Cash or Card? Countries where you still need cash.

[VPS]

NZ remains the land of the long time cashless society. However, my first time back in AKL since the big C and I’m seeing a LOT of 2% card fees about. Very naughty for a place that pretty much everyone uses card!

I don’t recall seeing that touring around the South Island 2 yrs ago.

and I seem to remember they were very slow in the small places to have tap and go - hopefully that has changed

 

[Flashback]

NZ remains the land of the long time cashless society. However, my first time back in AKL since the big C and I’m seeing a LOT of 2% card fees about. Very naughty for a place that pretty much everyone uses card!

I don’t recall seeing that touring around the South Island 2 yrs ago.

You had cancer too? So sorry to hear. Or do you mean C****-**?

 

[Lynda2475]

I used tap n go absolutely everywhere in Wellington in 2023 and Auckland this year. No cash needed. I found the venues that were cashless (probably 50% of places i dined or had coffee) did not have a card surcharge.

 

[Flashback]

I used tap n go absolutely everywhere in Wellington in 2023 and Auckland this year. No cash needed. I found the venues that were cashless (probably 50% of places i dined or had coffee) did not have a card fee.

You'd probably be happy with my 'tap' actions in the past 24 hours.

 

[SYD]

and I seem to remember they were very slow in the small places to have tap and go - hopefully that has changed

We had coffee earlier and a very modern POS machine didn’t tap! Even had to swipe the card because sticking it in the slot didn’t work…

You had cancer too? So sorry to hear. Or do you mean C****-**?

No. Actually did a cruise from NZ to Oz in early 2020 then things obviously went pear shaped shortly after.

Didn’t get back during the very short lived “bubble”….

 

[Flashback]

We had coffee earlier and a very modern POS machine didn’t tap! Even had to swipe the card because sticking it in the slot didn’t work…

No. Actually did a cruise from NZ to Oz in early 2020 then things obviously went pear shaped shortly after.

Didn’t get back during the very short lived “bubble”….

Oh good, not the big C then.

 

[SYD]

NZ remains the land of the long time cashless society. However, my first time back in AKL since the big C (C19) and I’m seeing a LOT of 2% card fees about. Very naughty for a place that pretty much everyone uses card!

I don’t recall seeing that touring around the South Island 2 yrs ago.

So after a long weekend in AKL, just reiterating that a 2% CC surcharge is widespread in restaurants here. Obviously not in supermarkets, and doesn’t appear to have crept into pubs and bars. From memory, coffee shops maybe 50/50?

I can only assume hotels are doing same? Ours was prepaid - so can’t confirm.

I’ve not used a DC so far, so not sure if there’s any differentiation? I suspect not.

Anyway, 2% is obviously eating big time into the 3% saving using something like 28° MC or many int fee free DC. Of course, adding 5% if you don’t have a fee free card - so maybe using cash is worth considering if saving $s over convenience is important.

I’ve not tried, but I believe ATMs are generally fee free to use?

 

[Jacques Vert]

I didnt have any issues paying by card in Lisbon or Porto in 2018 and I ate local. But if you want cash in Portugal it is very easy to find a fee free ATM

Do you remember which banks were fee-free? I tried 4 different banks and each of them wanted 13.5% commission (and that was using my NAB replacement for the CitiPlus).

 

[SYD]

Do you remember which banks were fee-free? I tried 4 different banks and each of them wanted 13.5% commission (and that was using my NAB replacement for the CitiPlus).

13.5% sounds like DCC in play! Was it offering AUD equivalent or just direct Euros?

 

[pjm99au]

In our recent (October 24) experience in Hong Kong

MRT - Visa accepted (through designated gates)

Buses - Visa accepted on all buses (except one bus where the terminal was down)

Star Ferry - Visa accepted

Taxi - supposed to be rolling out but we didn’t come across one with a terminal

AirPort Express - technically not but there did seem to be Visa enabled gates at HKG station

 

[Lynda2475]

Do you remember which banks were fee-free? I tried 4 different banks and each of them wanted 13.5% commission (and that was using my NAB replacement for the CitiPlus).

Sorry can't remember the local bank name, but avoid Spanish brands.

I had been in Spain for a week prior to being in Portugal and all the Spanish ATMs had fees , first ATM I tried in Porto at a very grand old bank building across from McDonald's on the main street, was fee free (a local brand). Stocked up on more Euros later at a Citibank in Porto and thein another local bank in Lisbon because I had to tip the guide and knew there would be fees once we got back to Barcelona.

Pretty sure I was using Macquarie debit which is Mastercard and I always selected credit for account type, except at citi atm where I used citi debit. NAB is Visa not sure if that makes a difference. Make sure to decline any offers of conversion.

Wise recommends using atms which are part of multibanco network. Maybe try Novobanco or Crédito Agrícola.

 

[Jacques Vert]

13.5% sounds like DCC in play! Was it offering AUD equivalent or just direct Euros?

It was definitely DCC and states it on the receipt although no other option was offered. Fortunately I only needed EUR40 to pay a restaurant bill when the barsteward wouldn't accept card. (Used the old excuse that the phone line was down.) I checked out ATMs at 4 different banks and they were all the same.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Wise recommends using atms which are part of multibanco network. Maybe try Novobanco or Crédito Agrícola.

Multibanco!!! There the ones that ripped me off; avoid at all cost.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Do you remember which banks were fee-free? I tried 4 different banks and each of them wanted 13.5% commission (and that was using my NAB replacement for the CitiPlus).

From memory Multibanco is better than Euronet @Jacques Vert but others here will have better recollections.
Screenshot is from my research prior to travel last year.

 

[Lynda2475]

Multibanco!!! There the ones that ripped me off; avoid at all cost.

Yes but as you admit it was DCC and likely not a ATM fee, I always decline DCC. EU atms are supposed to (and usually do) display fees up front, hence why I didn't take any cash out in Spain. There should be a way to opt out of DCC.

Maybe try Citi atm then.

 

[RealtimeY]

I don't think I've ever seen DCC presented without some way to decline it - though often it's not obvious . It can go by any one of these options, and more

• No DCC
• Decline
• Continue without conversion
• Base
• EUR (or whatever currency you're using)
• The flag of the country you're in

Basically, if I see AUD, I choose the option that isn't AUD.

 

[Per_Travels]

Does anyone have recent experience in Turkey - will I need cash in Istanbul (particularly for a taxi from the airport on arrival)

 

[Chicken]

Does anyone have recent experience in Turkey - will I need cash in Istanbul (particularly for a taxi from the airport on arrival)

You can check fees at

International ATM Operator Fees

whirlpool.net.au

 

[Per_Travels]

You can check fees at

International ATM Operator Fees

whirlpool.net.au

Thanks - I was more thinking about whether I will actually need cash, rather than how much it will cost in fees to get that cash

 

[Jacques Vert]

Yes but as you admit it was DCC and likely not a ATM fee, I always decline DCC. EU atms are supposed to (and usually do) display fees up front, hence why I didn't take any cash out in Spain. There should be a way to opt out of DCC.

Maybe try Citi atm then.

None of the ATMs mentioned anything about DCC at the withdrawal stage; they all did state there was a 13.5% commission. None of them indicated there was a way to avoid it. It was only on the receipt that DCC was shown.

It was only because I had abandoned +1 in the restaurant for more than half an hour while I searched for a fee-free ATM that I reluctantly accepted the withdrawal.

From now on I'll ask if they accept cards before sitting down (forgot on this occasion), and if the line goes down when it's time to pay I'll tell them they can phone me when it's working and I'll come back.