I will be traveling to Germany June 7th till June 22nd. Should I have Euros or use my travel credit card primarily? If Euros how much should I have on me? Should I use both Euros and credit card? What should I look for as far as a transaction fee when using my travel credit card? I have been doing my research, but appreciate your responses....
Thank you
Patty Walker
There are plenty of places in Germany that will accept cash only. Vending machines (for public transit, for example) can be fussy about credit cards from foreign banks. So I carry €200 or so cash as back-up, which I normally get from a German-bank atm with my atm card from home on my first day in Germany. It's not uncommon for me to make a few subsequent trips to German bank atms during my trip. Which German bank?? Talk to your own bank at home about affiliated banks in Germany. I do business at home with 3-4 different banks, so I check with them to see which one will charge the least-egregious fees.
There are certain atm's at airiports that should be avoided.... I don't recall the names of those at the moment.
Which credit card? In the past, my Capital One card has been the most advantageous.
You need to carry both. I have been on a trip now for about a week. I have used about 100 euros in cash for small purchases and in most cases I did not need to. Moreover, today for the first time in 20 years of travel in Europe I needed a credit card or cash app to access the toilets. Some places had signs that said in English Cash Only. When paying with card always select to pay in euros every time. The machine will ask you.
Thank you very much for your responses that were very helpful!!
Patty
You didn't ask about your ATM/Debit Card, but remember that you never want to get a "Cash Advance" on a revolving credit card, anywhere on the face of the earth. That's too expensive, whether you get dollars or euros.
See Rick's Travel Tips top left, if you need more on that subject.
Also, if you don't intend to visit another country that uses Euros ever again or don't want to come home with leftover currency remember to spend it down. The banks don't take the coins.
Have been in Germany for only three days and have come across 4 establishments that were cash only; restaurant, cafe, two ice cream shops. That’s more places than my entire 25 day trip to Spain last year. Have both. We use a CC when we can, but have cash in case the hostess says cash only.
We were at an ice cream place after dinner tonight and an individual had to ask a friend for cash when the gentleman behind the counter said cash only. One public toilet in town took coins. This observation may not be totally accurate, but the more touristy towns will have more places that accept cards. More rural and less touristy places is where you’ll find more cash only places.
When I’ve charged my hotels and at restaurants, the default has been charge in Euros, but I always check the machine.
Many of the less expensive hotels in Germany prefer cash and will add 5% to your bill with credit card payment.
European countries really differ. In the Netherlands we pretty much had to use cards for everything. If we had not each had applepay on our phones we would have been stranded in the countryside as the buses to get us back to Amsterdam did not take cash only credit by tap. Even tiny purchases were expected to be by card.
I am now in Berlin and many places want cash although most will also take card. But many do not take cards for small purchases. You definitely need a pocket full of Euros in Germany.
To add to my previous post, definitely take Euros and ATM card. In my five days in Germany so far, other than the hotels, probably 60% of establishments have been cash only. Yesterday it was the funicular ride up the mountain in Baden Baden and the restaurant at the top of the mountain. At the restaurant last night, its CC machine wasn’t working, so another cash needed establishment. We did find a pastry shop that accepted CCs, but the minimum to charge was 5€. In another town the minimum was 10€.
Thank you to those who have posted on this thread. My husband and I recently returned from Switzerland and have trip to Bavaria planned for this autumn. For our recent trip we used both credit cards, Swiss francs, and went to an ATM for cash once. Our credit cards do charge a foreign transaction fee. My husband made calculations after our return home. He figured that we would have saved about $150 by using cash more than credit cards. I believe our hotels would have taken cash or credit cards. This was the first trip where we used our credit cards so much. Anyway, this was out experience.
We have explored and continue to explore how we pay for things on foreign trips. The information in this thread is helpful.
Happy travels!
Traveler Girl
P.S. I know we should apply for cards with no foreign transaction fees. It's complicated.
Thank you Thank you Thank you everyone for your quick responses. I spoke with my German cousin today and we talked over several solutions to include the sister bank Deutsche bank to go to after I arrive. Also my cousin is so generous he said I will be your bank and you may get euros from me.....I am a very lucky Girl and feel so Honored to have such loving german cousins that I will be seeing very soon!
Patty
