Cash or Cards?

[snabbu]

Cards wherever possible, cash otherwise.

 

[OZDUCK]

Another who uses Citi Debit for cash withdrawals and 28 Degrees for Credit. I always like to arrive in a country with a $100 or equivalent in cash for "just in case". I try to use the card as much as possible but that always depend on the country e.g in Germany some places (supermarkets etc) will only accept an EC Card and in Ireland a lot of the B & B's wanted cash.

 

[karen blancfield]

Another who uses Citi Debit for cash withdrawals and 28 Degrees for Credit. I always like to arrive in a country with a $100 or equivalent in cash for "just in case". I try to use the card as much as possible but that always depend on the country e.g in Germany some places (supermarkets etc) will only accept an EC Card and in Ireland a lot of the B & B's wanted cash.

WANT cash but if you haven't got any ..... they will find a way. Do PayPal on the spot if they have it, or go and withdraw some cash if you are settling the bill .... not many places have ever turned us away. Actually, none have!

 

[drron]

As the first do vote cash I am going to stick with it.I do use CCs but always have enough cash.We do tend to go to unusual places and cash is definitely preferred-Cuba,Rural Uganda etc.
As well I love a good conspiracy theory.Why are we being tempted to go cashless?From the G20 in 2014-

‘…the powers and tools that authorities should have to achieve this objective. These include the bail-in power, i.e., the power to write down and convert into equity all or parts of the firm’s unsecured and uninsured liabilities of the firm under resolution or any successor in a manner that respects the creditor hierarchy and to the extent necessary to absorb the losses.’

As a depositor you are an unsecured creditor.
From the EU this year-

‘European Union states are considering measures which would allow them to temporarily stop people withdrawing money from their accounts to prevent bank runs, an EU document reviewed by Reuters revealed.
‘The move is aimed at helping rescue lenders that are deemed failing or likely to fail, but critics say it could hit confidence and might even hasten withdrawal at the first rumours of a bank being in trouble.
‘The proposal, which has been in the works since the beginning of this year, comes less than two months after a run on deposits at Banco Popular contributed to the collapse of the Spanish lender.’

Greeks are still limited in the amounts they can withdraw from their accounts.I am sure there will come a day when cash really is king again.

 

[RB]

WANT cash but if you haven't got any ..... they will find a way. Do PayPal on the spot if they have it, or go and withdraw some cash if you are settling the bill .... not many places have ever turned us away. Actually, none have!

In some areas yes but I can think/have experiences of quite a few spots in rural Germany, Spain, Portugal, Nthn Italy & India where this is not going to work-the family owned smalls shops/cafes/restaurants/supermarkets just don't cater to what we see as normal. Dashing off to an ATM (if they exist) is not worth the hassles

 

[daft009]

Citi debit for me when travelling with a tiny bit of cash just in case.
Locally card and card, the same $40 in my wallet can be untouched for 3-4 months usually

 

[JohnK]

Cash for me.

I'm not obsessed with earning points to travel in premium cabins. I'm comfortable carrying cash. There is no difference between using cash to exchange to local currency or using a debit card to withdraw local currency or using 28 degrees to pay for purchases.

 

[OATEK]

WANT cash but if you haven't got any ..... they will find a way. Do PayPal on the spot if they have it, or go and withdraw some cash if you are settling the bill .... not many places have ever turned us away. Actually, none have!

Cash is king in the Marche au Puces de Port de Vanves in Paris, or Spitalfields Market on Antiques day. Cash is always needed when the Oateks descend on markets and street stalls in Europe, Hong Kong etc., but can be withdrawn along the way on the day - no need to carry it around the world most of the time.

 

[Mattg]

Unless you have an Amex that has no FX fee (do they exist in Australia?), a FX free MC (BW World, Coles Rewards etc) is better value overseas.

I used my new Coles Rewards MC on my last overseas trip. The exchange rates seemed to be exactly the same as the 28 Degrees card (and no forex fees), except that I also earned ~1 Velocity point per dollar. This will probably be my go to card for future trips.

For countries I haven't been to before (i.e. don't have any leftover currency for), I always withdraw a small amount from an ATM on arrival using my Citibank debit card.

I don't like carrying around cash generally, but in many countries cash is still king.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

My strong preference is whatever is best for me for that particular transaction.

Sometimes that is cash. Though less and less these days.
Sometimes it is credit card.
Rarely it is debt card (there are some transactions where fees are waived).



Not to that I will pay for somethings on credit card too as it can have extra protections over cash or EFT.

 

[Buzzard]

One Cafe in particular? Or common in the far off lands you visit?

I haven't been paying much attention so only noticed it at one cafe. Need to go back an do some research

 

[samh004]

I prefer cards.

A few years ago I wouldn't have been able to say that, but AFF has corrupted me and I now have 3 CC's with a 4th application pending.

 

[Buzzard]

A strange (?) thing happened to +1 & I with our 28 Degrees cards OS. We selected PIN's in Oz before we left and even used our cards to make sure they worked. However when we arrived OS they wouldn't work and needed a PIN reset. I was still home when +1 rang to say her card didn't work and thought it was just her card. When I arrived overseas a week later had the same problem.

 

[kpc]

I like to see those that don't have cash use the toilets in Europe with their credit card!!

 

[Buzzard]

I like to see those that don't have cash use the toilets in Europe with their credit card!!

Euro to go

 

[ellen10]

I always take some local currency cash with me when landing in a country. Maybe its the fear that my card will be rejected if I don't do so.
When we travel I mainly use cash, I only use CC for larger purchases. I just find cash easier and quicker overseas.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I like to see those that don't have cash use the toilets in Europe with their credit card!!

I don't think anybody here would be stupid enough to venture into any overseas country with zero cash in their pockets - I started this thread after reading some posts on Aust $ Prediction thread where a couple posters said they use cash only OS. Clearly anybody with even half a wit who intended to use cards only would still withdraw limited cash on arrival for emergencies.

 

[kpc]

I don't even bring cash with me any more. I assume I'll find a working ATM before I find someone who doesn't take card.

FX free cards are the way to go; both Citi debit for cash and the credit for most purchases.

What is cash ?

I don't think anybody here would be stupid enough to venture into any overseas country with zero cash in their pockets - I started this thread after reading some posts on Aust $ Prediction thread where a couple posters said they use cash only OS. Clearly anybody with even half a wit who intended to use cards only would still withdraw limited cash on arrival for emergencies.

Just saying.....

 

[Cynicor]

I like to see those that don't have cash use the toilets in Europe with their credit card!!

Some work on CC now. I think the one at a truck/rest stop on the Autobahn did, anyway!

 

[Lemon_Party]

Very rare I get any forex exchanged before I travel now. Cash on arrival from ATM and credit card mixed in equal measures.

With occasional country specific exceptions such as countries that need USD for visas on arrival.

And there's always the odd irregularities that can catch you out. Uganda gave a much better exchange rate for USD travellers cheques than any other TC or physical cash (which some places wouldn't even change) - going back a few years, but always pays to do some research....