Lost my wallet in a Madrid metro station... found a way to keep the trip going

I was in Madrid last spring and realized my wallet was gone halfway through the week. Used a prepaid travel card I had loaded with $200 emergency cash on my phone, and it got me through food and hostels until my bank mailed a replacement. Has anyone else used those digital wallets on the go?

2 comments

2 Comments

alex5241mo ago

Haven't you found that digital wallets can be a bit hit or miss on the battery front though? I get what you're saying about physical backups, and they definitely have their place. But in my experience, most hostels and cafes in Madrid actually have outlets where you can charge up, and a phone battery can last a full day if you're careful with it. Plus, a lot of banks let you add your prepaid card to Apple Pay or Google Pay without needing a physical card at all. Still, I'd never knock keeping a little cash hidden away, that's solid advice for sure. Just saying, the digital option worked for me precisely because I didn't have to dig around inside my jacket every time I wanted a coffee.

skyler_mitchell1mo ago

And that's exactly why I always tell people to keep a backup card separate from their main wallet. I've been burned before, not in Madrid but in Barcelona actually, lost my debit card on the first day. What saved me was a prepaid Visa card I had stashed in a zippered pocket inside my jacket. That little plastic card got me through four days of tapas and metro rides until my bank couriered a new one to my hostel. The digital wallet on your phone is great and all, but having a physical backup that doesn't need battery or WiFi is something people don't think about enough. A little cash in a shoe or a hidden pouch can be a lifesaver too, just saying.