[QUOTE=B747-437B;23232761]It depends where you are traveling to.

After a decade of living and traveling in Africa, one thing that I have learned is that you should never travel without at least $2000 in the latest series Benjamin Franklins. If for nothing other than to buy yourself a one-way ticket out of the country after paying your ransom with the other half. US Dollars are more widely accepted than local currency. Hundreds are always accepted, fifties are sometimes accepted. Anything smaller gets you a look of scorn if you are lucky and shot if you aren't. Don't bother with any pre-2006 series bills and ideally 2009 (2013) series only.

Some countries have ATMs, but those need electricity to run and that isn't always a given. Or the ATM is just broken. Or stolen. Other countries like Somalia don't even have a formal banking system, let alone access to the PLUS network.

As far as i know,both the UK and continental Europe have functioning banking systems,non stolen ATMs,stable electricity suply and no interest in what series your usd bills are!! As for keeping a few Ks for ransom money,well its always best to err on the side of caution,but,frankly,I have newer felt the need for than in any of the destinations the OP is interested in,( if realy needed I would however say that your estimate is seriously on the low side),nor have I in the more stable countries in Africa,come to think of it: