Cash vs Credit Card post-COVID

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I just returned. Used the tap feature of my IPhone wallet 99% of the time. Actually, I rarely took out my wallet.

Safe travels!

I've been twice post covid. I found the first week I was there, in Florence, I barely spent any cash, but when I went to Rome the next week, the first place I stopped for lunch would only take cash. That happened a few times in Rome, then my taxi to the airport would only accept cash (50e), but I knew that in advance so kept some money aside for it. The next time I went, I barely used any cash. I'm going again in the fall and spring and have some left over from my last trip, but will get more anyway, just in case.

Pat & KRS,
Many thanks for the perspective and guidance! Happy travels!

Be sure to have some Euro coins for tips and toilets. And sometimes they will tell you in a restaurant that the machine won't work so we like to have about €100 available.

When I traveled in England last fall I found the use of credit cards to be preferred. It surprised me because in the midwest I have not noticed this trend and still put only larger purchases such as groceries and gasoline on a card. For day-to-day I still use mostly cash. I don't understand this trend, but I do agree it is becoming very common. Does anyone know if the credit card companies still charge the merchants a large percentage for payments via card?

We had cash for small items such as a few things at the grocery store, and even cash was touchless as the clerk would instruct you to feed the cash into a machine that would also dispense change.

I was running out of small bills and coins and tried a couple of times to break a €50, once at the Sorrento train station and then again at Pompeii, both times I was told they didn't have enough change. At Pompeii the change would have amounted to €14.

On the other hand, our hotel in Rome gave us an 8% discount to pay cash.

I'm with Pat. I used Applepay for nearly everything last Fall in Italy including 3Euro gelato. No one batted an eye especially if the servers were young.

I did occasionally buy a bottle of water with cash so I would have some change to leave housekeeping in my hotel room.

I just came back from a 5-week trip to Amsterdam, Paris and England and again used either ApplePay or Contactless card for 99.9% of my purchases. The only time I had to use cash was at the little ice cream vans parked at English seasides which all said their CC machines were broken. Whatev....

Tapped so much I felt like Fred Astaire

Tapped so much I felt like Fred Astaire

This made me laugh out loud! Hilarious!!!

Thank you all so much for your comments and help!

Credit/debit cards, and also ApplePay or similar are accepted virtually by everybody everywhere.
But to pay for a €1 espresso, or similar small purchases, I use cash.
Occasionally taxi drivers say their POS machine is broken. It is not true, but some do to dodge taxes and/or bank fees.
Also, occasionally you might save a lot of money if you pay cash. For example two months ago my mother passed away. I had to pay the marble tomb sculpture for the inscription on the family tomb where my dad was also buried. The price was €460 with invoice and credit card, or €380 hard cash with no receipt. He told me it was my choice. I get the same deal with my accountant, or my lawyer, or whatever in Italy. If you are given that choice, you choose. If the price is the same, I use the card. If you give me AT LEAST 22% discount (VAT in Italy is 22%), we talk. In Latin it’s called Quid Pro Quo. I save money on the price, they save on the taxes. Of course if some Italian taxpayers dodge the taxes, those who can’t (basically those who are not self employed) have to pay more. I’m not one of them. I am not an Italian taxpayer. Retail merchants may not offer similar deals because it is riskier for them. Lawyers, accountants, marble sculptors operate in offices where nobody sees what they do, and if they know or trust the client, they offer that deal.

My Wife and I were in Italy early May and used both card and cash. We used cash mainly for Gelato, afternoon drinks and taxis. We used credit cards for most meals.

Where I live in France, the shopkeepers and cafe waiters have told me they prefer when customers use the card because it's simpler for them. Card fees are much lower for the businesses and the waiters don't expect tips.

We were in Italy in 2022. We did 90-95% of all transactions on card. We used cash for apertivo, small purchases.

I would not get euros in the US. When you arrive, find a bank-based bankomat. These will have the best rate.

Roberto, so sorry for the loss of your Mom. Interesting story about the memorial sculptor as well.