Holiday Extras and Caxton launch AI travel money assistant to solve the leftover currency problem

A new AI-powered travel money assistant launched today by Holiday Extras and currency partner Caxton is set to take the guesswork out of foreign currency - helping UK travellers know exactly how much cash they'll need on holiday, and saving them from coming home with a pocketful of useless change.

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Holiday Extras and Caxton have launched a new AI-powered travel money assistant to help UK holidaymakers accurately budget their holiday spending and avoid returning with unused foreign currency. Based on real traveller data, the tool—hosted on Caxton's website—lets users input their destination and trip type to receive a personalised cash recommendation. The launch follows research showing that 83% of UK travellers return with leftover currency. Users can also access Caxton's prepaid travel money card, which includes a £10 bonus for those signing up via Holiday Extras.

It follows new research* by Holiday Extras that revealed the majority (83%) of UK airport travellers return home from trips abroad with leftover currency, mirroring findings in a recent Visa report.

The study reported that 3 in 5 (60%) of travellers return with foreign notes or coins - often too small to be exchanged back, and often never used again - while 1 in 5 (21%) end their holiday still with a substantial amount of unused foreign currency.

To help holidaymakers better plan for the amount of money they'll need on holiday, the brands developed a new AI assistant - hosted on Caxton's website - that lets holidaymakers select their destination and trip type, then instantly calculates a realistic cash budget for their needs based on real traveller data.

Foreign exchange desk swaps Euros for US dollars

To sweeten the deal, the Caxton travel money card - the only one in the UK that offers holidaymakers £10 when they sign up through Holiday Extras - is available directly alongside the new tool. The result is a smarter, better-value, and more personalised way to manage travel cash before you fly.

"We've all come back from holiday with a handful of useless coins or notes," said Tom McGarry, Associate Director of Business Development at Holiday Extras. "With our new AI assistant, you'll know exactly how much to take, and we'll even give you £10 when you load your card. It's one less hassle to think about when you're heading off."

"This is a fantastic example of how embedded finance and AI can combine to create genuinely useful tools for travellers," added Alana Parsons, Chief Operating Officer at Caxton. "It helps people plan smarter and spend better - with zero guesswork."

For more details, see the tool at Caxtons website.

*Completed with 1,000 qualified travellers on 8th July 2025.