Credit Cards & Google Wallet

I would bring the physical card as well. From my experience using Apple Pay, sometimes I wasn’t able to tap and pay if the purchase price was over a certain dollar threshold.

I've had hotels that require the physical card.

Here's another recommendation for bringing at least one physical card. You just never know when you'll need. As Jay and CW have said, sometimes you will be asked for the card if it's a high purchase. And sometimes a machine just may not be working. It's rare but it does happen.

Yes. In the UK you are limited to 100 GBP using Google Wallet. Above that and you will have to show the card.

£100 is the issuers' limit for the physical card (reports vary as to whether this always applies to non UK cards though). Google / Apple etc wallets are not limited but you might hit one set by the retailer itself.

I might be the only person that has a regular problem with Apple Pay, but I'd say it doesnt work >10% of the time. Sometimes it's the retailers' reader, but often, the bank flags it, especially if it's an unusual location. The request to verify a valid transaction takes too long to get there. Then I'll pull out the actual card to tap, and it will work fine. So yes, I say take the card too.

The contactless limit in the UK is £100 for physical cards, but Apple Wallet and Google's equivalent is often significantly higher, depends on the merchant. I haven't run into a need for a physical card for a long time unless the merchant doesn't take contactless, like the fuel stations at Costco. Only cards and only physical cards there although contactless in the store and food court ...

But it is true that I am local in the UK, and fairly local to western and central Europe.

As others are saying, have at least some (For me, at least two) physical cards, but beyond that, if you have others loaded in Google Wallet (or Apple Pay), then no driving need to bring the physical card as well.

I maybe have 4 or 5 cards loaded, but bring 2 or 3 physical cards.

Another benefit to cards loaded on phones, if you lose a physical card, or are notified that a card has been compromised, your card company can cancel then immediately issue a replacement, which you can then load the information to Google/Apple Pay, and your back up and spending in no time at all.

Everything Paul said.

My own experience is that the maximum charge amount for contactless payment ("tapping") is quite variable, both in the US and overseas, and the limit is sometimes different for phone payment and sometimes not. Having a physical card that can be inserted into a portable terminal provides a backup.

With all the things you think you should or should not pack, what is the issue with bringing a simple plastic card (or two) that weighs nothing and takes up no space? Especially if there is a chance it will be helpful at even one point in your trip.