Credit cards and ATM in Germany October 2011

yes, yes, yes, and yes. It is a good idea to have your credit card pin number, you probably will not need it but you might. Four digits are needed.

Your ATM card will work fine in any ATM, you just won't be able to use it to make purchases. As for US style credit cards, most businesses that cater to tourists accept them. If you need to buy building supplies, major household appliances and furniture, or groceries, some of these stores do not accept magnetic strip cards.

Do be aware that credit cards in general are not as universally accepted in Germany as in the USA. I went to Berlin a few weeks ago for the first time and ended up having to leave my stuff in a surprisingly upmarket restaurant and look for an ATM because they did not accept credit cards at all.

"However, there would not be much of concerns using credit cards in the tourist circuits such as hotels" According to the Criteria Catalog of DEHOGA, the organization in Germany that awards hotel stars, it is mandatory, in order to have two or more stars, that you accept credit cards. However, in Germany there are a lot of non-star-rated hotels, mostly on the lower priced end, and most don't accept credit cards. If you insist on using a credit card, you will be restricting yourself to the more expensive hotels. According to the Bahn website's tour of the new, 2nd generation, touch screen automat, it accepts mag strip cards (they tell you how to insert magnetic strip cards). It also accepts cash.

Dennis, we had no problems in Germany or Luxembourg last Xmas using a VISA prepaid travel card that was issued through our credit union. We were in Frankfurt, Kaiserslautern (on and off post), Trier, Luxembourg City, and several small villages. We used the card at several ATMs as well as restaurants and shops.