Everyone's holiday checklists are very different, but one of the Brits who live in Benidorm has issued a reminder about important items to pack. If you fail to do so, you can be very regretful.
He advised that if you are planning a trip to this popular Spanish resort, it is important to bring some difficult cash with you, rather than resorting to contactless payments alone.
Harry Poulton regularly shares travel advice and tips on Benidorm with almost 38,000 followers on her @harrytokky account, but she has found something worth paying attention to. The 24-year-old observes that many businesses now accept cash only.
This could be due to SMEs wanting to avoid processing fees, potential chargebacks, and security concerns related to card transactions.
Payment for each card costs a fee that the company must cover. These charges could be a percentage of the transaction or a flat rate, leading some companies to prefer cash-only transactions.
His video has earned over 24,000 views and hundreds of likes, and “warns anyone who will be appearing in Benidorm in the coming months: Should I bring cash to Benidorm?”
Harry, from Brighton, confessed that he no longer has cash. This is not uncommon as many people use contactless cards and mobile payments today.
A recent visit to Benidorm revealed that many businesses are currently only paying in cash. Most ATMs easily distribute cash, but you may find yourself in a volatile position during a power outage.
Such incidents happened a few weeks ago when Spain announced a “national emergency” during a brief blackout that affected the Benidorm Strip. Therefore, it is wise to prepare in advance.
Keeping spare changes in hand at all times can be irreplaceable in emergencies. Harry elaborated: “There are quite a few bars that don't accept cards. This is truly amazing. We all know about Benny Blackout.
“Should I bring cash to Benidorm? Absolutely. I always have a small cash with me.
However, he pointed out that you don't need to bring your entire holiday fund. While payments by card or phone are still acceptable, we recommend keeping your small cash reserve convenient.
Relying on cash alone also poses risk, so Harry suggests balancing the two. The debate was sparked online as individuals scrutinized whether cash or cards would govern, with the support of many voices for a concrete currency.
“Cash is the king,” one commenter declared, while another emphasized their preferences by stating that he “bringed cash” during the trip.
“Anyone with common sense will make money on the holidays and they'll go out enough for the day with them,” advised one man in a lively discussion.
