"Don't bother withdrawing ISK from an ATM" Really?

We never needed cash as everyone takes credit cards. We were in Iceland about 5 weeks ago. You pay for parking on the apps online (parka and easypark) and link them to your credit card. We never needed to get cash.

Yup, we have Parka and Easy Park and paid 700 ISK with card for WC just today!! None the less, it sounds as though you didn't come across "cash only" honesty boxes for local foods or thermal baths. Yum, the carbonated water at Mineral Springs was really good, and no way to pay with a card.

There is a place where you can suggest improvements to the RS Iceland guidebook on this page:
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/iceland/guidebook-updates

In the right corner of the page, click on the link “ How can we make this books even better? Let us know”

Thanks, I didn't know that!

"donation required."

Is that how the sign read?

Must have lost something in translation and should have read "contribution* required"

A donation is a gift; if payment is required, it's a fee

My apologies for the digression

It seems the need for cash is somewhat dependent on what you choose to do and where you do it, be it Iceland or anywhere else.

Yikes, my error. I was trying to quote RS Iceland (p 317). He wrote (and I should have written): " donation requested." Apologies and thanks for correction. My point, though, still stands: it makes sense to carry ISK.

Maybe it does to you, but it doesn't. to me, and it doesn't to most Iceland visitors.

My daughter and I spent 7 nights in Iceland and didn't use cash once. Even when I bought a used rain jacket at a tiny neighborhood yard sale on Snaefellsnes, they had the means to take my credit card. In fact, I saw signs on a lot of stores that said that they were a card-only shop.

There's nothing wrong with you wanting to pay cash, but you honestly can get by for a long period of time in Iceland without using anything but a credit card, or, in my case, Apple Wallet.

Wow, this is super interesting. I totally understand using my card or Android wallet. And I do whenever I can! It isn't that I WANT to pay cash, it is that there are a few cool places in Iceland that JUST take cash.

I'm from the Midwest US, and we have rural roadside tables where you can take a dozen eggs or a few tomatoes and leave cash. No venmo, no credit cards, in fact, not even a person there! And I've found the same here with rural thermal baths and farm stands!

My whole point is that I wish RS Iceland would have prepared us better - at least us who go off the beaten path, esp in the Westfjord.

There's nothing wrong with you wanting to pay cash

This doesn’t sound like a case where the OP wanted to pay cash but rather a case where cash was the only option for certain things (e.g., honesty boxes, donations).

It sounds like the guidebook should say, “Most tourists won’t need cash” and then elaborate on the few situations where cash is needed as the OP noted above.

We always take some cash with us and have needed at least some on every trip. Toilets that do not take cards, hot springs like you encountered etc. For instance, the toilet at Hraunfossar has an honesty box and cash is the only way to pay. There is a seat little hike up near Stykkisholmer that is cash only, into an honesty jar. Etc. We were gifted cash on our 2nd trip there from family and we are still using that. My husband just returned last night and when he was packing, he made sure to take some of the cash.

Sounds like those places running on "donations" didn't do too well with RS Travelers. That says something. Well done cmfiedler.

I always assumed that the card only folks never put money in the church box, or buy a candle or pay the street corner violinist, or help a homeless, or ... Of course, none of that is required to have a good time. /s

Well said, Mr. E.

Same discussion comes up often with Switzerland, Germany, etc...
Interesting to observe the posts here. I'll just say I'm in the carry some cash camp.

"I have been using my RS Iceland (3rd Ed) on our 23 day extended Ring Road self drive. And I disagree wholeheartedly with his recommendation not to pull ISK from an ATM (p 487). "

Several points come to mind.

First, way to go! 23 days on an extended ring road self-drive, that's doing Iceland!

Second, disagreeing with Rick Steves is fine! That guy is wrong from time to time! Nobody is perfect!.

Third, you read to page 487? Wow. I'm lucky if I get past page 23! You go for 23 day adventures and read past page 23, you are a better man than me.

I'm pretty sure if told rick what you did, he'd approve! A longer trip, off the beaten path, sure, get some cash! Me? I'd probably skip the ATM for a shorter trip-- and also skip picking up some "donation requested" eggs -- but that's because my cholesterol could be lower. Anyway, you did great! And fill out the feedback form. His staff may tweak the book!

Happy travels

Thanks to Laura for correctly restating my thoughts, to mikliz97 for more great examples, Mr E for his spot on humor, and David for his humor and kudos to our style.

I will post a suggested change on the RS website when I get home.

My learning: while I typically love RS guides, along with Brant guides (my go to when they cover a country), This was my first RS post and I ended up feeling that RS people are just not "my people". I'm back to r/Visiting Iceland!! (Win to reddit where a similar post was well received)

cmfiedler, I'm sorry you feel RS people are not your people. I am also a person who finds a need to use cash when I travel. I frequent small shops, love flea markets and charity shops, leave a little cash for street musicians, etc. There are plenty of us on the forum. I am sorry your first experience was not a good one. Please reconsider. I think there are more of us than have posted on this thread.

cmfielder--Oh yes, there are even more places in the Westfjords that are cash only. IME, if you stick to route 1 from Reykjavik to ViK then you will most likely be ok without cash, but as you say venturing further out, especially any side roads off of route 1, then it becomes anyones guess. For me, the best source I have found for Iceland is Iceland With A View. Her website is great, but she also has a You Tube channel with numerous short videos. Her information has never steered us wrong, FWIW.

I've never been to Iceland, but I thought I'd add Iceland's national anthem, as sung by the Queen of Iceland in 1987. Whether you've heard it before is probably a decent test of whether you're a RSE Iceland person or a Reddit Iceland person.

https://youtu.be/ALkk6UlfjgU?si=JvcCf-gJFyodIXmv

What a fantastic way to spend 23-days! The note in the guidebook should read that most folks visiting will not need cash, but of course there are exceptions (the ones you mentioned, for example). We were there for only five days, and did not require cash since credit cards were accepted everywhere, even for the one restroom we paid for. In one spot that we just happened upon for lunch before catching our flight home (a beautiful golf course lunchroom overlooking the sea), I forgot to present the discount we had been given before my husband paid, and the gentleman behind the counter gave me cash to make up the difference. I have it now framed and hanging on my wall at home, so glad we ended up with some cash before heading home!

Some great, and supportive, responsive. And for me, this isn't about if one should, or shouldn't, carry cash. I was more frustrated with the comments that assumed I was not too bright, or a Luddite (didn't know how to use Parka or didn't want to use my card). I would have preferred more curiosity about why I COULDN'T use a card at some sites. And by the way, just stumbled on another very cool thermal bath this morning with a donation/honesty box only.

By the way, of my many, many international trips since 1970 this is the first for which I didn't take/exchange local currency. And thus i took RS suggestion re Iceland seriously. Also frustrating that he gives recommendations for sites with cash boxes ONLY but not the means to use them.

Thanks, I will post the suggested book update when I get home.