Cash or Card? Countries where you still need cash.

[SYD]

In Singapore, only the older-style ticket machines at MRT stations take foreign cards (the machines that also accept cash). The newer ones don't. Unfortunately, many stations have now replaced all but one of the older machines with the new ones, which is very inconvenient. There was a very long line last week at a station of foreigners buying tickets from the counter, as the only older machine was very well hidden behind a pole!

You’ve been able to tap on/off the MRT with an Oz CC/DC for a while now. So no need to buy ticket. Just use the same card.

So what we can summarize is that all individual shops, businesses and countries are different and that we should all carry both some cash and a credit card at all times....

The UK and some others mentioned are pretty easy to go cashless.

The point @Lynda2475 makes is it’s possible to go cashless in many other places (I used to do that on business trips by ignoring cash only places) but on leisure travel if some of the more local experiences need cash - then so be it.

 

[Magoo]

Surprisingly, several restaurants in Vienna accepted cash only. I'd spent 6 weeks travelling the rest of Europe and had hardly used cash. And the ATMs in Vienna all imposed charges. The taxi to the airport also required cash only.

 

[wildbill]

In Singapore, only the older-style ticket machines at MRT stations take foreign cards (the machines that also accept cash). The newer ones don't. Unfortunately, many stations have now replaced all but one of the older machines with the new ones, which is very inconvenient. There was a very long line last week at a station of foreigners buying tickets from the counter, as the only older machine was very well hidden behind a pole!

In Indonesia, cash is absolutely king. As soon as you're out of the city or tourist areas, there is a 0 chance that you can pay with card. The QRIS (Indonesian QR code) can be used in some stores, but it's very much still the minority.

Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia - all similar to Indonesia, with cash being king. Most local places will not accept cards. Cambodia also accepts USD in addition to KHR, with most prices in Siem Reap tourist areas being listed in USD only and a street exchange rate of 1 USD = 4000 KHR in place.

Of course, if you're just visiting foreigner-oriented places, such as upmarket restaurants, many will accept cards. But what's the point in travelling if you don't actually visit the real country? I don't understand people who visit a country (especially in Asia) and only eat at restaurants. What a waste.

Just had 3 weeks in Thailand and you just don't know - eg BTS train was cash even to top up your Rabbit card and had to be 100 baht steps only.
What I mean is you couldn't top up 150 Baht - had to be100, 200 etc
Walk down a street - one bar cash only the one beside it card ok, yet some of the street vendors had some sort of QR code I saw the locals using via their phones to pay for their food.

 

[dajop]

You’ve been able to tap on/off the MRT with an Oz CC/DC for a while now. So no need to buy ticket. Just use the same card.

And even if there are 2 of you who want to use the same card - if one has the card loaded an Apple wallet or the android equivalent , then I think one can use the physical card and the other can use their phone to tap on/off as they are treated as different cards (as I learnt just don’t ever tap on with the physical card and tap off with the phone - or vice versa - as that will mean double charging).

 

[RooFlyer]

So what we can summarize is that all individual shops, businesses and countries are different and that we should all carry both some cash and a credit card at all times....

Yes, perhaps with the exception if you are going to a major destination with a set itinerary, not doing anything spontaneous etc. OR if you are happy to be inconvenienced when your CC-only spending plan is rudely interrupted by a requirement for cash, and you have to wander off somewhere else in search of a CC machine ...

Jeez, if you are stuck with equivalent of A$20 at the end, put it in the UNICEF bag on the plane, or bin at the airport of keep it for next time. OR even, offer it to other AFFers, which happens regularly in my experience.

 

[Lynda2475]

No one mentioned credit card only, debit cards are equallly convenient and generally fee free for purchases. But in the extremely rare event you want some cash it is hardly inconvenient to go to an atm.

Being cashless does not as you imply require prepaying everything, it is the 21st century even the unemployed people selling the big issue on the street offer tap and go. Card better supports spontaneity because you havent had to guess how much you might need before hand.

Certainly not worth getting foreign cash out in Australia before travel then wasting time trying to find places that will accept it unless going somewhere with sanctions like Cuba.

You completely missed the point about the leftover 20 pound note, it was taken out over 5 years ago just in case cash was needed which turned out to be completely unecessary and a waste of time as 3 trips to uk since and never ever had cause to use it. Could have been earning interest in my bank.

 

[Pushka]

Jeez, if you are stuck with equivalent of A$20 at the end, put it in the UNICEF bag on the plane, or bin at the airport of keep it for next time. OR even, offer it to other AFFers, which happens regularly in my experience.

Provided a camel ride for me.

And the excess of EgyptIan pounds (after ATM supplement) was given to girlfriend who's travelling to Egypt in February. About the same amount. She was thrilled.

 

[Daver6]

You’ve been able to tap on/off the MRT with an Oz CC/DC for a while now. So no need to buy ticket. Just use the same card.

Only caveat is that Amex isn't accepted.

 

[kpc]

If posters insist they can go OS, and don't need any cash....no point arguing with them as they will still keep to their mantra even if given info to the contrary...bottom line is a lot of places overseas take card and you may get away without needing any cash but there are stiill some places even in developed Western countries that cash is needed. If you don't have cash, you have to accept you may be scrambling to find a working ATM nearby.

 

[RooFlyer]

you have to accept you may be scrambling to find a working ATM nearby.

And that bit will be left out of any Trip Report

 

[Lynda2475]

If there was no scrambling no need to omit.

Having done 3 UK trips in last 5 years with zero cash needed I'm 100% confident I wont need any cash there this upcoming trip. The number of places taking cashless payments is only increasing not regressing.

 

[RooFlyer]

If there was no scrambling no need to omit.

Having done 3 UK trips in last 5 years with zero cash needed I'm 100% confident I wont need any cash there this upcoming trip. The number of places taking cashless payments is only increasing not regressing.

Yeah, we're not just talking about the UK . Get a bit out of the comfort zone and you'll find a whole new world. And out of interest, what do you do when the local card or bank network goes down?

 

[dajop]

If there was no scrambling no need to omit.

Having done 3 UK trips in last 5 years with zero cash needed I'm 100% confident I wont need any cash there this upcoming trip. The number of places taking cashless payments is only increasing not regressing.

We had cash on our UK trip in 2022, left over from earlier trips (pre-C) and we had to pay by card*, because the notes had been changed and the older ones no longer accepted (currently in the process over several visits of changing that over to new cash).

So I'm confident you are right with regards to UK, I can't think of a need for cash, other than an "emergency stash" and using up notes we already have.

* I suppose we could have gone to an ATM and got new notes out if we really didn't want to pay by card

 

[Lynda2475]

Yeah, we're not just talking about the UK . Get a bit out of the comfort zone and you'll find a whole new world.

Never had issues in Bolivia but maybe you consider that comfortable? Cuba only an issue due to sanctions and planned ahead but then still had inconvenience of leaving with CAD i didnt need.

And out of interest, what do you do when the local card or bank network goes down?

Credit cards can be used offline, only debit cards need a real time connection. That is why inflight purchases accept CC and not DC.

You obviously dont leave home without cash, I do it all the time without issue. Many of the countries people are listing on this thread as being essential to have cash in I have direct experience of needing zero cash there - Singapore, Portugal so easy to be cashless.

YMMV but you are jumping to many conclusions re comfort zones and pre-paid spending etc which is not my experience at all.

 

[RooFlyer]

Never had issues in Bolivia but maybe you consider that comfortable? .....

YMMV but you are jumping to many conclusions re comfort zones and pre-paid spending etc which is not my experience at all.

My concept of a 'comfort zone' isn't at the country level, but place/activity within any country. . I can go spontaneously to just about any place/shop/activity waaaaayyy out the backblocks (as I usually do) with some cash and know I'll be OK, and not be embarrassed when at the counter when I find they won't accept a card. Example: JohnM and I broke down in the Andes way out in the middle of no-where. We finally got a lift into a 'nearby' village and got a 'mechanico' to come out to get us going. Without cash, we might still be there and Argentina is hardly third world. I like buying fresh fruit at roadside stalls everywhere, or picking through a spice bazaars. Out-of-the-way in the third world they simply don't have card machines (or internet, or reliable electricity for that matter). Not just third world - recent trip to Germany was another case in point. Parking is always difficult, so I chose a council-run parking garage. Looked around - cash only for tickets! Fortunately of course I had some Euros, and small denoms and coins, thanks to tip by @VPS.

Its not claimed that cash is best everywhere - if I fly to Heathrow, get a cab to my hotel, eat in local restaurants or shop at Sainsburys and take a tour or two, I'd always use a card. I didn't use any cash in my trip to the UK earlier this year. But if I go to the back blocks of Iran, Morocco, Turkey, Russia, Cote d'Ivoire or Tajikistan, which I have done for leisure or work, I'd be nuts not to take cash with me. You'd take cash too - or just limit your experiences.

 

[VPS]

I know that everyone has their opinions but I spent four months in the UK and Western Europe from October to March. I nearly always hire a car and like to get out to the remote places. If I'd relied on card only in both UK and France I would have faced some issues. If you don't want to be that foreign tourist trying to pay your toll in France with a foreign card that works one day and not the next (and all those frustrated French people behind you) then you need cash.

I didn't find a laundromat anywhere in the places I went that took anything but cash. Many weren't staffed but had machines where you could change your notes into coins.

Getting off the QM2 at Southampton to get to the train station - captive audience and no alternatives - cash or walk.

Lots of car parks in rural England are still cash only.

I also like shopping in the local markets particularly in England and France and when I waved a credit card at them they just laughed - cash only

Having said that the majority of time I did use cards (I'm lucky I have a UK debit card) and my Wise card and Citibank debit card were fine but I nearly always travel alone and like the security of having some cash and I've never found an issue passing it onto someone else if it's somewhere I'm not going back to. Chilean pesos @RooFlyer

 

[Aswang]

Travelled to Morocco in May this year. Still a very cash society. One thing to note. There is a withdrawal limit of MAD 2000/day and they charge MAD 35 for every withdrawal even if my Citi/NAB debit card does not charge any fee. So best to have some USD or EUR cash with you.

 

[Flashback]

Travelled to Morocco in May this year. Still a very cash society. One thing to note. There is a withdrawal limit of MAD 2000/day and they charge MAD 35 for every withdrawal even if my Citi/NAB debit card does not charge any fee. So best to have some USD or EUR cash with you.

That must be new, in 6 trips to Morocco I've never paid to withdraw cash.

 

[clifford]

Well, I've needed to pay in cash at a couple of apartments I'd booked online in Europe (Athens and Bucharest). It wasn't a problem.

I knew this was the case, so went prepared (with cash). Of course, the naysayers would no doubt say "just book somewhere else that takes a card". Really convenient, of course...

 

[RooFlyer]

I knew this was the case, so went prepared (with cash). Of course, the naysayers would no doubt say "just book somewhere else that takes a card". Really convenient, of course...

That's it. if you are OK with travelling with cash and card, you can access everything. If you insist on 'card only' you restrict yourself.