Hi there, we are leaving soon for Switzerland. We were planning to pay for most everything by credit card, and don't plan to carry CHF around. Do you think that is possible, and how much CHF on hand should we have? We will be in Lucerne and in the Bernese Oberland area. I am not sure if there are some restaurants or vendors there who only accept CHF/cash (not credit card), or if they accept dollars? Where would be the best place to exchange USD for CHF? Airport ATM or somewhere else? Thank you!
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1881 posts
Choose a bank atm. I would always carry at least 50 CHF per person at a minimum. You will probably not use it all, but I always want to have some cash in my pocket in case. CHF is cheap now so if you have some left over just take it next trip or sell it to someone who is coming over.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8966 posts
They wont take USD.
Posted by
Chicago
8164 posts
Don't go to any currency exchange desk to convert dollars. Use your debit card to take CHF out of an ATM when you get there. Try 80 CHF at a time that way you don't get any 100 CHF notes. Use it only as needed for low price transactions snack things. Also it is good to have some CHF coins. One time I needed a 1 CHF coin to use a toilet.
Posted by
OP
Washington DC
33 posts
Thank you!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33819 posts
when I was at a highway rest area east of Olton it required a CHF1 coin - or a quick phone tap. I had a one Franc coin but my phone was closer and faster.
Posted by
Connecticut
692 posts
Just left Switzerland yesterday. Used my credit card everywhere except once very late at night at a vending machine where only CHF coin were accepted.
Posted by
Kamarooka
420 posts
All the mountain hotels I have stayed in have required cash. We once had to lend a couple the money to pay their hotel bill as they didn't bring cash. Also needed coins for the showers in all these hotels, except the one's that didn't have hot water.
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
1043 posts
I like here in Switzerland and since COVID, most places now offer contactless payment or credit card options.
Traveling around the Alps over the past 6 weeks I have spent maybe 10 francs in cash.
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
1043 posts
All the mountain hotels I have stayed in have required cash. We once had to lend a couple the money to pay their hotel bill as they didn't bring cash. Also needed coins for the showers in all these hotels, except the one's that didn't have hot water
Sounds like hostels rather than hotels, even 10 years ago most hotels in the tourist areas were accepting credit cards.
Posted by
Kamarooka
420 posts
Not hostels Jim definitely hotels. Definitely tourist locales too but perhaps a bit more remote than the ones you visited.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4853 posts
it never hurts to have some cash on you at all times, cards don't always work and aren't always accepted. Almost every public loo now requires payment, although they are nice and clean in return. Open a Schwab account and get free withdrawals all over the world. don't come home with CHF, you won't be able to get rid of them.