One vacation in a European country my credit card simply didn't work due an error made by the bank (which would only have surfaced if I had overdrawn a limit while at home).
One vacation in central america the ATM just swallowed my card - on a Saturday night and it was unclear when the bank would be open again.
One vacation in another country the ATM kept my card and told me it had expired - ok, so that one WAS my fault, but we're already at example #3.
Yes, maybe those are exceptions and people living there are better prepared/have friends/whatever - but I have simply experienced it failing. Cash has never let me down, as long as the other party accepts it or that one time when my wallet was stolen.
One vacation in central america the ATM just swallowed my card - on a Saturday night and it was unclear when the bank would be open again.
One vacation in another country the ATM kept my card and told me it had expired - ok, so that one WAS my fault, but we're already at example #3.
Yes, maybe those are exceptions and people living there are better prepared/have friends/whatever - but I have simply experienced it failing. Cash has never let me down, as long as the other party accepts it or that one time when my wallet was stolen.