Prepare a card, cash, and a second payment option

• A primary card, cash, and a second accessible payment method spread the risk of a payment failure.
• Keep your PIN, card-blocking number, and provider contact details accessible even without your mobile phone.
• Exchange rates, conversion offers, and fees may vary by merchant, ATM, and card provider.
• Payments and cash withdrawals using German Visa and Mastercard cards are currently unavailable in Russia.
• The use of foreign credit cards is currently restricted in Belarus.
• The amount of cash to keep in reserve depends on the length of the trip, local acceptance, and planned expenses.

A simple plan combines a primary card with a limited cash reserve and a separately stored backup option. Keep cash and cards apart so that losing one does not affect all your funds at once. Payment methods for travel can be selected according to your destination and type of trip. A daily budget allocates expected expenses, reserve funds, and available cash.

Keep an emergency contact, card-blocking number, and booking receipts available independently of your banking app and mobile phone. For unexpected changes, keep reserves, contacts, and a backup plan alongside your planned payment methods.

If a card reader or ATM offers a choice between the local currency and euros, paying in the local currency leaves the conversion to your card provider. With an immediate conversion to euros, the merchant or ATM operator sets the exchange rate offered; additional fees from your bank or the ATM may also apply. Settlement and fees depend on your card and provider.

Keep contact details, card agreement information, and payment receipts readily available offline; travel documents saved offline complement your digital records. Store passports and personal documents separately from cards and cash.

According to current guidance, German Visa and Mastercard cards, common payment apps, cash withdrawals with German cards, and transfers to Russia are unavailable. Travel to the Russian Federation therefore cannot rely on these payment methods.

Foreign credit cards are currently usable there only to a limited extent. The export of banknotes from an EU member state to Belarus is generally prohibited; a narrowly defined exception applies to cash for personal needs. The conditions differ from those in Russia and should be considered separately when planning entry and documents.

For buses, ferries, and transfers, tickets, luggage, deposits, and additional costs may require different payment methods. You can plan long-distance bus and ferry connections, transfers and local transport, or car rental at your destination together with the associated costs in your daily budget. Choose accommodation according to destination and location; include the deposit and payment date among your expected expenses.

Report a missing card to the provider immediately and have it blocked. Keep the blocking number, identification details, and emergency contact separate from your device. Make sure a second card or cash reserve is available for essential expenses. Getting there and getting around and staying safe while traveling are part of organizing a changed route.

For a group trip, decide in advance who will pay for shared bookings and where receipts will be collected. Practical travel preparation also includes a cash reserve, necessary documents, emergency contacts, and expected transport costs in your personal plan.

What should I do if an ATM offers an immediate conversion to euros?

Choose to be charged in the local currency if the ATM offers an immediate conversion to euros. In that case, your card provider handles the conversion. With an immediate conversion to euros, the ATM operator sets the exchange rate offered, and additional fees may apply.