Cash or Card? Countries where you still need cash.

[SYD]

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.

Yes, it pays to ask about accepting CCs in Portugal. It’s surprisingly common and annoying that some more authentic places don’t.

However, do look closely at the ATM, as above there will be some option or button to bypass DCC. If not, press Decline and move on.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Yes, it pays to ask about accepting CCs in Portugal. It’s surprisingly common and annoying that some more authentic places don’t.

However, do look closely at the ATM, as above there will be some option or button to bypass DCC. If not, press Decline and move on.

Yeah, revisited the ATM today as a test. Managed to avoid the commission and fee by continuing to push "decline" a number of times.

My mistake yesterday was to hit "cancel transaction" too early and look for a different ATM.

Mind you, even without a fee or commission, the exchange rate wasn't great.

 

[SYD]

Mind you, even without a fee or commission, the exchange rate wasn't great.

Was there a local ATM fee (maybe a couple of Euro)?

Because usually you should be within about 0.3% to 0.5% of the spot rate.

NAB charge a hefty OS ATM usage fee on most accounts, but I thought the legacy Citi card was exempt?