, considering the high costs involved.

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Cash Advances for Travel

Cash advances are intended to cover employee out-of-pocket costs when traveling. Advances will not be approved more than 30 days in advance unless the employee is taking back-to-back trips. Cash advances are not available for non-employees.

Cash advances for travel must be substantiated via an expense report in a timely manner (generally 15 days) after the completion of the trip. After 30 days, outstanding advances are considered delinquent. Additional advances may be disapproved if an employee has delinquent advances. The University is required by IRS regulations to report all unsubstantiated advances as taxable income to the recipient. Therefore, advances greater than 90 days delinquent may be added to the employee’s gross wages and the appropriate tax will be withheld from their next paycheck. The amount of the travel advance will be treated as an expense to the department.

Cash advances are requested via a Spend Authorization in Workday. The advance should be requested under the name of the employee in need of out-of-pocket funds.

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Cash Advances for Business Travel

Learn how employees can use the UC San Diego Travel & Entertainment Card for cash, and read guidelines for requesting a cash advance for employees and non-employees.

Cash advances issued by UC San Diego Travel are limited to exceptional situations, especially for employees who are to use the Travel & Entertainment Card to access cash during authorized trips.

• If a cash advance has been issued by Travel, it must be substantiated before making a new request.
• All cash advances must be expensed within 21 days after travel concludes.
• A cash advance may not be requested as a means to reimburse a traveler for out-of-pocket expenses prior to trip completion and before completing the expense report.
• Unsubstantiated cash advances are treated as taxable to the traveler.

See below for instructions on how to request a cash advance for employees. The last section on this page details the cash advance process for non-employees.

1. Determine the circumstances of travel.

• Proceed to step 2  if travel is standard, and use your  Travel & Entertainment Card  to withdraw cash at an ATM.
• Travel to a remote location: Request a cash advance from UC San Diego Travel if you are bound for a remote location where there may not be an ATM and the cash advance needs exceed the Travel & Entertainment Card limits.
• Travel & Entertainment Cards may be processed within 10 business days. See Applying for or Canceling the UC San Diego Travel Card .

2. Obtain cash using the Travel & Entertainment Card.

• Travel & Entertainment Card cash limits:   If circumstances warrant an increase to the limit, provide a detailed explanation to the  Travel & Entertainment Card Program Manager .
• Travel & Entertainment Card withdrawal fees: A 2.5% transaction fee (minimum $2, maximum $10) applies to each ATM transaction. Request reimbursement for the fee when you complete an expense report in Concur after completing your trip.

3. Request a cash advance from UC San Diego Travel.

• For more information on how to request a Cash Advance, please reference our Knowledge Base Article on Cash Advances.

4. Cash Advances for Non-Employees

1. review information regarding eligibility, amount, timing, and cancellation.

• Foreign travelers:  Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) guidelines can restrict payments to foreign visitors, depending on the traveler's visa type. Review the  reimbursement requirements  for foreign visitors to see if the traveler is eligible for a cash advance, or contact  Travel  prior to hosting the visitor.
• Appropriate amount:  A cash advance is generally for meals, incidental expenses, and ground transportation. The requested amount must be appropriate for the nature and duration of the travel.
• Timing:    Cash advances are not issued to the traveler more than 2 weeks before a travel event commences.  If an advance is issued as a direct deposit into the traveler's personal bank account, the bank may take up to 72 hours to process the deposit.
• Cancellation:  If a travel event is canceled or indefinitely postponed, the cash advance must be returned immediately to Travel. The traveler can return the issued check or write a check to UC Regents for the amount of the advance.

2. Determine the traveler's citizenship

• If the traveler is a U.S. citizen, proceed to step 3. If the traveler is from a foreign country, determine the traveler's   visa status . If the traveler has a B-2 visa or a WT classification, have the traveler complete the  Certification of Academic Activity  form (PDF).

3. Request a Cash Advance

• For more information on how to request a Cash Advance, please reference our   Knowledge Base Article   on Cash Advances.

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Cash Advances

Cash advance hub.

In exceptional circumstances, a University-business trip may require a cash advance. Use this page to learn more about the cash advance process.

Cash advances are available on an exception basis. They only apply to UCLA employees and are issued via the Concur system no more than 7 days before the trip. Review the Lifecycle of a Cash Advance web page for additional information. 

Requirements

Travel Accounting may grant a cash advance if: 

• The traveler(s) will be on travel status for more than 30 consecutive days
• The travel requires special handling (e.g., group travel for UCLA Athletics or UCLA student groups)
• The trip involves international travel to remote areas where standard banking and credit card transactions are not available

Before requesting a cash advance, review the list of Approved Business Expenses for Cash Advances . 

Request Process

Not all employees have access to Concur’s cash advance request functionality. If a traveler needs to be granted access, the trip’s projected expenses must first be submitted to Travel Accounting via a Concur exception request . For complete instructions, review the How to Obtain Cash Advance Access  knowledge article and  How to Submit a Cash Advance Request training guide. 

Reconciliation

The cash advance recipient is responsible for overseeing the reconciliation of their cash advance. Review the How to Reconcile a Cash Advance and How to Return an Unused Cash Advance training guides for details.

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Travel cash advances.

Cash advances are travel -related payments made before a trip begins. They should be used sparingly.

Cash advances are allowed when the travel requires special handling, such as foreign travel, group travel for athletics, bowl games, student groups, etc.

Travel Card Cash Advance

Employees that have a UC Travel Card should get a cash advance directly from any major bank's ATM with the associated PIN. 

There is a 2.5% or $2 minimum/$10 maximum fee for each cash advance. The cash advance limit is 20% of the card limit. Advance limits can be increased upon request .  

Cash Advance Request in AggieExpense

See the online instructions for processing a cash advance request in the cases where a Travel Card is not available.

Cash Advance Reconciliation

See the online instructions.

Please email the Travel Help Desk . 

Travel Cash Advance Request Form

Travel cash advance request form (google form).

Employees of UC Berkeley are encouraged to use UC's Corporate Travel Card to obtain cash advances necessary for business travel, which can be done at any ATM displaying the 'PLUS' network symbol.

For students and employees who cannot access funds via the Corporate Travel Card, please complete and submit the Travel Cash Advance Request Form (Google form) .

Instructions

• Complete and then submit the form
• You will receive an email summary of the form, which you should then print and save as a PDF and submit as an attachment to a reimbursement request in the Other Expenses Reimbursement System, using the "Travel Advance" expense type

Please Note

• Travel cash advances are intended to be used for meals and daily subsistence expenses
• Travel cash advances will only be issued within 30 days of when an expense is to be paid or incurred
• A traveler should have only one outstanding cash advance per trip
• Each cash advance should be accounted for before another advance is granted
• Cash advances will not be issued if a traveler’s university sponsored US Bank Corporate Travel Card is canceled for delinquency or non-payment

Cash Advances are Not to be Used to Purchase Airline Tickets

Travel cash advances are not to be used to purchase airline tickets. Travelers on university business may use the Direct Bill program to pay for airfare booked through one of UC's travel agencies. Contact an agency through ConnexUC.

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USAA credit card cash advance FAQ

If you'd like to see the current rate for cash advances on your USAA credit card, go to your credit card statement on usaa.com or our mobile app to find your specific rate information.

There are fees associated with cash advance transactions that are generally between 3% and 5% of the amount advanced. For cash advances from your USAA credit card into your USAA checking or savings account, we'll waive that fee.

Yes. Cash advance limits depend on how you access your credit and your card's available credit limit. You can get a cash advance online, at an ATM or at a bank teller. Please note that to get a cash advance online, you'll need to have a USAA checking or savings account to deposit the money into.

All cash advance limits are subject to your card's available credit.

Up to $510, including any ATM fees, per card within a 24-hour period

With a teller

• USAA-issued card: Up to $1,000 per card within a 24-hour period
• Non-USAA issued card: Up to $1,000 per card, per day

Cash advance deposited into an eligible USAA checking or savings account

From a USAA-issued credit card (available on usaa.com or our mobile app)

• Daily limit: One approved transaction per member up to $2,500 per business day, based on available credit
• 30-day limit: A maximum of 8 approved transactions up to $5,000 per 30 days, based on available credit

From a non-USAA Mastercard® (available on usaa.com only)

• Daily limit: One approved transaction per member up to $500 per business day, based on available credit
• 30-day limit: A maximum of 8 approved transactions up to $4,000 per 30 days, based on available credit

For all non-USAA cards, please contact your card issuer or review the terms in your cardholder agreement if you have any questions.

Cash equivalent

Limit: $2,500 per card within a 24-hour period

Cash equivalent examples include, but aren't limited to, using your card for wire transfers, money orders, traveler's checks, person-to-person money transfers, bail bonds, lottery tickets, gambling chips, and other methods used for gambling, wagers and other betting transactions.

Yes. But additional fees may apply. For example, if you were to do a cash advance with your USAA credit card at a non-USAA ATM, that ATM may charge you a fee. Find a USAA ATM here .

Yes. To get a cash advance online, you'll need to have a USAA checking or savings account to deposit the money into.

You can use your USAA credit card at most physical bank branches that perform this type of transaction. A cash advance fee from USAA would apply, which is generally between 3% and 5% of the amount advanced, and the other financial institution may charge their own fees on cash advances.

Yes. But only Mastercard is accepted, and this transaction is only available on usaa.com, not the mobile app. You can contact your card issuer or review the terms in your cardholder agreement to determine if you'll be charged a fee for this service from the financial institution that issued the card.

No. You're unable to request an adjustment to your credit card's cash advance limit. Limits may be subject to change at any time at USAA's discretion, without prior notice.

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Travelling and money

Take steps that will help you avoid financial problems that may ruin your trip. Make sure you purchase  travel insurance , and most importantly make sure you always carry a backup source of funds in case of emergency or an unexpected delay.

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Cards (credit, debit and pre-paid).

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Travelling with $10,000 or more

Check with the  embassy or consulate in Canada  of the country you are planning to visit to make sure you are allowed to import or export its currency. If you are permitted to import its currency, bring enough cash to get by for a couple of days and keep it in a money belt or in several different pockets in case your wallet is lost or stolen or your financial institution accidently freezes your cards. When you arrive at your destination, you can withdraw more cash from an ATM. 

Exchanging your money

The currency exchange rate tells you how much your Canadian money is worth in the local currency. When you exchange your money, you are actually using it to buy or sell foreign currency at a specific price called the exchange rate. You can find the official exchange rate of the currency in the country you will be visiting by using the Bank of Canada’s online currency converter .

It pays to know your options when dealing with foreign exchange rates. There are a number of ways to manage your finances when you are abroad that will save you a lot of money in exchange fees.

If you want cash on hand before you leave Canada, you can buy foreign currency from your financial institution over the phone or online. It can be delivered to your local branch for pick up. Exchange rates at banks are slightly better than elsewhere. You can also order currency before you leave on your trip from a number of websites that will ship it to your home within a couple of days.

Exchange desks

If you need cash in an emergency, there are foreign exchange desks at airports and hotels that will exchange Canadian money for the local currency. Fees tend to be very high. Even those advertising no commissions may have hidden fees, making these desks the most expensive places to change money.

Black market

The currency black market forms part of the underground economy in a number of countries. In a currency black market, transactions are almost always in cash, since its participants don’t want to leave any evidence. 

This illegal or parallel market in foreign exchange operates outside legal banking channels. If you are tempted to take advantage of the currency black market you should be aware that you will be breaking the country’s laws and could be arrested and imprisoned . You are subject to the country’s criminal justice system. Consular officials will not arrange your release from prison.

Be aware of anyone approaching you on the street offering to exchange your money for a much better rate than a bank. Typical money exchange scams include stealing your money in the process of counting and recounting a pile of bills or mixing your money with currency from another country with a much lower exchange rate. It is safer to go through an authorized agency or a bank. 

Credit cards

Use a major international credit card for your big purchases, such as your airplane tickets, hotel bills and restaurant tabs. If you reserve your hotel and rental car on your credit card, the reservation should be guaranteed even if you arrive late.

Use the credit card instead of cash wherever possible. Credit card issuers typically charge fees for international transactions and you may get the best exchange rate and fees lower than those associated with exchanging cash. However, you should not use your credit card to withdraw money from an ATM, because the fees and interest charges are usually very high.

Before you leave:

• Know the expiry dates, account balance and amount of credit available to you on all of your credit cards. Make sure you have enough money in your accounts to cover your trip expenses, plus extra in case of emergency.
• Make sure your credit card company and financial institution have your up-to-date contact details, including a cellphone number, and information on where and when you will be travelling so that your account isn’t flagged for unusual activity.
• Check with your financial institution before you leave on your trip. Not all major credit cards are accepted everywhere. Merchants in some destinations prefer to be paid in cash because they must pay a fee to the credit card company. There may be a risk that your credit card will be cloned at some destinations, particularly in restaurants.

Debit cards

Always use bank-affiliated ATMs when you are outside Canada. Check if your financial institution has international branches or partners in your destination country where you can use your debit card fee-free. Using your debit card to withdraw money from ATMs will cost you extra in fees, but you can minimize them by withdrawing larger amounts less often.

You should carry some cash to cover daily expenses. Your debit card may not work in every ATM machine or be accepted at stores or restaurants in your destination country. If you are travelling to a rural area, you may not be able to find an ATM that is part of your financial institution’s network, so withdraw enough cash to manage until you are back in a city.

Due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity, you should use your credit cards and debit cards with caution. Use ATMs during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building.

Pre-paid cards

Some financial institutions offer pre-paid travel cards in foreign currencies. They may have higher fees than credit and debit cards, so check the terms and conditions and costs before you decide to travel with one. You can usually replace a pre-paid travel card as you would a lost or stolen travellers’ cheque.

Be aware that pre-paid cards may not be accepted at some hotels and car rental companies, and may be difficult to use at the ATM machines of foreign banks.

Dynamic Currency Conversion

Some shops, restaurants and ATMs give the option of using the currency of the country you are in or having the transaction converted into Canadian currency. Always choose to be charged in the currency of the country you are in. You will pay high conversion rates and transaction fees if they convert to Canadian currency.

Save your receipts

As you travel, save all ATM and transaction receipts in an envelope. Bring them home in your carry-on bag. Save your airline boarding pass to prove your return date. If you need to dispute a transaction, sending a copy of your receipt will speed up the resolution process.

After you return home, carefully examine your credit and debit card statements and continue to do so for several months. Identity theft and credit card fraud are not confined to Canada. If you notice any unusual charges on your statement, inform your financial institution immediately and request a copy of the receipt.

Travellers’ cheques

Canadian travellers’ cheques are not widely accepted worldwide, but are an option if you don’t want to use credit or debit cards or carry large amounts of cash.

When possible, order the cheques in the local currency and carry multiple cheques in small denominations. If you can’t order cheques in the currency of your destination country, order them in U.S. funds, which are widely accepted. Sign them as soon as you get them and keep the receipt in a separate location. If they are stolen they can be replaced anywhere in the world, usually within 24 hours.

Keep a record of your travellers’ cheque numbers, credit card account numbers and expiry dates and the telephone numbers for reporting lost or stolen cards in a safe place. If possible, leave a copy of the list with a family member or friend at home who can help you make telephone calls quickly if your cards are lost or stolen.

Any time you enter or leave Canada, you must declare any money or monetary instruments, such as stocks, bond or cheques, you are carrying valued at $10,000 or more.

Canadians who live or work abroad or who travel a lot may still have to pay Canadian and provincial or territorial income taxes.

If you are planning to be outside Canada for an extended period of time, you should inform the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) before you go to ask for a determination of your residency status. Your residency status depends on whether you are leaving Canada permanently or only temporarily and the residential ties you keep with Canada and establish in another country:

You are leaving Canada permanently

You are leaving Canada temporarily

Visit International and non-resident taxes for information about income tax requirements that may affect you.

Departure tax

In some countries you must pay a departure tax or service fee at the airport or point of departure. Make sure you set aside enough money in local funds to pay it. 

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Should you use a credit card or cash on vacation?

U.S. News & World Report

July 12, 2024, 7:20 AM

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Cash is king, but credit can offer greater security when you travel. Before you head out on vacation, make plans for whether you’ll pay for expenses such as meals, souvenirs and local transportation with cash or credit. Consider how you plan to spend, where you’re going and how flexible your money needs to be as you choose between cash or credit as your preferred payment method.

Pros and Cons of Using Cash on Vacation

Cash can offer flexibility and help you avoid fees, but it can be risky to carry on vacation.

According to Travis Cormier, chief operating officer of credit card rewards travel site 10xTravel, using cash largely depends on your destination, as you won’t always find vendors who take cards in every destination. “Consider the remoteness of where you’re going, as well,” Cormier says. “Many card transactions require the internet to process, so if you’re traveling somewhere like Egypt or Morocco where you’ll be out of the city centers, expect to need cash.”

Pros of Cash

— Budgeting: When you pay in cash, it’s easy to keep up with spending because you can see how much is left every time you open your wallet.

— Avoiding fees: You may have to pay a foreign transaction fee when you use a credit card, and some establishments charge a fee on top of that for you to use a credit card instead of cash or debit.

— Flexibility: Cash works almost everywhere, especially if you’re leaving tips or buying food from a street vendor. You might have an easier time haggling with cash, too.

Cons of Cash

— Theft or loss risk: Once cash is lost or stolen, there’s no way to recover it. Also, it could be dangerous to travel with all of the cash you need for your trip.

— Planning required: You’ll need to plan ahead and get enough cash for your vacation just in case you can’t find an ATM that works with your bank.

— Less acceptance: Although cash is often widely accepted, businesses that have gone cashless and only accept debit or credit cards are increasing. Hotels and car rental companies may require you to have a card on file even if you’re paying cash.

“The downside of paying with cash when traveling is that you have to carry around large sums of money with you, and you run the risk of misplacing it or theft,” says budgeting expert Andrea Woroch. She suggests carrying a debit or credit card as a backup to cash.

Cormier says using cash in countries with a volatile currency may eventually make your cash less valuable. “If you don’t use all the cash and you’re saving it for a future trip, it may not be worth as much next time you travel.”

[ Read: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards. ]

Pros and Cons of Using Credit Cards on Vacation

Credit cards can offer greater protections than cash, but you may experience fees or issues with acceptance depending on where you’re traveling.

Pros of Credit Cards

— Expense tracking: You can keep track of what you’ve spent by logging into your online account.

— Rewards and benefits: Many credit cards earn cash back you can use to offset travel expenses, or others may earn points to use toward your next trip. Some may offer travel protections such as trip cancellation coverage, and your benefits may include travel perks such as airport lounge access.

— Easy replacement: If your card is lost or stolen, it’s typically easy to lock your card with an app or phone call, remove fraudulent charges and get a new card sent to you. However, you should have a backup payment method to use while you wait to get a new card.

The security of credit cards can’t be understated. “If you lose your cash, then that money is gone,” says Cormier. “If you lose your card, it may be an inconvenience, but you can at least cancel it and get a new card reissued and you’re not liable for any unauthorized purchases on the card.”

Your card may also offer travel protections that can save you money and offer reassurance, says Spencer Howard, founder of points travel site Straight To The Points.

“Beyond earning points, miles or cash back, many credit cards come with a variety of travel benefits such as trip delay and cancellation protection and bag delay protection,” says Howard. “Delays and cancellations are stressful enough, so knowing that you can cover some necessary expenses provides a little peace of mind.”

Cons of Credit Cards

— Foreign transaction fees: Some credit cards charge a fee for purchases made abroad or in foreign currency. However, there are numerous cards with no foreign transaction fees if you’d prefer not to pay this when you travel.

— Unexpected declines: Credit card issuers use advanced algorithms to detect fraud, but may erroneously flag your account for fraud and not allow charges when you make purchases that don’t follow your usual pattern.

— Acceptance issues: Although the major credit card issuers are widely accepted, there are exceptions. Discover and American Express are accepted at fewer locations than Visa and Mastercard, so you should bring a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.

[ Read: Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards. ]

How to Choose Between Cash or Credit Cards on Vacation

Choosing between cash or credit cards on vacation isn’t an either-or situation, as you should be prepared to use both. Consider your spending habits, the destination and how long you’re traveling.

You might prefer to primarily use credit cards but bring cash as a backup in case your cards are lost or compromised, a merchant doesn’t accept cards or you want to tip in cash. Alternatively, you might prefer cash but still bring a credit card or two along as a backup if you lose your cash, need to put a card on file for a hotel or rental car or encounter a cashless business.

Also think about the types of transactions you’ll make. Cash may be a good choice for small transactions such as meals or souvenirs, while a credit card is better for hotel accommodations or tours.

Consider the trustworthiness of where you’re spending money before you hand over cash. “If a merchant fails to provide the service or product you’ve purchased, using a credit card gives you the option to file a (dispute) so your bank can investigate,” says Howard, who notes if a merchant accepts credit cards, that’s always his preferred payment method.

Look ahead to your destination and understand whether you’ll need to convert your cash, how easy it is to access ATMs that connect to your bank and how widely your credit cards are accepted. Trip duration matters, too, as carrying enough cash to cover a long trip may not be practical.

“Travelers deciding on cash or cards for vacation spending need to consider the benefits of their card and the accessibility of card payments in the country they’re traveling to,” says Cormier. “Additionally, if you don’t get cash in advance, your bank may charge you a foreign ATM fee to get cash in a foreign country, and ATMs can set their own conversion rates that don’t match the market rates.”

Tips for Using Cash and Credit Cards on Vacation

A few things to keep in mind when spending on vacation:

— Divvy up the cash. Keep cash safe by dividing it into stashes in multiple locations, such as in your wallet, money belt, hidden pocket and in your hotel safe. Only carry what you need for the day’s expenses and be discreet about handling cash in public.

— Do your research. When exchanging currency, only visit reputable banks or currency exchange offices, and compare exchange rates to find the best place to convert your cash.

— Avoid fees. Use a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

— Alert your bank before you leave. Some credit card issuers ask you to set up a travel notice to avoid having them errantly flag your account for fraud. You may be able to set up the notice online or by phone.

— Shop like a local. If a merchant offers the option to pay with your home currency, decline it and pay with the local currency, as the exchange rate you’ll get from your card should be better than what’s available at the register.

— Tap to pay when available. Whenever possible, use tap to pay with your phone or watch. It’s the most secure way to pay because you don’t need to pull out your wallet and it reduces the risk of card skimming and fraud.

“Rather than choose one or the other, consider utilizing cash and cards to be sure you’re fully covered,” says Cormier, who recommends taking out about $100 to $200 and planning ahead for foreign currency. “Most major U.S. banks

can order cash for you for any country, but you’ll often need to reach out a few weeks before your trip for them to get it in time. If you need more cash, you can get more at your destination.”

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Should You Use a Credit Card or Cash on Vacation? originally appeared on usnews.com

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Related categories:.

Don’t waste your money while traveling internationally. How to save when going abroad.

• Don't use your debit card to pay for anything but ATM withdrawals.
• Both cash and credit are useful for different transactions.
• You can get foreign currency from your bank, a currency exchange kiosk or an ATM.

Get more news like this delivered to your inbox by signing up for our Travel newsletter here . 

You’re finally taking that big trip abroad.

For as much time and energy you’ve spent saving up and searching for the best deals on flights or cruises, places to stay, and travel experiences, it would be a shame to blow extra money at the last minute. But that’s what you’ll be doing if you don’t use your cash and credit wisely.

“The thing I never, ever, ever recommend doing abroad is (using) your debit card to pay for things unless you're withdrawing money from an ATM,” said consumer savings expert Matt Granite, who’s known as The Deal Guy on YouTube .

Here’s why and what else travelers should know before visiting another country:

Can you use debit cards internationally?

Yes, but Granite strongly discourages using it to pay for anything but ATM withdrawals.

“You've just given a terminal that you are unfamiliar with access to your bank account with a pin. You've absolutely no idea what happens beyond that point,” he warned. 

Is it better to travel with cash or credit?

“You generally want cash on you, always, in case of an emergency,” Granite said. 

Cash is also useful for gratuities and small purchases. For larger transactions, he recommends credit, provided there are no foreign transaction fees.

“You're more likely to encounter fraud or operators not necessarily giving you what you've paid for when you're in a remote area where you don't know where you are, you don't know who you're dealing with. The potential for a ripoff is a lot higher than where we're on our own territorial ground,” Granite said. “So always use your credit card because if there is a problem, you are not responsible for your purchase. You have coverage. You have fraud investigations. They'll put a hold on a suspicious transaction. You have everything in the world working for you.”

How can I avoid foreign currency transaction fees?

Call your credit card company or look up their policies online before leaving for your trip, and avoid using any cards that charge fees.

How much cash should you travel with internationally?

“I would say that anyone traveling for more than three days in a country should have the equivalent of at least $300 with them,” Granite said. 

He suggests the equivalent of $500 for families, adding that it could be less for destinations where the dollar is strong.

“You always need to say to yourself: ‘What do I do if I need to get from an airport to a hotel to pay for one night of the hotel when my credit card is stolen?” he said. “You need to be able to survive abroad for 24 to 48 hours, where your credit card company can emergency FedEx or DHL your (new) credit card to you.”

Where are US dollars accepted?

Several foreign countries use the U.S. dollar as official currency or tender. They include:

◾ Bonaire , St Eustatius and Saba

◾ British Virgin Islands

◾ El Salvador

◾ Marshall Islands

◾ Micronesia

◾ Timor-Leste

◾ Turks and Caicos

U.S. dollars are also the currency in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam. Some businesses in other destinations accept dollars at will.

How to get foreign currency

There are several ways to get foreign currency before and during your trip. You can order foreign currency from your bank for a fee. You can exchange cash at a currency exchange kiosk, though the exchange rate will not favor you. You can also withdraw cash at an ATM at your destination.

“Another trick that I use is if you are traveling and you do have a credit card with zero foreign transaction fees, you can often get very good exchange rates from both chain and boutique hotels to a limit,” Granite said, explaining that the front desk can give you local currency, then add that amount to your hotel bill like a room incidental. “Not all hotels can, but many hotels, specifically in Europe, will be very pleased to do so.”

Should I get foreign currency before I travel?

You don’t need to, but if you want to, Granite said, “Your bank can definitely give you a wonderful experience, provided the U.S. dollar is stronger before you leave.” 

“For example, if you were traveling to Canada, it is 100% in your favor to get the Canadian dollar from the U.S. bank before you travel if the U.S. currency is stronger. But when we're looking at currencies like the British pound, better to do everything when you get to London, not beforehand,” he added. 

Where is the best place to exchange currency?

Many travelers prefer to withdraw from ATMs at their destination for better exchange rates, but there are instances when you may opt for a pricey currency exchange kiosk instead.

“Those booths, they're generally in very well-lit areas. They're very secure. They're often in airports or in the mecca center of a city if you are traveling somewhere where you have concerns over your safety,” Granite said, recalling one of his past trips. “I would have gotten a considerably better rate by going to some of the ATMs that were not in areas (where) I should be walking at certain times of the day. I will gladly take the hit of $15 on a $100 withdrawal for safety.”

Consider how much you take out if you use a currency exchange booth.

“Some people will have the concept of they're going to take a little bit and they're going to find an ATM, and then they're going to be OK,” he said. “But the more you withdraw from those places, the rates are generally more within your favor. And there's generally a maintenance or a convenience fee attached to that one transaction, so you're paying $15 whether you take out $5 or $1,000.”

Can I withdraw money at a foreign ATM?

Yes, but watch out for fees. 

Just like at home, you may be charged usage fees by both the ATM and your bank for withdrawing cash out of network. 

You can avoid or limit those fees by sticking to ATMs within your bank’s Global ATM Alliance , Granite said. You can look up banking partners online before you even leave home. Apps like ATM Fee Saver can help you locate fee-free ATMs while traveling.

Be aware that if your bank account normally limits the number of withdrawals you can make each month before incurring fees, foreign withdrawals also count toward that limit, he warned.

He also reminded travelers that ATMs are legally required to disclose fees on screen.

“If you find an ATM you don't like, you can decline. You can take your card out, and then you can walk a block and go to the next ATM,” he said. “I think a lot of people feel compelled – it's a weird psychological thing – that once your card is in the machine, you have to complete your purchase. That is actually not the case.”

Can you withdraw cash on a credit card?

Yes, but you should avoid it.

“Always use your debit card when you're going to an ATM. The credit card fees are horrendous,” Granite said. “No one will ever have a good experience using a credit card and an ATM, and there should be no reason to do so unless your account is completely empty, and by that point you have other problems.”

He also warned that if your debit card is co-branded with a major credit card company, like Visa or Mastercard, make sure withdrawals are made as debit, not credit.

Do I need to notify my credit card of international travel?

Not necessarily.

“Most credit card companies these days, within the last three to five years, have such sophisticated AI on you, they've already known you've booked your trip,” Granite said. “They've figured out somewhere along the way that you have a flight or you have a tour, or you've browsed on their app, something tied to where you're going, and they know you're going.”

There’s no need to tip in Japan. Here’s what else travelers should know.

Should I pay in foreign currency or USD?

“Always use your credit card in the local currency,” Granite said. “When you put your credit card into a machine to pay for something and it asks you, Do you want to convert? Never convert.”

How to get rid of leftover foreign currency

The easiest way to get rid of extra foreign currency is to spend it.

“You almost never want to convert it back,” Granite said. “If you do end up with too much cash, which we have on trips before, we'll do things like pay for the balance of our hotel using cash.”

Another option is to hold onto the currency if you think you’ll go back to the destination.

“I find that even if you put that cash into an envelope and it sits in the safe, and you go back three years later, I never forget when I have pounds or euros in the safe based on what it took me to get them,” Granite said.

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

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Judge delays Trump’s hush money sentencing until at least September after high court immunity ruling

Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush money case has been postponed until at least Sept. 18. The judge agreed Tuesday to delay the July 11 date while weighing the possible impact of a new Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. (AP video: Joseph B. Frederick, Ted Shaffrey, John Minchillo)

Former President Donald Trump enters a campaign event, June 18, 2024, in Racine, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps, File)

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FILE - In this artist depiction Judge Juan Merchan presides over former President Donald Trump’s trial in Manhattan criminal court, April 23, 2024, in New York. Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush money case has been postponed until Sept. 18. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

FILE - Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks to the media after a jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, May 30, 2024, in New York. Bragg won’t oppose delaying former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush money case after the Supreme Court immunity ruling. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

FILE - Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at 180 Church, June 15, 2024, in Detroit. Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush money case has been postponed until Sept. 18. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

In a major reprieve for former President Donald Trump, sentencing for his hush money convictions was postponed Tuesday until at least September — if ever — as the judge agreed to weigh the possible impact of a new Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity .

Trump had been scheduled to face sentencing July 11, just before the Republicans’ nominating convention, on his New York convictions on felony charges of falsifying business records. He denies any wrongdoing.

The postponement sets the sentencing for Sept. 18 at the earliest — if it happens at all, since Trump’s lawyers are arguing that the Supreme Court ruling merits not only delaying the sentencing but tossing out his conviction.

“The impact of the Immunity Ruling is a loud and clear signal for Justice in the United States,” Trump crowed on his Truth Social media site after the sentencing was delayed.

Using all capital letters, he claimed the Supreme Court’s decision netted him “total exoneration” in this and other criminal cases he faces.

There was no immediate comment on the sentencing postponement from Manhattan prosecutors, who brought the hush money case.

Though the Sept. 18 date is well after this month’s Republican National Convention, where Trump is set formally to accept the party’s nomination for president in this year’s race, it is far closer to Election Day, which could put the issue top-of-mind for voters just as they seriously tune into the race. Because of absentee voting timelines in certain states, some voters may already have cast ballots before anyone knows whether the former president will have to spend time in jail or on home confinement.

The delay caps a string of political and legal wins for Trump in recent days, including the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling and a debate widely seen as a disaster for Democratic President Joe Biden.

The immunity decision all but closed the door on the possibility that Trump could face trial in his 2020 election interference case in Washington before this November’s vote. The timeline in itself is a victory for the former president, who has sought to delay his four criminal cases past the balloting.

An appeals court recently paused a separate election interference case against Trump, in Georgia; no trial date has been set. His federal classified documents case in Florida remains bogged down by pretrial disputes that have resulted in an indefinite cancelation of the trial date.

Monday’s Supreme Court ruling granted broad immunity protections to presidents, while also restricting prosecutors from citing any official acts as evidence in trying to prove a president’s unofficial actions violated the law.

The high court held that former presidents are absolutely immune from prosecution for actions that fall within their core constitutional duties, such as interacting with the Justice Department, and at least presumptively immune for all other official acts. The justices left intact the longstanding principle that no immunity exists for purely personal acts.

It’s not clear how the decision will affect the New York hush money case.

Its underpinnings involved allegations that a pre-presidency Trump participated in a scheme to stifle sex stories that he feared would be damaging to his 2016 campaign. But the actual charges had to do with payments made in 2017 to his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, who had shelled out hush money on Trump’s behalf. Trump was president when he signed relevant checks to Cohen.

Trump’s lawyers sought unsuccessfully before the trial to keep out certain evidence that they said concerned official acts, including social media posts he made as president.

New York Judge Juan M. Merchan said in April it would be “hard to convince me that something that he tweeted out to millions of people voluntarily cannot be used in court when it’s not being presented as a crime. It’s just being used as an act, something he did.”

When Trump vied unsuccessfully last year to get the hush-money case moved from state court to federal court, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein rejected the former president’s claim that allegations in the hush money indictment involved official duties.

“The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the matter was a purely personal item of the president — a cover-up of an embarrassing event,” Hellerstein wrote last year.

Hours after Monday’s Supreme Court ruling, Trump’s attorney requested that Merchan set aside the jury’s guilty verdict and delay the sentencing to consider how the high court’s ruling could affect the hush money case.

Merchan wrote that he’ll rule Sept. 6, and the next date in the case would be Sept. 18, “if such is still necessary.”

In the defense filing Monday, Trump’s attorneys argued that Manhattan prosecutors had placed “highly prejudicial emphasis on official-acts evidence,” including Trump’s social media posts and witness testimony about Oval Office meetings.

Prosecutors responded that they believed those arguments were “without merit” but that they wouldn’t oppose adjourning the sentencing for two weeks as the judge considers the matter.

Trump was convicted May 30 on 34 counts of falsifying business records arising from what prosecutors said was an attempt to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election.

Daniels claims she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 after meeting him at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. Trump has repeatedly denied that claim, saying at his June 27 debate with Biden, “I didn’t have sex with a porn star.”

AP AUDIO: Prosecutor won’t oppose Trump sentencing delay in hush money case after high court immunity ruling

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports the Manhattan DA won’t oppose delaying Trump’s sentencing in his hush money case.

Prosecutors said the Daniels payment was part of a broader scheme to buy the silence of people who might have gone public during the campaign with embarrassing stories alleging Trump had extramarital sex. Trump said they all were false.

Cohen paid Daniels and was later reimbursed by Trump, whose company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses.

Trump’s defense argued that the payments were indeed for legal work and so were correctly categorized.

Falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years behind bars. Other potential sentences include probation, a fine or a conditional discharge which would require Trump to stay out of trouble to avoid additional punishment. Trump is the first ex-president convicted of a crime.

Contributing were Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak in Fort Pierce, Florida, Jill Colvin in New York and Eric Tucker in Washington.

Explainer: How China's cash-strapped youth worsen Korea's tourism deficit

A sign on a shop in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, a popular shopping spot for tourists, reads “Chinese OK, welcome to the shop.” [YONHAP]

Post-Covid tourists coming to Korea are younger, trendier and value independence — a shift that has unexpectedly contributed to the country's wider tourism deficit.

These travelers, mostly Japanese, Chinese or American, want to make memories, but not necessarily through souvenirs. They go big on individualized experiential spending but spend much less on other things, and are reluctant to give in to impulse buys.

In this year’s first quarter, Korea recorded a $3.28 billion tourism deficit, the biggest in five years. This deficit is primarily due to the slow recovery of Korea-bound travelers compared to outbound Korean travelers, but it is also related to consumption.

Travel imports in this year’s first quarter amounted to $3.45 billion, down 29 percent from five years ago. Foreign tourists, on average, spent $1,868 per person during their stay in Korea in this year's first quarter, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute’s June report. In the same period in 2019, it was $1,267.9 and $2,313 last year. The average amount increased from 2019 due to higher flight expenses from more tourists from farther destinations such as the United States .

From a shift to a younger demographic that prioritizes experiential spending to economic stagnation in neighboring China — Korea’s previously largest source of tourists — here are the shifting tourism trends that impact the country's business and economy.

Korea's tourism deficit reached a five-year high in this year's first quarter. [KIM JEONG-HEE]

Are the tourists coming to Korea the same as before?

No. The biggest and most substantial change came from the mainland Chinese demographic. The number of Chinese tourists who came in 2023 was around 81.5 percent of pre-Covid levels, while their spending recovered to 74.1 percent. Once the biggest spenders in Korea, with 50.7 percent of revenue having come from Chinese tourists in 2019, they placed third in 2023, only making up 12.8 percent of sales.

Travelers are also younger and willing to spend on experiences — such as eating fried chicken by the Han River or wearing hanbok in front of Gyeongbok Palace — but not shopping.

Travelers aged 30 or younger accounted for 35.6 percent of all tourists to Korea last year. Young tourists steadily rose from 27.6 percent in 2013, 10 years ago, to 34.5 percent in 2019. Those aged 31 to 40 made up 20.6 percent in 2023.

Of the foreign tourists who came to Korea in this year’s first quarter, 57 percent came to Korea to shop, compared to 61.7 percent in 2023 and 66.2 percent in 2019. Those who participated in shopping when they came dropped from 92.5 percent in 2019 to 78.3 percent in 2023.

Group tourists from a cruise ship that set sail from Japan arrive at Busan Port in May. [JOONGANG ILBO]

The trend toward less shopping is linked with reduced group tours, which tend to spend heavily in stores.

The brightly colored banners that signaled a crowd of Chinese group tourists are now a rare sight on Korean streets, with travelers opting to come as individuals or in small groups. The number of tourists from Chinese group tours, which had previously accounted for the lion’s share of industry sales due to the inclusion of shopping programs at duty-free and department stores, dropped from 15.2 percent of all Chinese tourists in 2019 to just 2 percent in 2023.

There are some similarities with the pre-Covid era, however. Tourists from Asian countries still make up the majority, with Japanese and Chinese neighbors leading the way. But the numbers -— both in quantity and proportion — have drastically dropped.  

A total of 8.2 million people came from Asia last year, 56 percent of the 14.3 million that came in 2019. Once making up 81.9 percent of all travelers coming to Korea in 2019, Asian tourists accounted for just 74.3 percent in 2023.

Korea-bound Chinese tourists are younger, more informed through digital social networks and prefer individualized experiences over group tours. [YOO YOUNG-RAE]

What’s happening in China, and how does this affect Korean tourism?

China’s stagnant economy, weighed down by a collapse in the real estate market, trade disputes and record-high youth unemployment levels, has affected tourism worldwide, not just in Korea. Before the pandemic, the mainland’s citizens were the biggest spenders among travelers, but after the country opened its borders in 2023, its overseas travelers have not reached their previous level.

With weaker consumer confidence, their spending habits have changed, too, to prioritize experiences such as dining. They've become selective in their shopping, too. While 72.5 percent of tourists said they came to Korea to shop in 2019, this decreased to 49.5 percent in 2023; and when they actually came to Korea, 68.2 percent — compared to 95.1 percent in 2019 — participated in shopping activities in 2023, according to KCTI’s survey.

The average Chinese tourist in 2023 spent more on food, cultural experiences or medical tourism than in 2019 but spent 30.3 percent less on shopping, from $1,030 in 2019 to $717.74 in 2023.

The KCTI determined that the drop in shopping expenses was due to the improved online retail scene in China, which made shopping for international goods easier on the mainland, and the sluggish recovery in group tourists.  

Interestingly, data shows that their average spending per capita actually increased by 37.6 percent, from $1,632.6 in 2019 to $2,246.1 in 2023.  

China’s worsening income polarization may have to do with the fewer tourists coming in, yet spending more. Beijing’s National Bureau of Statistics in 2023 showed the widest income gap in China since it began collecting data in 1985. An academic study published in the Tourism Management Journal in 2022  showed that young middle-class Chinese generally possess a higher level of individualism, value independence and flexibility in travel, and are disinterested in conventional package tours. Such travelers have the funds to seek more individualized and pricier experiences overseas but at the same time seek to maximize their expenses and crave an aesthetic edge, while Chinese nationals with less than lower middle-class income tend to travel domestically.

Tian Gaojing, 20, and her friend left empty-handed after browsing a clothing store in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul.

“We came to Seongsu to eat at a popular restaurant we’ve heard a lot about. For shopping, I’ll mostly be stopping by and buying products from brands Matin Kim and Ader that we searched online beforehand, and have shops in the neighborhood,” Tian said.

Two friends from Shanghai enjoy a day in Hongdae. [KIM JU-YEON]

For tourists Xu Mengyu and Li Kunyi, Hongdae, western Seoul, and Hannam-dong, central Seoul, were ideal locations for easy browsing, but not spending. They also did their research on the Chinese social media platform Xiao hongshu beforehand to compare prices and select specific Korean brands.

“We bought Gentle Monster sunglasses at a Shilla Duty Free department store and not from the flagship store because it was cheaper,” Xu said. “We went to Hannam-dong just for the Mardi Mercredi brand but didn’t buy much else.”

Boy band NCT's Taeyong as brand ambassador for Loewe, as pictured on an advertisement in a store in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul. [KIM JU-YEON]

Where are younger tourists spending their money?

The trend of selective spending isn’t just a Chinese trend. The K-pop and K-beauty boom has led tourists to center their travels around related experiences such as concerts and makeovers.

Eri, 19, came from Indonesia in time for HYBE’s annual Weverse Con music festival in mid-June and scheduled multiple concerts over her two-week stay in Korea. Her two friends, Geo and Azi, had also centered their trip around K-pop festivals, with only Azi leaving for a short trip to Busan while the other two planned to spend their whole time in Seoul.

“We came for Enhypen’s Sung-hoon,” they said in front of domestic cosmetics brand Hince’s pop-up store in Seongsu-dong. The trio each “bought 30,000 won ($22) worth of Hince products to get merchandise of Sung-hoon,” the brand’s ambassador, and were in line for another run.

Tourists in Hongdae took advantage of the cheaper beauty services offered in Korea.

“A haircut that costs $145 in America costs $20 in Korea,” said U.S. tourist Bea, 29, who had visited a hair salon with her four friends. 

Meanwhile, Stefanie and her sister, also from the United States, booked manicures in advance on Naver.   

The interest in Korean beauty is reflected in shopping statistics: 67.7 percent of all products bought by tourists in this year’s first quarter were cosmetics, and the interest in locations highly populated with beauty-related standalone such as Myeong-dong, Hongdae and Seongsu-dong rose.

On the retail scene, there were clear winners and losers in the eyes of the younger crowd. Individual cosmetics brand franchise shops, as well as duty-free shops, were neglected. Duty-free shops saw a 240 percent jump in foreign visitors in March on year, but revenue dropped by 9 percent. The difference is more stark compared to pre-Covid levels, with foreign tourist purchases at duty-free shops made by card in 2023 only reaching 54 percent of the amount made in 2019.

An Olive Young store in Hongdae, western Seoul [KIM JU-YEON]

On the streets, pop-up stores that put K-pop idols on the frontline got attention and sales for their exclusive goods, but the favorites were undoubtedly the multibrand retailer Olive Young for its one-stop-shop experience, convenience and variety, as well as budget shops like Daiso. Olive Young’s first quarter revenue from foreigners this year was up 263 percent on year, and half the customer base at Daiso’s Myeong-dong branch, which opened in March last year, are from overseas.

“We’ve been to, like, five Olive Youngs since we got here,” said Stefanie, who was on her second day in Seoul.

“Because they have multiple brands in Olive Young, you get to test out the different products in one place. They’re big and busy so you’re left alone to try them out without having an attendant by your side. They also have labels that show the rankings in popularity for specific products, such as in skin care — this makes it seem like they’re being selective of the best in each brand.”

Similarly, Bea's group of friends had also left Olive Young with bags filled to the brim but hadn’t stopped at individual cosmetics brands or planned to go to duty-free shops.

Though Korea’s soft power in the entertainment and beauty industries has brought in younger tourists, it also shows limitations for the country’s tourism growth engine.

“While I’ve enjoyed my time here, I think it would be harder for someone who wasn’t interested in either K-pop or makeup to choose Korea as a travel destination,” Stefanie said. “Especially coming from the United States, people want more immersive cultural sites and experiences for the far distance to be worth it.”

BY KIM JU-YEON [[email protected]]

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• Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

Exchanging Money In Moscow

By KGSodie February 8, 2008 in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

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110 posts in this topic

Recommended posts, kgsodie   0.

On my last trip, I took a few hundred dollars and exchanged them for rubles at the bank, for a small fee. Several bills were rejected. I also used my ATM/debit card to withdraw small sums, again at a bank, no more than $300 at a time. On this trip, I'll likely need about $3000 an I don't want to carry the cash with me. Searching VJ, the general consensus seems to be to just use an ATM card and ATMs to get local currency, but I'm worried about the amount that I need. My bank has a daily ATM limit, coincidentally enough exactly $3000, but ATMs here limit individual transactions to usually just $300 or so.

So I'm looking for advice. Do ATMs in Moscow also limit the withdrawal amount? Am I better to just go to the bank and use my ATM/debit card there?

Thanks in advance, all.

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Feb 14 2008

Feb 15 2008

mox   298

On my last trip, I took a few hundred dollars and exchanged them for rubles at the bank, for a small fee. Several bills were rejected. I also used my ATM/debit card to withdraw small sums, again at a bank, no more than $300 at a time. On this trip, I'll likely need about $3000 an I don't want to carry the cash with me. Searching VJ, the general consensus seems to be to just use an ATM card and ATMs to get local currency, but I'm worried about the amount that I need. My bank has a daily ATM limit, coincidentally enough exactly $3000, but ATMs here limit individual transactions to usually just $300 or so. So I'm looking for advice. Do ATMs in Moscow also limit the withdrawal amount? Am I better to just go to the bank and use my ATM/debit card there? Thanks in advance, all.

The autobanks I used had a limit of 5,000p per transaction, but they didn't stop me from just re-inserting my card and doing it again. Not sure how many times it'll let you do that though, I think I only ever did it twice.

I'm flying Omaha->Atlanta->JFK->Moscow. I've heard that you get hosed on the exchange rate at the airport. One thought is to western union the money to myself or Natasha, for pickup in Moscow. Another suggestion I got was to open an account at a bank in Moscow remotely and wire the money that way.

I'm still researching.

Satellite   1

Whenever I went for my three month excursions I took about $4,000 cash and had no problems. ATM also has another small draw back, your bank might take some kind of conversion fee which calculated gets you a worse exchange rate. Likewise most bank charge some kind of per transaction fee for not using their ATM machines. But those are small costs if you are scared of getting robbed.

I'm flying Omaha->Atlanta->JFK->Moscow. I've heard that you get hosed on the exchange rate at the airport. One thought is to western union the money to myself or Natasha, for pickup in Moscow. Another suggestion I got was to open an account at a bank in Moscow remotely and wire the money that way. I'm still researching.

Western Union might be your best option, but fees and exchange rate combined might ding you. On the other hand it's a pretty secure and reliable way to make sure the money will be there for you.

Opening a bank account in Moscow might be risky. You might get there only to find out they have a hold for withdrawals on new accounts that you weren't made aware of, or some other arcane reason.

Kazan' Tiger   1

Jeffery AND Alla.

0 kilometers physically separates us!

K-1 Visa Granted... Wednesday, 21 May 2008

Alla ARRIVED to America... Wednesday, 12 November 2008

One thought is to western union the money to myself or Natasha, for pickup in Moscow. Another suggestion I got was to open an account at a bank in Moscow remotely and wire the money that way.

I hear ya, Kazan. Because I HAD to get money while in Moscow, we went to an exchange bank (read: Natasha took me by the hand and led me there) and they were rude and unsympathetic. You know, typical customer service there! I exchanged $900, and the rejected 4 of the bills (all new $100). In Volgodonsk, they only rejected one. The exchange rate was always pretty good (in the 26-1 or 27-1 range, last February/March) and the fee seemed pretty low (2% as I recall).

Kirk: I'm almost convinced to just use western union. They only send in dollars, so I'll get the bank exchange rate when I pick it up (I think - I'll have to check with Natasha). I'll pay a fee, but it'll be known and up front, and past experience tells me the more I send, the 'less' this fee is (the rate goes down).

Satellite: Cash always worked for me, too, but I had such horrible luck with rejected bills in Moscow. Come to think of it, the problem was only with $100. The $20s they all took. But I'd hate to bring $3000 in $20s!

Trusting my fiancee isn't an issue, at all. Call me gullible, if you like. I know her very well. I'll have to check my past transfers with Western Union, but Natasha has never needed a bank account - just a passport. I'm also pretty sure the fee was less than 10% - again, as long as the amount is over a threshold (just checked my last transaction online - $600 cost $50 to send). So western union has it's advantages, and it's costs, as does just about anything else. Cash is the best option - provided they take all my bills.

If anyone still has trust issues, I think it's getting a little far from the launch now! I would not have ever proposed if I had even a shred of doubt.

Yeah I think once you've proposed, all trust issues are either resolved or should have been resolved. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I'd have no guarantees that she wouldn't greet me at the airport with a suspiciously new pair of boots or a new purse.

Not my Natasha. She makes the frugality of 'Scrooge' seem like downright spend·thriftery (I love making up new words!). We're still looking for an apartment - she simply refuses to accept that an apartment that will meet our needs should cost more than 2600 rubles per day. I say hey, 3000 rubles isn't so bad, and she quickly begins to instruct the math teacher on the calculations: "But Kevin - 400 rubles x 14 days = 5600 rubles!"

I've been scolding Alla a bit lately, she has bought a few items of clothing more than she should. I've said, sweetie, you know you will have to either leave them there of find more room in those suitcases! Just wait to get here. I'll get you some new clothes! "Jeffery, I not want to walk on street in rags even for one day!"

Well just to drag yet another thread off-topic, what plans does she have to get what doesn't fit in her suitcase here? Seems like the posta would be prohibitively expensive, but I can't really think of a cheaper way.

Natasha still weighs her suitcases with each repacking. She knows how many suitcases she has, and what they are allowed to weight, and I'm sure this means some things will have to be left behind. No shoes though, I doubt.....

LOL Jeffery, your comments made my day!

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