Cash or Card? Countries where you still need cash.

[k_sheep]

Nicaragua - even the big supermarkets only accept Visa (not mastercard) which is a first for me!

Can easily pay in USD even at tiny places with a reasonable exchange rate.

 

[million_thanas1968]

I spent a month in Cambodia and had a great time. Payments are mostly done by QR code now, then cash, then card.

For cash, I ordered new $100USD notes from one of the banks in Hong Kong. I was told the businesses check bills carefully, so they need to be crisp and never folded. After a few days I found out USD still works almost everywhere, but the government is encouraging more use of the Riel.

I found a few good ways to exchange money:
- I first changed $50 at the hotel. The rate was fine but slightly worse than elsewhere.
- ABA Bank turned out to be the best option as they didn't charge fees and their rates were almost the same as online rates. They were also quite happy to break some USD into smaller USD notes without fees as well. There are ABA branches all over Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
- A few of my friends tried the street exchangers and got a slightly better rate than ABA, though the difference was small.
Personally I thought the variance in exchange rates was negligible and better to do it in a bank.

Riel notes are accepted even if they’re worn out, but places are quite picky with the USD condition. We found that in the villages people pay mostly in Riel, though they take small USD bills too, but don’t expect change in USD. In Siem Reap and Phnom Penh some shops were quite happy to give USD back in change.

QR payments are everywhere now. The government rolled out an app for tourists called Bakong. It links your card for local payments, though I couldn’t get mine working. Locals use their own version of the app, and I think the QR code works for both apps.

I’ll try setting it up again next trip since it would make things easier than carrying so much change.

Basically 1 beer = $1USD, buying a slab = 50% ROI. Simply lovely.

 

[Zero]

Riel notes are accepted even if they’re worn out, but places are quite picky with the USD condition. We found that in the villages people pay mostly in Riel, though they take small USD bills too

Do USD 1,5,10 need to be in good condition as well or only the big ones?

 

[SYD]

Do USD 1,5,10 need to be in good condition as well or only the big ones?

We had no drama passing regular USD notes. Which was mainly for a driver paying for some extras and tips.

But we used CC quite a lot in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

I don't recall seeing foreigners using QR code payments back in December.

 

[million_thanas1968]

Do USD 1,5,10 need to be in good condition as well or only the big ones?

Generally we noticed that businesses would accept 1,5, 10 and even 20s that were slightly older and had the half fold crease. We would get some 1s and 5s that were slightly grubby and had no trouble using them on.

I would definitely be cautious when receiving USD in change to have a good look at each note, as some dodgy places will try to pass on fake/broken USD back sometimes.

We did notice people scrutinising the 50 and 100 notes, we found that the best way to use those was to either change it into Riel or to use it at finer establishments.

 

[Seat0B]

Currently in South Africa and everything is fine on card - and in many places it’s card only for security reasons.

But, and it’s a big but, you will need copious quantities of small notes to pay the stream of tips to people for minding your car, carrying your bags, bringing your food and drinks etc. That you cannot do any other way.

Edit for typos

 

[Chicken]

card only for security reasons.

need copious quantities of small notes to pay the stream of tips to people for minding your car, carrying your bags, bringing your food and drinks etc.

So there is no point to mug people if you really need money; but if you want some pocket money, pickpocking is a good way to go.

But serious note, this is just weird.

 

[AuSammy]

Currently in South Africa and everything is fine on card - and in many places it’s card only for security reasons.

But, and it’s a big but, you will need copious quantities of small notes to pay the stream of tips to people for minding your car, carrying your bags, bringing your food and drinks etc. That you cannot do any other way.

Edit for typos

Things must have deteriorated since 2011 when we spent a month wandering around SA (plus 2 weeks Zambia and Namibia).

Wasn’t worried about safety at all and nobody asked for tips except for a hotel in Eswatini for porters.

 

[N860CR]

Things must have deteriorated since 2011 when we spent a month wandering around SA (plus 2 weeks Zambia and Namibia).

Wasn’t worried about safety at all and nobody asked for tips except for a hotel in Eswatini for porters.

Tipping has gone insane in the last 10 years. Influx of yank tourists with the weak rand hasn’t helped.

 

[Seat0B]

So there is no point to mug people if you really need money; but if you want some pocket money, pickpocking is a good way to go.

But serious note, this is just weird.

And it’s actually quite a challenge to have enough small notes for the qty of tips paid out each day. Most supermarkets are all but cashless and they “helped” with bad grace when I bought a small item to break a 200 rand note by giving my change as 100, 50 and 2x20 rand notes. NOT willing to change that for done 10 rand notes or even 5 rand coins.

 

[Seat0B]

Sign in tonight’s hotel asking us to tip housekeeping - after telling us that as a 2 night stay there will be no housekeeping. Only every third night. This has been common in all our hotels. Plus you almost always have to tip a porter as they simply will not allow you to wheel your own bag - almost manhandle you out of the way.

It bears remembering that there is 39% unemployment here (source DIL’s family) and wages are very low. Wait staff are lucky to make 500 rand a day. Most make less. So even small tips (by our standards) are highly appreciated and I honestly don’t mind paying them - if I could get small cash!

 

[kpc]

View attachment 502126

Sign in tonight’s hotel asking us to tip housekeeping - after telling us that as a 2 night stay there will be no housekeeping. Only every third night. This has been common in all our hotels. Plus you almost always have to tip a porter as they simply will not allow you to wheel your own bag - almost manhandle you out of the way.

It bears remembering that there is 39% unemployment here (source DIL’s family) and wages are very low. Wait staff are lucky to make 500 rand a day. Most make less. So even small tips (by our standards) are highly appreciated and I honestly don’t mind paying them - if I could get small cash!

Walk down to the hotel reception...ask them to change a large note for tips...that usual works!