The travel fund is set before the suitcase is packed: daily budget by country, ratio of card to cash, a buffer for the unexpected. How to calculate it and why you should not learn the exchange rate at the airport.
In short
- Daily budget per person without accommodation: Thailand €40 to €60, Spain €70 to €100, Switzerland €150 to €200, Dubai €120 to €180.
- Split: 80 percent card, 20 percent cash, cash from an ATM in the destination country, never at the airport counter.
- Buffer: 15 percent of the budget plus a credit card limit for emergencies.
- Travel fund on its own account: when it is empty, the holiday is paid, not next month.
The daily budget
Accommodation and travel are usually paid in advance. The daily budget covers food, local transport, entrance fees, shopping and small things. Reference values per person in 2026 for mid-range comfort: Thailand and Turkey €40 to €60, Portugal and Greece €60 to €90, Spain and Italy €70 to €100, France, the Netherlands and Austria €90 to €130, USA €120 to €180, United Arab Emirates €120 to €180, Switzerland €150 to €200. The travel budget calculator uses milinia’s country data and adds up days, people and style.
Card or cash
In Europe, North America, the Emirates and the metropolises of Asia you pay almost everything by card. You need cash for markets, taxis, tips and rural areas; 20 percent of the budget usually suffices, in Turkey and Thailand outside the cities more like 40. You withdraw cash at an ATM in the destination country with a card without foreign exchange fees, in local currency and without the offered instant conversion. The airport counter at home is the dearest source: rates sit five to ten percent above market.
The buffer
15 percent of the budget for the rainy day, the better restaurant, the lost phone. Plus a credit card with a free limit for real emergencies: doctor’s bill, return flight, deposit. Whoever does not need the buffer brings it home; whoever needs it is glad it is there.
The travel account
A separate account or sub-account with a card onto which the travel fund is transferred before departure. Advantages: the budget is visible, the main account is protected if the card is stolen, and after the trip the reckoning is one look at the balance. Many direct banks offer this for free, often with cards without foreign fees.
Before departure
Check and raise card limits, lift foreign blocks, know the PIN, a second card in another pocket, save the bank’s emergency numbers, take out travel health insurance (€10 to €20 a year), copies of ID and cards in the cloud. Foreign currency only if the country has no ATMs, and then from your bank with lead time.
After the trip
Use leftover cash on the next visit or change it back at an exchange office in the destination country, not at home. Check the statement for unknown debits, note the tipping habits of the country, compare the daily budget with reality. The next travel fund gets more accurate.
Try it yourself
Travel Budget CalculatorCountry, days, people, style: your daily budget and travel fund, with buffer and cash share.Frequently asked questions
How much cash may I take?
Within the EU unlimited, from €10,000 subject to declaration on entry and exit. Many countries outside apply their own limits, mostly also €10,000 or the equivalent.
Is a travel credit card worthwhile?
Yes, if it has no foreign exchange and withdrawal fees and is free. The saving is 3 to 5 percent of all spending abroad.
What do I do if a card is lost?
Block it immediately via the bank app or hotline, use the second card, file a police report for the insurer. Cash via Western Union or friends remains the emergency route.
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