A couple of years ago some children were on an unaccompanied flight across the USA, their plane was diverted due to bad weather and the airline put everyone up in a hotel at the airline's expense. However, the hotel insisted on swiping everyone's credit card in case of use of the mini bar or other extras etc. The children had no credit cards and the hotel refused them entry and ordered them to leave, it was late at night and with no airline staff were available to sort out the problem.

A sad and depressing story perhaps but it shows that in more and more situations it is not possible to get by without a credit card.

A few years ago my daughter was in Calgary Canada on holiday and tripped on the pavement, fell over and broke her arm and damaged her teeth. Another pedestrian called for an ambulance which duly came, but before they would put her in the vehicle they had to have an imprint of her credit card. Yep, laid on the ground trying to get a card out of her handbag whilst the "morons" stood waiting.
The hospital treatment though was first class, as you would expect !

So I think Victoria the answer to the question that you pose is that if you leave these shores a credit card is your financial passport, especially if your heading to North America. Also the usual ten million pounds worth of holiday insurance is a must too!

Oh Really

I had a friend a few years ago, came back from the Middle East with a fist full of £100 notes, checked into a hotel, paid cash up front for the room, and next morning the police arrive to interview him.

Needless to say the police got an ear full, and the hotel (threatened with legal action) stumped up for a free four day stay.

Ever tried car rental with cash?? You need good shoes