How much cash should I bring, and can I use my cards abroad?

We suggest carrying a couple of hundred US dollars as emergency cash, along with enough local currency to cover tips for your guides and drivers. For everything else, credit cards are accepted almost everywhere you’ll be traveling, and a card is our recommended way to pay. It’s worth letting your card provider know you’ll be traveling before you go, so that a foreign transaction doesn’t get declined while you’re away. For how much to set aside for gratuities, see “Are tips expected, and how much?” and “Should I tip in dollars or local currency?”