Cash in Spain

I just withdraw as needed.

ATMs are very common. No need to pull out a large amount at once for the entire trip. Withdraw enough to get you through a week, then withdraw more if needed.

We started a month long trip with 100 (25/per person), got additional cash only once more.

Check your credit cards to see if they are contactless (have the little wi-fi signal logo on them), if not, contact your card issuer to see about getting one. This will make it easy for you, in that you can just tap and go (no signature, no PIN) and pay for just about every transaction that way. Covid has greatly increased the touchless transaction format all over Europe, and even US card issuers have adopted the capability.

I would still have cash as a safe backup. I probably would get about 200 euro out, give my wife 50, keep 50, then stash the rest in deep storage. We did this in Italy in September, towards the end of the trip (3 weeks plus), I had 30, my wife 40, and the 100 still in deep storage, I then made an effort to use some of that up.

Thanks all! I was really just trying to determine if I need to transfer more $$ to my no-fee Debit card prior to traveling.
And thanks for the tips about the tap-and-go thing. I'll check my ccd's.

You're absolutely right about putting everything you can on a credit card. You have certain legal rights on a credit card that you don't have with an ATM card. Just about every tourist site you'll visit takes credit cards, and that even includes vending machines for trams/buses.

I usually draw out 100 Euros to start with. When I'm traveling, it's just snack money, etc. And as my trip winds down, I figure out how much $ I need as I'm leaving, and spend the remaining balance at McDonald's in the airport for breakfast.

If you run out of cash, you can always get more. ATM's are everywhere.

Note; I carry two ATM cards (different banks) and two credit cards--as a backup. You never know when one won't work. And I also call the credit card and bank to tell'em where I'm going.

I was there two weeks ago and never needed cash

I too have 2 credit cards and 2 ATM cards ready for my trip. You can call them to put a travel alert on the card so there is no issue when you arrive. Some cards no longer require alerts, but make the note anyway.

My bank said the new contactless ATM card was not required but offered to send a new one to me before my trip. They said they help with protecting you against fraud and thieves copying your number.

When I have leftover Euros, I keep about 20 for my next trip ad spend the rest (usually less than 20e) at the airport on food gifts for the family. It may be silly but it feels like free money. Once, I used my last "pennies" and the salesperson at the MXP airport in Milan was very sweet about it as we counted it out.

BTW: I plan on getting 100e for my 3 weeks in Spain to cover little things and the taxis, which I just learned on this forum do not all take cards.

Have a great trip.

Thanks again everyone!!!

The only cash I use in Spain is a €1 coin for supermarket trolleys.

I like to have cash on hand for tips, for beach chair/umbrella rentals and for other things like cab rides. For me, I like to have about 100 euros on me at any given time. Sometimes those little card readers don't work so well and the cash comes in handy. Also, I hate the fees and inconvenience of the ATM's, so I like to use them as seldom as possible. Usually 100 euros lasts a few days - depending on how much I can use my credit cards. Just as a point of reference, I also like to have cash on hand in when I'm home in the USA. I haven't moved to the entirely cash-less lifestyle yet.

Thanks marctshark. I only use debit cards that reimburse me for ATM fees. I'm sure you can Google that and locate one for yourself.
I just transfer $ to it before leaving home, and if I don't use it all I tranfer it back upon my return or save it for the next trip!

We paid contactless with cell phone for probably 95% of everything. Almost all of the vendors have the little machines to let you pay that way. So easy!