We are heading to Italy after couple of years of Covid-induced absence and am wondering if the EU in general and Italy in particular have changed in one regard as we have here. And that is.... is cash still the way to generally pay for common purchases, or have credit cards become the norm? In other words, is it still advisable to get a bunch of Euros at the airport ATM?
Thanks
You will need both, but not a "bunch" of cash.
The one thing that has changed is during the Pandemic, Contactless payment, either by card or phone app exploded. I truly think that maybe there were incentives regarding the fees paid by stores to accept tap payments, as everyone urged me to tap, rather than insert my card (In Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and Spain).
Tap is being used for even very small transactions, though as things normalize, I am seeing more places backslide a bit and want cash for small purchases.
Check your credit cards, hopefully they have a wi-fi looking symbol on them, indicating they will work for tap purchases. If you use Google Pay or Apple Pay at home, that should work as well.
As a comparison, post-pandemic I am using 10-20 euro a day, pre-pandemic, I used more like 50 euro a day. I could use my card more than I am, but still like cash for 2-3 euro purchases (water, a beer, glass of wine, etc.)
My experience has been the same as Paul.
In England this spring, I didn't get cash until I needed some to pay back another tour member. I didn't even use all of the £60 I got.
Another factor: What fee does the card issuer charge for foreign currency transactions, if any? If it is a couple of dollars extra even for small purchase, that surcharge can add up over the course of your visit.
@periscope. With the right credit card or debit card there is no reason to pay any foreign transaction fees……..
I use Capital One debit and credit cards. No FTF or ATM fees. $125 buys a helluva good dinner!
THANKS to all, and especially Paul.
We are here now
Cash or credit where taken-either is fine
For a small purchase like gelato, a water, etc we use cash
Purchases at something like a street market-fruits/veggies etc cash is simply easier, quicker
Cabs will take either
Keep a few euro coins for the occasional pay toilette
The world operates on everything but cash. When you travel, you have better "rights" if you charge everything possible on a credit card. When getting cash, use a bank ATM--not non-bank like Travelex or American Express.
We travel with very little cash today. Just about everywhere, even in Italy, accepts credit and debit cards.
And we get enough "miles" on our credit card every year to pay for one round trip airfare to Europe.
When I was there in the spring, I took a few hundred euros. After a week, I figured I’d better start using them or I’d bring most of it back home, but as soon as I was running low, I tried to pay a few different places in Rome only to find out they didn’t take cards, so I ended up getting more. The taxi that took me back to the airport, my last Italian expense, only took cash. Go figure.
The taxi that took me back to the airport, my last Italian expense, only took cash. Go figure
The Rome taxis are actually obligated to take credit cards, however drivers "prefer" cash...often claims are their credit card machines are broke. Always make it clear you want to pay credit and that you have no cash, and no ATM card...even if it is a white lie.
