Do you run across a lot of places that don't take CC when you travel?

[lpereira]

I live in a county that has some very rural areas in it. My mom lives in one of those areas and I went to see her without checking my gas gauge. Stupid me. I hit the only- I mean only gas station- around for 20 miles and it did not take any cards for any reason. I don't carry cash and I haven't had a checkbook in years. Finally the guy was like aren't you so and so's daughter. Mail the money back to me. I guess that's just how those people operate

 

[hambirg]

I've never had a problem in the States, but I do tend to look for visa/mc logos to make sure ahead of time.

But hubby just ran into a problem when he landed in Germany later in the evening, it took an hour to get to his hotel etc, then he went to a restaurant in the evening and at the end of the meal found out they didn't take American credit (or debit) cards. Whoopsie! Luckily he'd gotten a small bit of cash out at the layover airport, and that almost covered it. He went back the next day to pay them the rest of what he owed them; they were very nice about it, but he still felt foolish. I bet he'll check beforehand the next time!

We didn't use our CC much in Germany. There are lots of places that don't take CC's there. In fact, the only places I remember taking them were large dept. stores, chain hotels and very touristy shops. Scnell Imbiss (think hot dog cart in NYC), beergartens, small grocery stores and restaurants did not take them. I know they are taking them more now. . .but I would still expect a lot of places don't. So if you are only going to stick to the very touristy places I would think you might be ok, but if you are going to stay and eat where the locals do, you will need cash.

If you ever come to Seattle and want to eat at Dick's you will need cash. There are a few places at Pike Place Market that are cash only, but many of the even small vendors take CCs.

 

[MikeinBoston]

Normally when at home, I carry no cash. Everything I do is via Visa debit card. It has no fees at all and I find it easier to use then having to go to the ATM and get cash. My paycheck is direct deposit so i'm good to go. When I go to WDW I use all travelers checks for the peace of mind. I believe everywhere on the WDW property takes cards except for some small snack carts.

 

[bumbershoot]

We didn't use our CC much in Germany. There are lots of places that don't take CC's there. In fact, the only places I remember taking them were large dept. stores, chain hotels and very touristy shops. Scnell Imbiss (think hot dog cart in NYC), beergartens, small grocery stores and restaurants did not take them. I know they are taking them more now. . .but I would still expect a lot of places don't. So if you are only going to stick to the very touristy places I would think you might be ok, but if you are going to stay and eat where the locals do, you will need cash.

If only he'd known. After that I told him to buy the Rick Steves guidebook (on kindle) and skim it...probably had that info in it! And yes, he ate at a new little Spanish place where he was their first American (they gave him a shot of cinnamon schnapps in honor of that), so it probably wasn't a big tourist spot (yet). However, it was very close to the university in Bonn, and I always think that University areas are more open to people not from the area...but maybe they just don't get many international students.

 

[Danibelle]

We usually use all types (cash, cc, and traveler's checks). We have run into places across the south (from GA to TX in August 2010) who don't take anything but cash. No traveler's checks, no debit cards, no credit cards. Better to be safe! Most reputable hotels/motels will take all forms so do cc for those.

 

[sk!mom]

Rarely travel with more than a couple of hundred in emergency cash and usually come home with most of it.

We use credit cards exclusively. Even taxis in major cities have card readers in them. I've found plastic to be by far the easiest plan for Europe for many years now. I use my debit card to get foriegn currency at ATM's and use credit as much as possible.

My DD14 was away and living in a dorm for 5 weeks this summer and she used a debit card for everything, as well.

 

[Sparkleshine]

Imho, it is dangerous to use your debt card outside the US or even in the US in my opinion. They have open access to drain your account and you will be totally responsible. The bank will do nothing to help you.

Actually that is what the Visa and Mastercard logo on your Debit card means. You are afforded protection by those companies even on your debit card. If it is ran as a Credit transaction you are fully covered. I have personally dealt with this as my Visa Debit card was stolen and used - I was compensated fully. The only way your debit card is NOT covered by theft is if they input your PIN to purchase things. So make sure to ALWAYS protect your PIN!

Quote from Visa : Security - Visa offers debit cardholders Zero Liability in cases of card fraud, theft or unauthorized card purchases for signature-based transactions, provided cardholders promptly notify their issuer of such fraud, theft, or unauthorized purchase.

 

[rock_doctor]

Actually that is what the Visa and Mastercard logo on your Debit card means. You are afforded protection by those companies even on your debit card.

Nice thanks for the correction. I wonder if the vender (vendor) still has to pay a % to V/MC when using a V/MC debit card?

 

[dfchelbay]

I travel a lot and I was talking with another Disser today who said that many places are "Cash" only establishments.

I rarely travel with cash (outside of a few dollars) and I haven't been to a lot of places that don't take some form of electronic currency. Now in Europe I have had places that don't take American express but I've found even restaurants in small villages have some access to take electronic payment. they may charge you a fee for it but they can do it.

So my question is when you vacation any where what is your major form of payment? and does your perception change if a establishment or business wants a large amount of money in cash, let's say anything over $200 bucks.

When I said CRedit cards, I'm including debit cards with the visa/mastercard logo on it?

Poll included.

We have noticed that many restaurants in New York are cash only establishments. We first noticed this trend about five years ago. DH does a lot of business travel and runs into this in NYC more so than any place else.

 

[MarilIncredible]

I take a couple hundred dollars in cash on vacations for instances in which I happen upon "cash only" establishments, but if a place accepts plastic, I use the CC.

 

[jsmith]

We use plastic pretty exclusively in the US although we do carry about 100 dollars per person since we live and travel alot in the Rocky Mountain west where many businesses are seasonal and do not want to pay the fees associated with being set up to take credit cards.-when we travel internationally we usually try to have enough local currency to cover expenses for the day like meals and small purchases-confining the use of CC to paying for hotels and very large purchases that exceed the amount of cash we are comfortable carrying. Many European vendors don't want to take US credit cards with out the imbedded RF chips anymore and i am more comfortable just taking cash from at ATM and keeping my cards in my control.

 

[rock_doctor]

The RF id chips in the credit cards can be read by somebody just walking by you that has a reader and they don't have to be that close. If you have a metallic static bag like the one that new computer parts come in (i.e. modems, hard drives, memory cards and so on) wrap you RF id enable cards in the bag and then put it back in your wallet or purse. The metallic static bag acts as a Faraday cage and will not let the RF id chip respond to the reader. So they can not read your card. They also make a metalized paper sleeve that you can put your card into that does the same thing but this way it is free as most people either have or at least have access to a static bags.