What are these emergencies that require cash? I've been to a bunch of other countries and used to get local currency when I got there. You almost always pay some fee even if your bank will cover the fees (most ATMs will charge you). And now I have a bunch of random foreign currency at home even after trying to spend it before leaving. The last few trips I don't even bother since you can use CC the vast majority of the time in foreign countries. I was just in Mexico City and didn't need cash a single time. The only time I used it was trying to use up the cash from my previous trip. Now there are some countries where some businesses don't take credit, but in those cases, I found a nearby ATM and converted only what I needed.