Taking a vacation in Albania: How Leo keeps track of things with BBVA

My Trips is a functionality of the BBVA app that you can use to conveniently and effectively manage your travel budget.
Leo is fed up with the same old things. This time he wants to experience something new – not a traditional travel destination, but a real insider tip: Albania. Beautiful weather, stunning beaches, wild mountains, Mediterranean food... and all at surprisingly affordable prices. A few weeks before he leaves, he opens the BBVA app and activates the "My Trips" function.

Before the trip: Make sure you're well-prepared with BBVA

While setting up his travel destination, Leo discovers helpful tips right in the app. He learns that Albania is a country where cash is mostly used. The national currency is the Albanian Lek. Cash payments in Lek are common, but euros are rarely accepted. Card payments are definitely the exception and not the rule. It is usually easy enough to take out local currency from ATMs in larger cities.

The information on the cost of living in Albania is also useful. According to the app, this figure is 32.88% below the level in Germany. This is particularly evident when it comes to food:

  • A meal in a cheap restaurant costs an average of 1,000.00 ALL (€10.32).
  • A three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant costs ALL 4,350.00 (€44.91).
  • A meal at McDonald's costs an average of 800.00 ALL (€8.26).
  • A half liter of beer (1 pint) can be bought for just 250.00 ALL (€2.58).

He takes the travel tips he found in the BBVA app seriously: He finds out in advance about recommended travel vaccinations and makes sure that his debit card is ready for use.

On the subject of safety, he reads that although Albania is considered a safe country to travel to, pickpocketing can take place in busy places. He decides to leave his valuables in the hotel and uses the app to block or activate his BBVA debit card if necessary. Through the BBVA app, he also read a tip that recommended scanning important travel documents in advance and saving a digital copy of them.

Experience the benefits of My Trips

Set your travel budget and keep an eye on your spending at any time. Follow our travel tips on topics such as safety, vaccinations, etc.

Tirana, Byrek and first editions

Once in Tirana, Leo pays for his taxi using his BBVA debit card – it's easy and fee-free. He can also easily pay with his card at a modern restaurant when he goes for dinner. The app automatically recognizes the payment and assigns it to the appropriate “Food & Drink” category. Leo doesn’t have to do anything else – My Trips takes care of it for him.

The very next day he realizes that he is making lots of cash purchases – for example at the market, in cafés and for his accommodation in Berat. That's not a problem! He can easily enter his purchases manually in the app, including the amount, category and an optional note. This means he can still keep track of his budget, even though he is paying in cash.

Road trip to the Riviera

The weather in Albania is sunny and warm. Leo rents a car and drives along the Albanian Riviera. In Dhermi, he withdraws cash from an ATM, free of charge using his BBVA debit card. The app immediately shows him the amount in euros. When filling up his car, at a café, or buying souvenirs – he enters everything he pays for in cash directly into the app. Manual entry is quick and intuitive.

Pay securely and get cashback

Leo pays with his BBVA debit card wherever possible. When he buys a handmade wooden artwork in Ksamil, he is extra happy: 3% cashback, directly into his account at the end of the month. And because the card has no printed data on it, he feels safe even when he uses it abroad.

Back to Frankfurt

Back home, Leo scrolls through his travel expenses. The app shows him how much he has spent on accommodation, food, transport and leisure – everything is clearly laid out, automatically recorded, and supplemented by any cash purchase data that he has entered manually. No more messy paperwork or lost receipts. Just good memories and peace of mind.

Conclusion: Travel like Leo – with BBVA

With My Trips, Leo's vacation will not only be unforgettable, but also financially relaxing. He travels safely, pays smartly, and keeps track of everything at all times – from travel preparations through to his return journey.

Be safe and secure on the go with your BBVA debit card

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