Money, security & emergency plan

Money, security & emergency planMoney, security & emergency plan

Safety on the road is not a mood killer - but the basis for relaxed travel. Whether it's about paying, lost documents or medical emergencies: If you keep a few basics in mind, you'll be well prepared wherever you go. I'll show you how I manage my money, protect myself and use a simple emergency plan that has saved my butt more than once.

Cash, cards & payment strategies on the go

• 💸 Cash yes - but never too much

  → I carry a maximum of €100-200 converted into local currency - divided into two bags

• 💳 2-3 cards are mandatory

  • Main card (e.g. DKB, Revolut, Wise)

  • Backup card (keep separate)

  • Possibly a prepaid credit card as a third option

• 🔁 Withdraw local currency instead of bureau de change → Cheaper & more transparent. Pay attention to ATMs WITHOUT dynamic currency conversion (always settle in local currency)

📌 My tip: Use NFC & contactless payment wherever possible - it's usually safer & faster than cash.

Document backup & cloud backup

• 📁My digital backup contains:

  • Passport, vaccination certificate, insurance

  • Flight bookings & visa confirmations

  • Credit card information + blocking hotlines

  • Emergency contact & medical information (e.g. allergies)

• 📲 Tools for this:

  • Google Drive or Dropbox with offline access

  • 1 password manager for all important logins

  • Copies on cell phone, cloud & possibly encrypted USB stick copy

📌 Tip: Create your own “Travel” folder in the cloud - with clear file names & an “emergency sheet” at the front.

Emergency plan: If things go wrong - what to do?

• 🧾 Step-by-step in case of theft / loss:

  1. Keep calm (really!)

  2. Block cards (save the number beforehand!)

  3. Contact the embassy → Apply for an emergency passport

  4. Inform your insurer

  5. Police only if necessary (for the insurance company)

• 🚨 Have an emergency checklist with you (digital & printed):

  • Blocking numbers

  • Embassies/consulates

  • Insurance number & contact

  • Emergency contact person at home

📌My tip: I save the emergency plan in the Notes app AND take a screenshot - that way I have it offline even without a network.

Health & medical insurance

• 🩺 Take out good international health insurance → I use HanseMerkur or SafetyWing for long-term trips, for example

• 📍 Make a note of the addresses of local clinics/hospitals → Often via Google Maps or the Foreign Office app

• 📞 Check emergency numbers in the country (it's not 112 everywhere!)

📌 My tip: Carry a small checklist with blood group, allergies and long-term medication in your wallet - worth its weight in gold in an emergency.

Security in everyday life - without being paranoid

• 🧷 Small fanny pack under your shirt for valuables

• 🚪 Hostel locker or Pacsafe bag for the room

• 🧍‍♂️ Never keep all means of payment in the same place!

• 📍 Always know where you are - load Google Maps offline maps

• 🫱 And the most important thing: be confident - even if you're without a plan at the moment