General Overseas Cash Discussion

[Lynda2475]

You wont need any cash in the UK, absolutely everywhere takes cards, and in fact some newer venues are cashless. I arrived a few weeks ago with 1 * GBP20 note left over from a past trip in my wallet and it was still there on my last day unused, so I got rid of it at bar at Sofitel.

I did get some cash out of the machine in US for tipping housekeeping, I noticed a marked increase in places taking cards (and again some card only) and even tour guides on food tour had terminals to take to card rather than cash tips if you were so inclined.

IF travelling western countries cash is pretty much obselete.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You wont need any cash in the UK, absolutely everywhere takes cards, and in fact some newer venues are cashless. I arrived a few weeks ago with 1 * GBP20 note left over from a past trip in my wallet and it was still there on my last day unused, so I got rid of it at bar at Sofitel.

I did get some cash out of the machine in US for tipping housekeeping, I noticed a marked increase in places taking cards (and again some card only) and even tour guides on food tour had terminals to take to card rather than cash tips if you were so inclined.

IF travelling western countries cash is pretty much obselete.

Agree with this and the others… I was in the uk for two weeks just recently and didn’t use cash once… all convenience stores, TfL, bars, even the kebab shop at 3am are all card.

 

[dairyfloss]

Agree with this and the others… I was in the uk for two weeks just recently and didn’t use cash once… all convenience stores, TfL, bars, even the kebab shop at 3am are all card.

UK has been like this for a long while... much as Australia is. Have cash - you won't need it; Need cash - you won't have it

 

[VPS]

I like to have some cash to give to buskers etc and a lot of the toilets annoyingly still want change YMMV

 

[Lynda2475]

and a lot of the toilets annoyingly still want change YMMV

I'm thankful i have excellent bladder control and have never had to pay to use a toilet - its a quick way to go broke in Europe.

 

[SYD]

I'm thankful i have excellent bladder control and have never had to pay to use a toilet - its a quick way to go broke in Europe.

In the UK, some now take contactless payment. 20p to pee counted towards one of my ING 5 taps!

 

[Lynda2475]

I didn't see anywhere in Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Highlands or London charging one to pee. But then I usually only go at my hotel, and maybe at a gallery, theatre or restaurant where I've dined.

I did see a busker with a wireless card reader for tips.

 

[Cossie]

The Big Issue seller I saw the other day had a wireless card reader. I had some cash, so used that.

 

[sudoer]

I did see a busker with a wireless card reader for tips.

The Salvos have swapped change donation buckets for contactless payment readers at Sydney train stations.

 

[Franky]

You wont need any cash in the UK, absolutely everywhere takes cards, and in fact some newer venues are cashless. I arrived a few weeks ago with 1 * GBP20 note left over from a past trip in my wallet and it was still there on my last day unused, so I got rid of it at bar at Sofitel.

I did get some cash out of the machine in US for tipping housekeeping, I noticed a marked increase in places taking cards (and again some card only) and even tour guides on food tour had terminals to take to card rather than cash tips if you were so inclined.

IF travelling western countries cash is pretty much obselete.

We did a trip to the US in early June, and paid everything by card, and the operator would present the machine to us which showed a 'suggested' tip on the screen which started at 18% which I believe is now the old standard 10%, and then about 4 lesser options down to 10%, which we always chose.

 

[QF029]

We did a trip to the US in early June, and paid everything by card, and the operator would present the machine to us which showed a 'suggested' tip on the screen which started at 18% which I believe is now the old standard 10%, and then about 4 lesser options down to 10%, which we always chose.

Depends on the venue. If you order at a counter you don't need to tip (except at a bar). For a bar or restaurant, 10% is woefully inadequate regardless of what we think of the system.

 

[Franky]

Depends on the venue. If you order at a counter you don't need to tip (except at a bar). For a bar or restaurant, 10% is woefully inadequate regardless of what we think of the system.

It didn't depend on the venue at all. The places we patronised were varied. Not once was it any different. 10% is more than enough for providing a pretty basic product for pretty basic service. Amongst other things, it is what has convinced us to never visit the US again.

 

[QF029]

It didn't depend on the venue at all. The places we patronised were varied. Not once was it any different. 10% is more than enough for providing a pretty basic product for pretty basic service. Amongst other things, it is what has convinced us to never visit the US again.

Are you aware that staff in bars and restaurants are paid as little as $3 an hour and the rest is made up by tips?

 

[Franky]

Are you aware that staff in bars and restaurants are paid as little as $3 an hour and the rest is made up by tips?

you’re obviously well behind the the times….

 

[Lynda2475]

O/T but the default tip options i saw in US last month were 20%, 25% and 30%. Its definitely been creeping up. Rule of thumb used to be double the tax so 15% if service was ok or 20% if good.. I'm ok to tip 20% at sit down restaurants in US where good service is provided (usually free drink refills) but this past trip with the roll out of newer payment terminals i noticed that you were often asked to tip for take-out (even when all they did was handover the product i.e. a bottle of water, no effort to prepare etc) i declined on those occasions.

 

[QF029]

you’re obviously well behind the the times….

Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees

www.dol.gov

 

[Franky]

Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees

www.dol.gov

I omitted to say that a number of the bills we were presented with already had a 'service charge' added. We were also doubtful how much of any tip added to the bill, actually went to the person who served us. In the end, we tended to tick the smallest % tip box, and then left a cash tip for the person who attended to us. As for the hourly rates they are paid, there were numerous signs we saw offering work for 'up to $22PH'. These were as wide spread as being shown on the busses, restaurant windows along with other servcie orientated premises.

 

[Peanutbladder]

I like to have some cash to give to buskers etc and a lot of the toilets annoyingly still want change YMMV

Busker on Southbank in Melbourne over the weekend had a QR code on his sign asking for tips using that !!

 

[pagingjoan]

Queen Vic market stall (Melbourne) yesterday had multiple signs stating: "CASH ONLY".

 

[Seat0B]

Queen Vic market stall (Melbourne) yesterday had multiple signs stating: "CASH ONLY".

Yes I've had the same experience this year skiing at Perisher - most places it is "card only", but there are a couple of on-mountain coffee kiosks/burger places that are "cash only".