Group Holidays: The Ultimate Guide to the ‘Kitty’ vs. The App

The Old School: The Cash Kitty

How it works: Everyone puts €100 into a physical wallet/envelope at the start of the trip. One person (The Treasurer) carries it and pays for all shared meals/taxis.

Pros: * Simplicity: No phones needed at the dinner table. * Tangibility: You can see exactly how much budget is left.

Cons: * Theft Risk: Losing the wallet ruins the trip. * Currency Issues: Useless if you are hopping between countries with different currencies. * The “Top Up” Awkwardness: Asking everyone for another €50 when the pot runs dry is painful.

The New School: The Digital App (Halfsy/Splitwise)

How it works: One person pays on their card. They log the expense. The app calculates who owes who at the end.

Pros: * Points/Rewards: The payer gets the Amex points/air miles. * Accuracy: No “where did that €20 go?” moments. * Fairness: You can exclude non-drinkers from the alcohol bill easily.

Cons: * The “Debt Hangover”: You come home from holiday owing £300. * Admin: Requires someone to actually log the expenses.

The Hybrid Approach (The Winner)

1. Use a Kitty (Monzo Pot) for small stuff: Ice creams, coffees, bus tickets.
2. Use an App for big stuff: Dinners, boat rentals, supermarket runs.

Summary

For a weekend city break? Use an app. For a two-week backpacking trip through Southeast Asia? Cash is king. Choose the tool that fits the trip.