Report: I’m paying for everything by tapping my phone this trip!

I have also been reluctant to use Apple Pay. I tried it and I was making it way more complicated that it needed to be apparently. But I just added a new card to my wallet and it took me through a practice session! Very helpful. Now I feel confident.

Hope you're having a great time in Spain, tapping and all!

I still can’t figure out how to disable my card from popping up on screen every time I am at the gym. Machines have a reader that brings card up on my screen when close by. Ugh!

So I have the card pay function disabled for now until my next trip.

Any iPhone users of tap and pay to walk me thru best way to have my settings?

I have no idea why I was so stubborn about trying it out!!

Boy, if I had a nickel for everytime I said that when it came to new technology....
I recall I was stubborn, with texting, e-tickets-flight and event tickets, storing documents itineraries and reservations electronically instead of printing, not printing photos, AI....

Thanks, all! I’ll not offer any advice to the posters still having a few issues as I feel like I know next to nothing about this tap and pay.

But given that I’m a traveler who keeps my credit card and passport with me - and who is now traveling alone with no one else to help me keep track of details and space awareness - well, not having to pull out a credit card…and risk my emergency cash popping out, or, even worse, my passport…it’s a great solution.

But Allan - check to the texting, e-tickets, storing a document…but I’m holding out against the AI - so I guess I’m still sort of stubborn:)

Valerie! I'm so glad this is working out for you! I finally caved a couple of years ago when one of our local meet up folks badgered me into doing it. Wow....SO easy!

And no...no idea about how to disable the cards from popping up at the gym!

How well does this work in the US? It seems that Europe is always ahead with CC technology.

How well does this work in the US? It seems that Europe is always ahead with CC technology.

It works pretty well even in the U.S. I pay for almost everything using my apple watch (easier than pulling out a phone or card). Every once in a while you come across a small shop that doesn’t have contactless but that isn’t typical.

Maybe I don't use it correctly, because I have been using it a few years about once a week, but find it cumbersome. It requires face ID and double clicking the side button so I find I am standing there waiving it between my face and the terminal a few times before it works. I do like not having to carry my CC with me though if I'm out and about and happen to need to stop to buy something.

See how much easier it is to use your smartwatch to tap rather than having to get your phone out of your purse or hiding place.
I’ve been using my watch for several years.

Another iWatch user here, who is NOT a Techie, I only have one cc in my digital wallet, so it’s easy to access. I don’t have to scroll through several cards.
I just click the side button, scroll to “wallet” and “tap.”
My husband has several cards on his iWatch and iPhone and has to “scroll” to find the card he wants to use. I went for simplicity. Like Valerie, that’s how we charged in Europe last year.
What I love about paying that way is “no signature”is required.

Joann,

This was my problem as well. The little training session helped me to realize that you can do the double click first then move the phone to the scan area while point it in your general direction. I've tried a few time since the practice and it's much easier than I thought.

And I'll chime in with another vote for the watch. It is especially handy for public transportation where you need to tap in and out. No need to pull out your credit card or phone. We started using it at home before our trip so we were familiar with the process.

Valerie, it sounds like everything's going great! I'm so glad that your digital Wallet is working well. It makes such a difference!

You will especially appreciate it if you do what I did one time, which was to accidentally leave my wallet at home on a two-week trip out of state. Because I had five to six cards loaded on my digital wallet at that time, I didn't need the cards at all.

That said, you might want to think about adding at least 1 or 2 more cards to Apple Wallet. Every once in a while, you might get a weird glitch and not be able to use your card temporarily. If that happens, it's easy to just switch to another digital card.

Right behind you Valerie!

Last year I used my Apple wallet in Paris with RATP. Easy peasy, but for some reason I was so nervous to start using a credit card from my wallet. All the things worried me.

But we’re going to France in a few days and I knew it would be a game changer if I could get used to using a card from my wallet before we leave. Last week, I started out at the bakery where we’re regulars. I knew they’d be kind if I messed up. The 20-something clerk was very patient if not a little bemused (“hold it a little bit closer”). It’s been a week using it everywhere I go and I’m almost a natural now.

I always disliked taking a credit card in and out of my crossbody wallet. Since my phone will be tethered to my crossbody, in a separate pocket from my cards and passport, I’m already feeling less neurotic. : )

Glad you’re enjoying Spain, Valerie! One of the places that it didn’t work a few years ago was McDonald’s in Italy. Yep, I do go there - LOL! So I just paid cash. But this year it worked at McD’s in Malaga, so all’s well again.

I still like to pay the taxis in cash. Otherwise it was ApplePay for everything last month in Spain.

And yes, I use ApplePay in the US, too.

Pulling the credit cards out to pay is no problem at all. Getting cash out is a little more problematic, depending where the bills are coming from, ie the wallet or the pants pocket and how much.

Certain purchases go on one credit card primarily, other purchases on another card. I use the tap option with the credit cards, if it happens not to work I insert the card or use another cc for the tap function. No phone tapping at all.

Well all of you watch proponents have me thinking that a watch might indeed be even easier! I’m going to look into one when I get home - I have never owned one - but it might be something I add before my next trip.

Also, I did some practice purchases at home at well - like some of you. I went to my local not-so-busy co-op grocery store at a slow time, and announced my limited tech savvy and my new phone purchasing skills - and the cashiers were quite patient and amused that I was so incredibly proud of myself;)

@Jean - rest assured I will be testing the payment system at McDonald’s at some point. I already made a successful meal purchase at Five Guys here in Malaga! Dining alone is definitely the low point of solo travel for me - so a fast food meal is even more attractive.

Yheah!😀. Proud of you!

“ Maybe I don't use it correctly, because I have been using it a few years about once a week, but find it cumbersome. It requires face ID and double clicking the side button so I find I am standing there waiving it between my face and the terminal a few times before it works”

Hi Joan, if you have to waive it a few times between your face and the terminal, you indeed are not using it correctly. For me it works faultless when I do this; hold my phone in my hand with the front facing me, double click the button on the right, wait half a second for the face scanner to scan my face and confirm it’s me, move the hand with the phone towards the payment terminal until I hear the “ping” sound that the payment went through.
I’ve described what I do in separate steps, but it really it is one fluent motion that takes less than 2 seconds in total.

I also use my watch to pay for things, but usually only in the warmer months. When I’m wearing a thick winter coat, I find it a bit difficult to free my watch from the sleeve, so I use my phone instead.
I’ve been using only my phone or watch to pay for things for many years now. I literally can’t remember the last time I used my actual bank card.

Well all of you watch proponents have me thinking that a watch might indeed be even easier! I’m going to look into one when I get home - I have never owned one - but it might be something I add before my next trip.

Valerie, once you get a watch, you will never want to be without it. For me, the very best feature of the watch is that I can use it to find my phone. All I have to do is press a button and the phone starts beeping loudly. It has saved me time hunting down my phone on numerous occasions. 😊

Mardee - You’re speaking right to the core of my fears. I lose my phone constantly around the house. It’s been one of my fears as I transition to living alone…who will call my phone when I can’t find it?!?!?!?!!?

So that’s another point in favor - thank you !

Another vote for using the Apple Watch! I think I mostly use it to pay for things, not much else, lol.

Thank you Katiecem & Dutch Traveler. I think I may just need more practice!

Thanks for posting your experience! I was in need of a new Fitbit last week and almost went with one with a wallet, but decided to save money and go with the same model I have been using (the only one that I haven't needed to replace the band). I only use it for steps and like Mardee, to find my phone.

I did add Google Wallet to my phone last week and plan to try it out at Aldi this week. It should be great for traveling.

Enjoy the rest of your time in Spain!

I also use the Apple watch. I'm a LOL (little old lady) and I was amused in Italy last year when the young cafe servers were bowled over by my paying with my watch. "You're more advanced than we are! Wow!"

I’m in the Apple ecosystem. Started using iPhone wallet a few years ago. Works great and I can’t remember the last time I pulled out a physical CC. I started using a watch about a year ago and have been enjoying that too. I’ll offer up a couple of things that others might find useful.

• On the iPhone set up Apple Express Transit. The benefit is that you don’t have to unlock your phone and authorize payment. The downside is it only works in certain cities. So far I have been able to use it in New York and London. Once set up it works on the watch too. Just tap and go using your phone or watch. For London make sure to tap in and out with the same device. No mixing and matching.
• Apple Watch. It’s nice to use for Apple mapping while walking to a destination. The watch will buzz and announce the next change of direction. Ie. Slight right turn in 50 feet. So my phone can stay tucked away while moving around.
  

I remember travellers checks. Travel has never been easier!