Why You Should Always Travel with Two Debit Cards (and Keep Them Separate)
You don’t realize how fast travel turns into survival mode until your money disappears. Maybe an ATM eats your card. Maybe your bag gets swiped. Maybe your phone — and your Apple Pay — ends up at the bottom of a fountain. Suddenly, you're broke in a country where you barely speak the language. (P.S. this happened to me.) Not a great plot twist.
That’s why you bring two debit cards — and you keep them in two different places.
Travel’s unpredictable — that’s part of the magic. But while you can’t dodge every curveball, you can stack the odds in your favor. One dead-simple move? Pack two cards, stash them separately. Future you will want to kiss you on the mouth for this one.
The Risk of Relying on Just One Card
Rolling with one debit card? You’re basically daring the universe to mess with you. Here’s what you’re up against:
ATM Gremlins: Some machines just decide to eat your card. Game over.
Pickpockets: Tourist spots are open season. A single distraction = your wallet’s gone.
Fraud Flags & Glitches: Your bank might block a legit charge, or your card might just… stop working.
Card Snobbery: Some places don’t take your card type — no Mastercard, no tacos.
No Backup = No Options: Reddit is full of horror stories from people stranded with no access to money. Don’t be that story.
The Solution: Two Cards, Two Spots
Here’s how to protect yourself like a travel genius:
Get Two Debit Cards: Ideally from different banks, but two from one is still better than one.
Split ‘Em Up: One stays in your wallet or day bag. The other goes deep — in your suitcase, a hidden jacket pocket, or even under your insole (yes, really).
Tell Your Banks You’re Traveling: Otherwise, your tapas purchase in Spain could flag you as a thief.
Test Before Takeoff: Make sure both cards work, you know your PINs, and neither expires mid-trip.
Bonus Tips for Money Safety
Carry Some Cash: Just enough for emergencies or street food, not enough to sob over if you lose it.
Use Credit Cards for Big Buys: More fraud protection, plus travel points.
Check Your Bank App Often: Because “Wait, what’s this $300 at 'La Cucaracha Club'?” is never a good time.
Use Real ATMs: Bank-affiliated machines only — skip the shady ones in sketchy corners.
Protect Your Cards: RFID sleeves block digital pickpockets from scanning you in crowds.
Travel is about making memories — not emergency calls to your bank.
Packing two debit cards and splitting them up is simple, smart, and future-proof. It’s like bringing an umbrella. You might not need it — but if a storm hits, you’ll be damn glad it’s there.
Save yourself the stress. Bring two cards. Split ‘em up. Keep traveling wild — just not broke.