💵 Local Money & Payments

In most countries, paying by card is easy — but always carry some local cash. Some places simply don’t take cards. But don’t forget Iran.

• 💳 Withdraw from ATMs near banks or in safe, busy areas, not from random machines in dark corners.

• 🔁 When the terminal or ATM asks, always choose “charge in local currency.” Skip Dynamic Currency Conversion — it’s just banks taking a bigger cut.

• 🏧 Avoid ATMs from shady third-party networks (e.g. Euronet) with insane fees — they exist to rip you off.

• 🔐 Carry two cards: one with a low limit in your wallet, and a backup hidden elsewhere.

• ☎️ Tell your bank you’re traveling, so they don’t block your card mid-trip.

• 💡 Pro tip: make smaller withdrawals more often — better control, less risk if something goes wrong.

Card first. Cash as backup. Never trust overpriced ATMs.