Hi fellow travelers, I have a question about an upcoming trip. In September 2023, my husband and I are going on the RS tour of Germany, Austria, & Switzerland. I am thinking that we can use our debit & credit cards in Germany and Austria without any problem. However, I'm not sure about Switzerland. We will be staying in Murren, the small village in the Alps, for three days. Has anyone been on this tour or traveled to Murren? If so, do most places in Murren and the surrounding area take credit or debit cards? Not sure if I need to bring some Swiss Francs on this trip?
Thank you so much for any input you can share.
Happy travels....
Jan Alonzo
Posted by
Chicago
3178 posts
Most places will accept credit cards. I like to use cash for small amounts, like the ice cream guy in Wengen. But, the only time I had to use cash was at one of the shops in Lauterbrunnen because their credit card machine was down.
Some of the pay toilets were cash only, but when I was there last summer, they were changing some of those to accept cards.
If you did want to get a small amount of cash, there is an ATM in Lauterbrunnen.
Posted by
Tennessee
442 posts
I’m currently in Murren on the Best of Switzerland tour. Our tour paid for 1st night’s dinner. 2nd night I ate light with food bought at the small Coop grocery directly across from our hotel where I tapped and paid with a credit card. Maybe a small amount of Swiss francs for the short time your GAS tour is in Switzerland would be helpful-maybe 50? Usually tour guides try to stop at rest stops with free restrooms. We did see pay toilets in the Lucerne train station.
Posted by
17 posts
The only time we needed cash in the Murren area was to buy yogurt when we visited a dairy farm.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10672 posts
I withdrew 20CHF from the ATM. My husband asked why because we were using a card for everything.
Truthfully, I had to remember to spend them before we went back across the border.
Posted by
Pleasant Hill, Ca
255 posts
We were in Murren in May on the Switzerland tour. Cash was not needed but I used it to buy a souvenir magnet. A woman on our tour bought a onesie for her new granddaughter from a stand outside someone’s house. Needed cash for that.
Posted by
Philadelphia
23 posts
I was in Murren at the end of May for a day trip from Luzern. Agree with all of the above comments. However, I did need cash to tip hotel housekeeping in Luzern. Although cash vs. credit card is a frequent topic on this forum, how to handle hotel tips never seems to be discussed. Am I in the minority for still doing this?
Posted by
Chicago
3178 posts
Although cash vs. credit card is a frequent topic on this forum, how
to handle hotel tips never seems to be discussed. Am I in the minority
for still doing this?
I completely forgot about tips for housekeeping. You are not alone as I also use cash to tip. I do not get my room cleaned every day, but when I do I leave a 5 CFH coin in a small envelope with “Thank-you” written on it and leave on the bed.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33989 posts
which language is the "thank you" in?
Posted by
Chicago
3178 posts
which language is the "thank you" in?
I always write it in English as I don’t know which language the housekeeping staff speaks. I have no worries about them not understanding that an envelope with cash left on the bed is for them.