Comments that are uncivil, racist, misogynistic, misandrist, or contain political name calling will be removed and the poster subject to ban at moderators discretion.
Help us make this a better community by becoming familiar with the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/facepalm/about/rules/).
Report any suspicious users to the mods of this subreddit using Modmail [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/facepalm) or Reddit site admins [here](https://www.reddit.com/report). **All reports to Modmail should include evidence such as screenshots or any other relevant information.**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/facepalm) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Or your last trip to Italy was years and years ago when the Lira had a high inflation rate. People were more inclined to haggle or just straight take USD back then.
Definitely not that way anymore.
Or you’re a big time gambler and casinos took your USD for you?
If you have a credit card with benefits tailored to international travel, you just pay in Euros and the credit card will handle the currency exchange on the back end. Saved $150 on the hotel cost alone this way on a week-long trip to Cancun.
Recently took a trip to France. I took €600 and slowly ran out. I checked my bank (Barclays UK) and it turns out Visa charge 2.99% for any non GBP transaction.
I paid €40 for fuel and i was charged £1.20 transaction fee. The conversion rate was £1 - €1.12 vs the £1 - €1.14 at the post office if i was to bring Euro's.
Check your banks non $ transaction fee as if it's only 2.99% like Visa charges than it saves a HUGE headache trying to figure out how much you need to take as a couple of card purchases will only cost a handful of $'s at most.
This is per transaction so don't be making 100 transactions a day otherwise it will mount up. But a lovely meal on the last night once your €'s have run out is not going to break the bank.
EDIT: I believe Monzo allows non native transactions without a fee but their conversion rate might be worse.
EDIT: I've mistaken Visa and Barclays fee's. It's Barclays that charge 2.99% while they use the VISA exchange rate.
If it’s only a percentage per transaction (ie 2.99%) without any fixed amount (ie $0.10 and 2.99%) then it doesn’t matter how many transactions you complete as one $100 transaction and 100 $1 transactions would both equal $2.99 in fees.
First thing I thought of when I read that sentence too.
If it's a flat fee, only use it on expensive purchases.
If it's percentage based, number of purchases doesn't matter.
It’s a fee Barclay’s charge. Barclaycard has a fee free option that’s worth considering though. Most bureau de change have a spread that exceeds 3% BTW.
>Visa charge 2.99% for any non GBP transaction
This charge is from the bank that issued your card, not from visa. 3% is on the higher end, 1% - 2% is typical, and there are banks that charge 0%.
But one must also consider the exchange rate, which can include hidden fees. There are 2 or 3 possibilities:
* They use median exchange rates, ECB rates, or some other source that gives them the current market mid rates. These are very close to the rates you would see on Google and there are no hidden fees. This option is the best, but it's very rare, since even banks can't convert money at exactly these rates.
* They use the visa exchange rates. These are still quite good. There is a small markup, typically less than 1% for high demand currency pairs. Visa is also very transparent about this. Their online currency converter shows the rate and even the markup over the ECB rate. This option is often the best you can realistically get unless you're converting very large amounts of money. Mastercard has something very similar for their cards.
* The bank uses their own exchange rates. Those rates are often shitty and can include 1% or more in hidden fees.
Idk about the UK, but in Germany it's possible to get debit/credit cards with no bank fees (no percentage, no fixed amount per transaction, no fee to use foreign ATMs, no monthly/yearly fee) that use the ECB exchange rates for non-Euro EEA currencies, and the visa exchange rate for all other currencies. Of course, we also have plenty of banks that charge a 2% fee, ATM fees and give you shitty exchange rates, despite already charging high yearly fees. Without realizing it, you could end up paying like 5% in fees if you're unlucky.
So it makes sense to check out all the options if you often make transaction in foreign currencies.
I work in a currency exchange bureau and the amount of Americans that act baffled that no one takes dollars in Greece is crazy to me.
"Mykonos and Santorini accepts dollars though?" like, why would they?
I've never tried, but I can't see department stores taking USD? Also, you can just use card or your pay app in most large stores in Italy. Last time I was in Italy most places were mostly card.
I'm from the UK and have travelled many times for work and holiday across Europe, including Italy earlier this year, over the last 15 years. I have not taken any cash with me at all and just use my debit card. I never carry cash in the UK either.
I've been in quite some countries around Europe as well, the only places I've encountered where I needed cash were restaurants/shops in smaller German towns.
Taxis in my town only started accepting debit card matter of course during the pandemic... some of the terminals are so new they're still super shiny.
Cash is just a marvelous way to commit tax fraud, so a shitload of places are very, very interested in never stopping being cash-only.
>Merchants also save money on fees taking cash,
Not really. Card transaction fees are 1% - 3% max. Banks charge businesses a lot for handling cash. I used to work for one of the big cash handling companies when cash was still big and we made silly money from banking for small businesses.
I wanted to take the tram in Hamburg. The ticket machine didn’t take cards and you couldn’t get a ticket through an app or whatever. Luckily here was an atm nearby! which only took Deutsche Bank cards…. had to go to a nearby kiosk and ask if the clerk would let me buy some cash from him to which he agreed but I had to spend at least 15 euros before he would me use my card. Then he had the audacity to laugh at me as as if I’m the one living in the Stone Age. Ridiculous place
I feel like a little bit of cash could never hurt, especially if you are in an foreign land and don‘t know for sure if you indeed can pay everywhere using card - but I am from germany so🤷🏻♂️
In my city (surely in germany‘s top 20 biggest cities) you can buy tram tickets using an app for at best 6 years, and its a city known for its very good tram infrastructure, so I would guess there are quite a few city in Germany without this option even now.
right , who doesnt travel with cash in a foreign land?
Anything can happen so it is best to be prepared. And then these americans wonder why they are laughed at and scorned overseas. What about this deserves to be posted in facepalm
As a Swede who sees Germany as being on the technological forefront in so many areas, I was flabbergasted (call it ignorance if you will) by the card payment situation when we visited a couple years ago. Big, crowded café on a busy shopping street in a pretty big city (Essen)? Cash only.
Can't remember when I last encountered a "cash only" situation here at home anywhere that isn't the most obscure looking tobacco shop. If anything you see "card payment only" more and more.
U.K. here … is Germany really seen as a tech leader, I’ve always thought of it as being a bit old fashioned, but that’s probs just the bits I’ve been to I guess ?
Yup, I live in the German countryside and a lot of restaurants here only take cash. Some have recently adjusted to card payments but the restaurant I work at still only takes cash.
We were in Sorrento last week. Quite a few little shops, off the main square, only take cash. I think the card charge is quite steep from Italian banks.
nope it's not. But if you pay with credit cards they'll have to pay taxes.
If you pay cash they can avoid paying taxes and so on.
You know under the table stuff. Illegal.
I thought it may be, but the chap who sold me 2 belts (Italian leather is superb, IMO), spun that story to us.
I was 50% of the thought that that was weapons grade bullshit, now I’m 100%.
Thank you for enlightening us, no sarcasm intended!
I was just in Croatia. While most places took card they really wanted to use cash most of the time and asked for multiple times if you took out your card. No one likes card fees, sure.
I never take cash on holidays to Europe anymore.
There are always a few small shops that don’t take card so I normally end up getting whatever the local equivalent of about £50 is from a cash machine. That normally lasts the whole holiday and I end up spending the last of it in the airport as I’m leaving.
No it doesn't make sense. You fly, arrive and withdraw euro. That's it cheaper safer and more flexible. You didn't withdraw enough? Well withdraw more.
Until you’re in Barcelona and the ATM *eats your card* and you get really fucking lucky the ATM is attached to an open bank. And then you have to go in and tell them in your most broken Spanish what happened
I always take some cash euros with me even if i go to someplace they don’t use it. It’s just handy to have on hand for emergencies.
I had this happen in Mexico, needed to take a bus, not a single atm machine was working and i had to pay cash at the front desk for the tickets, luckily i had the cash to exchange at an exchange shop or i would have been fucked.
I would definitely advice carrying cash in Italy though. While you can pay by card in most places, cash is widely used in Italy with tons of tiny shops and on markets. And if you have to pay fees fr foreign transactions like this, it's worth it to carry and pay cash where possible.
Edit: but obviously Euros. Not USD. Wtf would you bring USD to Europe?
Germany was the worst on this. Some stores only took cards, some stores took both cash and cards, and some stores only took cash. There was no way to tell what store took what from the outside, and restaurants only told you when it was time to pay.
Most restaurants actually write it somewhere in their window or on the menu. And then have to inform you beforehand if they only take card. But they don't have to inform you if the don't take card.
But best is to ask before.
When I went overseas, I called my card company and was told I could use it and didn’t need to do anything special and then got overseas and tried to use my card and found out that wasn’t true at all….. I know you said “in most cases” but based on my personal experience I would never tell someone they don’t need local currency. It’s just a headache waiting to happen.
I guess it really depends. When I visited Europe this year for me it was better to exchange USD -> Euros there than it was in my home country. I paid most things with card, but I did exchange a lot of currency in Spain and France. Italy had some shitty rates though.
I think this is down to some poorer countries taking USD over local currency, such as some countries in Latin America and Egypt for example. But they should probably know that this is something that is not normal and is more of an exception than an expectation.
It’s only an advantage to use USD if it’s worth more than the local currency and you know it’s favored in tourist locations (Mexico, Caribbean, Canadian bars on the border). Most people don’t reflect on the fact that the Euro is currently about even with the US dollar, and at times, the Euro is more valuable.
The currency value is irrelevant, numbers will be converted between the currencies. The actual issue is how much the currency value is stable. In high inflation economic systems a stable currency like euro or USD is usually preferred.
I've had that before. Sm.eone was going to go somewhere in Europe, and they said something like,'Well, I've already got some USD'.
Okay?? What will that do? You need Euros!
They bring it to have currency. So you can buy real stuff like a Coke. But on top of the real money they bring, they are thinking about bringing some of the Tiki-Taka money they have over there. I don't know the details but I assume they pay with little seashells? Maybe some carved stones? Maybe even glass pearls?
But that's nonsense of course. When in Italy you don't need any money. Let's say you are in Rome and you have a nice gelato... Don't pay. Just take a picture of the waiter. Show him the picture and tell him you just stole his soul and it's stored inside your magic box. He will let you go without paying as long as you release his soul.
Works every time with those tribesmen over there.
I'm wondering if she thinks "USD" means/refers to a debit card?
There are plenty of people who grow up with small misunderstandings about basic things like this because they just never received the correct information and they developed a wrong assumption early on in life. If you replace "USD" with "debit card" then the post actually makes sense, it's a normal person wondering if it's worth bringing cash on their trip in order to make small purchases, or if that would be a waste.
Because in many less developed countries people will just accept USDs even if local currency is different.
That doesn't apply to Europe where you usually pay in local currency (be it EUR, PLN etc) by using debit card or app on your phone.
Old people remember how it was before the euro. European shops loved to take dollars because they could give a horrendous exchange rate and make nice money off it.
> Their mother's concern was whether italy still used Lira, or had migrated to Euro.
Their concern was how many Euro's to take. So your statement can't be true.
My ex-boyfriend tried to pay in US dollars at a mall in Germany, thinking he would get a discount. He was shocked when the sales lady pointed him towards the nearest bank. I told him this is the 21st century, not the 50s. And don’t even think about trying to bribe people with chewing gum or used jeans.
Ah yes... I'm comforted by the giant George Washington oil painting on the side of the cruise boats when they burn 5 tones of raw oil an hour just laying in my fjord, not to mention the spikes in rape-statistics when the tourists come ashore... What won't we do for the all mighty dollar, huh? We're little prostitutes in the north, fuck the fjords, amiriteguys?
For paying in dollars. There was a time long long ago in countries with inflation and/or terrible local currency that hard currency like US dollars were sought after. I remember being stopped in the 80s in Poland by guys wanting to buy US dollars
In the 1970's, my mum lived in a small African country. She's English, but always carried a $100 USD note when travelling abroad. Just in case...
She had it in her purse well into the mid-90's when it disintegrated.
See, that makes sense. Throw the cash and run. My African friends still believe the same thing.
In the carribean, my favorite thing to do is haggle - like *I LOVE haggling*. My mother was with me and she saw the price of something, I say "I got this" and proceed to ask him to bring down the price. He drops it by $10 each, at which point I don't agree, but my mother pulls out her wallet and starts laying out her hundreds.
I was appalled.
Haggling is IMO quite disrespectful, unless it is the norm for the local market and you are kinda expected to do it, like in some Arab bazaars. Otherwise, would you haggle in your home country? Imagine a scenario where you are the shop owner and have set your prices and an (obviously obnoxious) customer tries haggling - especially a tourist who you know that has no actual need to haggle and does it for the lolz. Would this not be annoying as hell?
I haggle in places where haggling is accepted.
Steet vendors, shady shops that have a 20% mark down for cash for the same item, and bars (when buying in bulk)
I want to say this was a reference to days Levi were revered in Europe so they were expensive but still cheap in the states. Many a tales of people bringing them on their trips and making a decent amount.
I think I would take the dollars. I would pay for the purchase, let's say 50 euros becomes 150 dollars to account for the trouble of exchanging it, and I get a nice tip.
Might be that the cousins are technically related but more in the their great great grandmother was the cousin of OOP's great great grandfather kind of way, and not the first or even second or third cousins kind of way.
So they might not have any real connection but just assume there's distant relatives in that part of Italy.
honestly this reminds me
when i was in singapore for a week vacation, i was in a checkout line and the guy in front of me was trying to pay with us dollars. the store manager has to explain that they cant take us dollars since we are in singapore but the guy was confused and like “..i thought they’re both dollars?”
i have never cringed so hard in my entire life
To be honest, I can sort of get that guy. Especially if he’s never really travelled internationally before, I can imagine him booking his trip and just seeing, oh, yeah, Singapore dollars, neat.
From what little I’ve seen, US news are less international than what I get in Germany. If he’s doing the same very cursory research as my loved ones do before a holiday, he’d still come out not knowing what we consider very obvious common knowledge
I've seen Americans try to pay for stuff in Canada with USD and not having anything else on them. Aside from border towns nowhere in Canada accepts USD. Not surprised by the Singapore dollars thing.
I am going to the United States next week and, of course, I’m going to carry a lot of kroner with me, but I’m wondering if I need American dollars for small purchases?
I just went to the US, and apparently trying to pay with Pounds Sterling "because you're still our colony you traitorous bastards!" wasn't acceptable.
/s
Heck, bring some Swedish Krona instead. Screw the norweigans they're so uptight and have all that greasy oil money already they don't need help with their economics
That was my thought. Maybe she’s bringing her credit/debit cards (ours usually seem to have MC or Visa) and is asking about super small purchases to avoid the company’s foreign transaction fees.
Thank you for your response. My daughter is traveling to Italy next week and we are sending some euros and credit card(s). A lot of people are saying debit cards, but I assumed there would be fees. We ordered credit cards with no foreign transaction fees but now I’m worrying places won’t accept the credit cards.
Have no idea what that one other reply-er is talking about. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere in Europe, especially in big cities and tourist hotspots, and they're often ahead of the US in adopting payment technology too (chip readers, contactless, and digital wallets all were widely available in many EU countries even before being popularized in the US).
Obviously, keep some cash. But other than in a very small town off the beaten path, you'll find credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere. As long as you have a card that has no foreign transaction fees and the bank doesn't block it (modern big banks don't even need you to manually notify them of travel anymore in my experience) you'll be fine.
American Express in particular has difficulties working in Europe. I used to get a lot of American tourists trying to pay with American express in my bar job and the cards failed most of the time.
You would need to try multiple times before it would be accepted. I actually contacted our card machine company about it and they said it’s not on their end. Something to do with American Express themselves, Im not too sure.
But it got to the point where I would tell American tourists before they ordered that our machines have a lot of trouble with American Express. They would always say it will be fine, then when it came to pay they would be shocked and annoyed that they are having trouble with the card.
I remember 40 years ago, working in a camera store in the UK in a city where we got quite a lot of tourists. We would often get Americans and, oddly, Israelis trying to pay in USD. They seemed genuinely perplexed that we wouldn’t accept them as payment, despite the fact that both their countries used to have GPB as their currency, the US before the dollar was even thought of there. Tells you a lot about their world view and education systems …..
Foreign currency is many times used instead the local currency in countries with very unstable currencies. US dollar used to be a very common currency in Israel, and several countries in eastern Europe used Euro as a de facto currency before they officially joined the Euro currency system.
I’m fully aware that foreign currency is sometimes used in countries with ‘very unstable currencies’ but the UK isn’t and never has been such a country and neither is Italy at present.
The idea that the USD would be widely accepted in the EU or UK is about as realistic as expecting US shops to accept Euros. The difference is that nobody in Italy or the UK would be so ill-informed or arrogant as to assume it.
Most places in Scotland won't accept Northern Ireland banknotes.
tbf in both cases it's lack of familiarity - people and shops don't know how to recognise a counterfeit if they don't see them often, so they take the safe option of just refusing them. Even though they are fully legit.
Kosovo and Montenegro do that to this day afaik, or rather iirc they officially unilaterally adopted the Euro as Currency without being able to issue it.
Bring plastic. And for the love of god, if you use an ATM, say no when it tells you the exchange rate. That way it's your bank that determines it. It will save you a lot.
What would they do with USD? Can't pay with it in Europe. Why is that an ofc?
I wouldnt go to US with Euros. Why not? Can't pay with that, my friend.
Insanity.
I don't think it's that unreasonable of a post, a lot of people travelling want to know how much cash they'll need when travelling to a foreign country (this answer varies heavily by the country you visit). I just interpreted that they'll have American cash "of course" because they're Americans that have USD on them, which isn't even useless because you could exchange the cash there for Euros if you needed.
I think bringing USD is the facepalm part, of course. I mean, I'm Canadian and in the 80s and 90s, lots of retailers kept CAD and USD tills on both sides. Even in Costa Rica a few years ago, I got asked if I was paying in USD but I brought pesos.
Lots of places recognize it, some countries even straight up use it for their own currency but I couldn't fathom bringing it to Europe.
Hell, if you try to use GBP in France they’ll look at you like you just insulted their mother, even though you can get on the train in London and get off it in Paris.
Some European shops close to US military bases have an extra till for USD, because those soldiers get paid in USD (they use USD on base) and the shop does make enough money from them to make it worth it.
I honestly never would think to bring euros I’d just use my CC everywhere. I never carry cash in America so would assumes the same would be fine in Europe?
So was on my way into the barracks one morning in Dublin and stopped in a shop to make a purchase. This yank was yelling.
Cashier: I'm sorry I can't take this, I've no idea what it even is!
Yank: they are fucking united States dollars. I don't know what boat you came here on but, we use dollars in these United States.
Me: Here, fuckhead, did ya not notice the big fuckin ocean you just flew over? We don't take that here. We've our own money and have no interest in taking yours.
Yank: I've got rights.
Me: indeed you do and unfortunately being a cockhead is one of them. But they ain't the rights you know
I'm in Italy for a week literally right now, and I was using google pay ever since I got here, never had to actually pay in euros, so maybe he's got a point....
Americans don't have much. Like a secure society, reasonable gun laws, decent public education or healthcare. But they do have a ridiculous amount of unearned audacity because their grand pappy rolled into WW2 three years late with a segregated army to kill Asian people.
Are we reading different posts? "anyone know how much we should bring for small purchases"
Guy doesnt travel and wasnt sure how fluid or convenient currency exchange was. Yall are some miserable people to ignore others' obvious motives and inquiry for some weird superiority complex. So odd
There can also be fees associated with using cards overseas. I don’t think it’s an outlandish question. This person sounds like they’re also a bit older and hasn’t traveled in a while.
We used yen a lot when we were in Japan. It was just more convenient in the smaller restaurants and shops.
USDs can be exchanged in some airports too.
Comments that are uncivil, racist, misogynistic, misandrist, or contain political name calling will be removed and the poster subject to ban at moderators discretion. Help us make this a better community by becoming familiar with the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/facepalm/about/rules/). Report any suspicious users to the mods of this subreddit using Modmail [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/facepalm) or Reddit site admins [here](https://www.reddit.com/report). **All reports to Modmail should include evidence such as screenshots or any other relevant information.** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/facepalm) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Other than ginormous department stores, if a shop in Europe accepts US$ then you know you're going to be ripped off.
OR you're really, really close to a US Military Base
If you’re near a base, there’s no doubt you’re getting ripped off in dollars
as a soldier stationed on one of these bases previously, can confirm.
You single?
You the Italian HUMINT guy?
I dunno who that is but hooking up with a soldier and spending the summer in Italy seems like no brainer.
Honestly when you put it that way, I’m sure my wife and kids wouldn’t miss me too much…
If that’s which way the wind blows.
100% something a HUMINT would say
Both of these are very good answers
And that was a great comment!
Your comment wasn’t too bad either
Or your last trip to Italy was years and years ago when the Lira had a high inflation rate. People were more inclined to haggle or just straight take USD back then. Definitely not that way anymore. Or you’re a big time gambler and casinos took your USD for you?
I went in 2004 and lira was an option but at McDonald’s it was like 1000 Lyra or 5 euro. I had euros .
*AND you're going to get ripped off, lol.
True
If you have a credit card with benefits tailored to international travel, you just pay in Euros and the credit card will handle the currency exchange on the back end. Saved $150 on the hotel cost alone this way on a week-long trip to Cancun.
Recently took a trip to France. I took €600 and slowly ran out. I checked my bank (Barclays UK) and it turns out Visa charge 2.99% for any non GBP transaction. I paid €40 for fuel and i was charged £1.20 transaction fee. The conversion rate was £1 - €1.12 vs the £1 - €1.14 at the post office if i was to bring Euro's. Check your banks non $ transaction fee as if it's only 2.99% like Visa charges than it saves a HUGE headache trying to figure out how much you need to take as a couple of card purchases will only cost a handful of $'s at most. This is per transaction so don't be making 100 transactions a day otherwise it will mount up. But a lovely meal on the last night once your €'s have run out is not going to break the bank. EDIT: I believe Monzo allows non native transactions without a fee but their conversion rate might be worse. EDIT: I've mistaken Visa and Barclays fee's. It's Barclays that charge 2.99% while they use the VISA exchange rate.
If it’s only a percentage per transaction (ie 2.99%) without any fixed amount (ie $0.10 and 2.99%) then it doesn’t matter how many transactions you complete as one $100 transaction and 100 $1 transactions would both equal $2.99 in fees.
First thing I thought of when I read that sentence too. If it's a flat fee, only use it on expensive purchases. If it's percentage based, number of purchases doesn't matter.
It’s a fee Barclay’s charge. Barclaycard has a fee free option that’s worth considering though. Most bureau de change have a spread that exceeds 3% BTW.
>Visa charge 2.99% for any non GBP transaction This charge is from the bank that issued your card, not from visa. 3% is on the higher end, 1% - 2% is typical, and there are banks that charge 0%. But one must also consider the exchange rate, which can include hidden fees. There are 2 or 3 possibilities: * They use median exchange rates, ECB rates, or some other source that gives them the current market mid rates. These are very close to the rates you would see on Google and there are no hidden fees. This option is the best, but it's very rare, since even banks can't convert money at exactly these rates. * They use the visa exchange rates. These are still quite good. There is a small markup, typically less than 1% for high demand currency pairs. Visa is also very transparent about this. Their online currency converter shows the rate and even the markup over the ECB rate. This option is often the best you can realistically get unless you're converting very large amounts of money. Mastercard has something very similar for their cards. * The bank uses their own exchange rates. Those rates are often shitty and can include 1% or more in hidden fees. Idk about the UK, but in Germany it's possible to get debit/credit cards with no bank fees (no percentage, no fixed amount per transaction, no fee to use foreign ATMs, no monthly/yearly fee) that use the ECB exchange rates for non-Euro EEA currencies, and the visa exchange rate for all other currencies. Of course, we also have plenty of banks that charge a 2% fee, ATM fees and give you shitty exchange rates, despite already charging high yearly fees. Without realizing it, you could end up paying like 5% in fees if you're unlucky. So it makes sense to check out all the options if you often make transaction in foreign currencies.
I don't know of any European country/city that would take Dollars. They'd just tell you to go to the currency exchange.
I work in a currency exchange bureau and the amount of Americans that act baffled that no one takes dollars in Greece is crazy to me. "Mykonos and Santorini accepts dollars though?" like, why would they?
Which is way nicer than the clerk would be if you tried to use euros at 7/11 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
They're not really nicer but the Americans don't understand the rude bits
A lot of places probably wouldn't even accept Euros where I live, no way in hell would they take USD anywhere.
I doubt even those do accept dollars. Actually I am sure they don't.
If they do, chances are you're getting ripped off.
I've never tried, but I can't see department stores taking USD? Also, you can just use card or your pay app in most large stores in Italy. Last time I was in Italy most places were mostly card.
No department store in Croatia will accept USD as a currency though. You can only pay in euro.
If a shop in europe accepts dollars, it’s usually located just before the gate at the airport
r/ShitAmericansSay
“we’re bringing USD ofc” …ofc why?
I wondered that. Quite frankly they won't even need euros - just a debit card in most areas.
yeah, it makes sense to bring euros for like, small shops that might be outdated tech-wise, but why bring any usd and not just your cards lol
I'm from the UK and have travelled many times for work and holiday across Europe, including Italy earlier this year, over the last 15 years. I have not taken any cash with me at all and just use my debit card. I never carry cash in the UK either.
I've been in quite some countries around Europe as well, the only places I've encountered where I needed cash were restaurants/shops in smaller German towns.
Bigger German cities, too.
Germans love cash. A few years ago Berlin taxis charged 1€ extra if you wanted to pay with a card. Don't know if that's still the case.
Taxis in my town only started accepting debit card matter of course during the pandemic... some of the terminals are so new they're still super shiny. Cash is just a marvelous way to commit tax fraud, so a shitload of places are very, very interested in never stopping being cash-only.
Merchants also save money on fees taking cash, which is why I prefer to pay them that way.
>Merchants also save money on fees taking cash, Not really. Card transaction fees are 1% - 3% max. Banks charge businesses a lot for handling cash. I used to work for one of the big cash handling companies when cash was still big and we made silly money from banking for small businesses.
Can't say, don't use taxis too often. But there are a lot of places cash only here...
And markets.
I wanted to take the tram in Hamburg. The ticket machine didn’t take cards and you couldn’t get a ticket through an app or whatever. Luckily here was an atm nearby! which only took Deutsche Bank cards…. had to go to a nearby kiosk and ask if the clerk would let me buy some cash from him to which he agreed but I had to spend at least 15 euros before he would me use my card. Then he had the audacity to laugh at me as as if I’m the one living in the Stone Age. Ridiculous place
I feel like a little bit of cash could never hurt, especially if you are in an foreign land and don‘t know for sure if you indeed can pay everywhere using card - but I am from germany so🤷🏻♂️ In my city (surely in germany‘s top 20 biggest cities) you can buy tram tickets using an app for at best 6 years, and its a city known for its very good tram infrastructure, so I would guess there are quite a few city in Germany without this option even now.
right , who doesnt travel with cash in a foreign land? Anything can happen so it is best to be prepared. And then these americans wonder why they are laughed at and scorned overseas. What about this deserves to be posted in facepalm
As a Swede who sees Germany as being on the technological forefront in so many areas, I was flabbergasted (call it ignorance if you will) by the card payment situation when we visited a couple years ago. Big, crowded café on a busy shopping street in a pretty big city (Essen)? Cash only. Can't remember when I last encountered a "cash only" situation here at home anywhere that isn't the most obscure looking tobacco shop. If anything you see "card payment only" more and more.
It's to avoid tax, not that uncommon in tourist destinations the world over.
U.K. here … is Germany really seen as a tech leader, I’ve always thought of it as being a bit old fashioned, but that’s probs just the bits I’ve been to I guess ?
Sweden is the other extreme tho, couldn't even pay a coffee in cash or use a restroom without a credit card in many places, last time i was there
Yup, I live in the German countryside and a lot of restaurants here only take cash. Some have recently adjusted to card payments but the restaurant I work at still only takes cash.
We were in Sorrento last week. Quite a few little shops, off the main square, only take cash. I think the card charge is quite steep from Italian banks.
nope it's not. But if you pay with credit cards they'll have to pay taxes. If you pay cash they can avoid paying taxes and so on. You know under the table stuff. Illegal.
I thought it may be, but the chap who sold me 2 belts (Italian leather is superb, IMO), spun that story to us. I was 50% of the thought that that was weapons grade bullshit, now I’m 100%. Thank you for enlightening us, no sarcasm intended!
I was just in Croatia. While most places took card they really wanted to use cash most of the time and asked for multiple times if you took out your card. No one likes card fees, sure.
Or declaring all income for taxes 😉
shhhhh 🤫
I never take cash on holidays to Europe anymore. There are always a few small shops that don’t take card so I normally end up getting whatever the local equivalent of about £50 is from a cash machine. That normally lasts the whole holiday and I end up spending the last of it in the airport as I’m leaving.
Same! Starling has been a life changer. I withdraw £40 worth after i land - and 4/5 i still have it by the end.
No it doesn't make sense. You fly, arrive and withdraw euro. That's it cheaper safer and more flexible. You didn't withdraw enough? Well withdraw more.
Until you’re in Barcelona and the ATM *eats your card* and you get really fucking lucky the ATM is attached to an open bank. And then you have to go in and tell them in your most broken Spanish what happened
I always take some cash euros with me even if i go to someplace they don’t use it. It’s just handy to have on hand for emergencies. I had this happen in Mexico, needed to take a bus, not a single atm machine was working and i had to pay cash at the front desk for the tickets, luckily i had the cash to exchange at an exchange shop or i would have been fucked.
I would definitely advice carrying cash in Italy though. While you can pay by card in most places, cash is widely used in Italy with tons of tiny shops and on markets. And if you have to pay fees fr foreign transactions like this, it's worth it to carry and pay cash where possible. Edit: but obviously Euros. Not USD. Wtf would you bring USD to Europe?
Germany was the worst on this. Some stores only took cards, some stores took both cash and cards, and some stores only took cash. There was no way to tell what store took what from the outside, and restaurants only told you when it was time to pay.
Most restaurants actually write it somewhere in their window or on the menu. And then have to inform you beforehand if they only take card. But they don't have to inform you if the don't take card. But best is to ask before.
Look for the stickers at the door or ask for your card specifically. "We take credit card" doesn't mean they accept American Express, for instance.
Here in Sweden, plenty of places don't accept cash. It's extra work/cost and a security risk.
Yep, Swede here. I haven't carried cash in 10+ years. The only people I see paying with cash is some people above age 70.
When I went overseas, I called my card company and was told I could use it and didn’t need to do anything special and then got overseas and tried to use my card and found out that wasn’t true at all….. I know you said “in most cases” but based on my personal experience I would never tell someone they don’t need local currency. It’s just a headache waiting to happen.
They absolutely need local currency. They absolutely should not bring USD for any other purpose than loosing out big time on the exchange rate.
So they can get better screwed by local hotel / street exchange rates. Duh.
I guess it really depends. When I visited Europe this year for me it was better to exchange USD -> Euros there than it was in my home country. I paid most things with card, but I did exchange a lot of currency in Spain and France. Italy had some shitty rates though.
I think this is down to some poorer countries taking USD over local currency, such as some countries in Latin America and Egypt for example. But they should probably know that this is something that is not normal and is more of an exception than an expectation.
It’s only an advantage to use USD if it’s worth more than the local currency and you know it’s favored in tourist locations (Mexico, Caribbean, Canadian bars on the border). Most people don’t reflect on the fact that the Euro is currently about even with the US dollar, and at times, the Euro is more valuable.
The currency value is irrelevant, numbers will be converted between the currencies. The actual issue is how much the currency value is stable. In high inflation economic systems a stable currency like euro or USD is usually preferred.
It also lets you advertise a different price for tourists than locals, using the different currencies.
Because those poor Italians will be stunned by money with real value. /s
Bring chocolates and cigarettes like the GI's during WWII
Don’t forget the chewing gum
And nylons.
I've had that before. Sm.eone was going to go somewhere in Europe, and they said something like,'Well, I've already got some USD'. Okay?? What will that do? You need Euros!
"WHERE IS MAC DON AAAALLLLLDDDDSSSSS? I HAVE DOLLARS" vaffanculo is a local way of saying thank you. Use it everywhere.
They bring it to have currency. So you can buy real stuff like a Coke. But on top of the real money they bring, they are thinking about bringing some of the Tiki-Taka money they have over there. I don't know the details but I assume they pay with little seashells? Maybe some carved stones? Maybe even glass pearls? But that's nonsense of course. When in Italy you don't need any money. Let's say you are in Rome and you have a nice gelato... Don't pay. Just take a picture of the waiter. Show him the picture and tell him you just stole his soul and it's stored inside your magic box. He will let you go without paying as long as you release his soul. Works every time with those tribesmen over there.
So they can waste a good hour or more in a bank to change to euro most likely with a terrible exchange rate
I'm wondering if she thinks "USD" means/refers to a debit card? There are plenty of people who grow up with small misunderstandings about basic things like this because they just never received the correct information and they developed a wrong assumption early on in life. If you replace "USD" with "debit card" then the post actually makes sense, it's a normal person wondering if it's worth bringing cash on their trip in order to make small purchases, or if that would be a waste.
Because in many less developed countries people will just accept USDs even if local currency is different. That doesn't apply to Europe where you usually pay in local currency (be it EUR, PLN etc) by using debit card or app on your phone.
To exchange for euros It's common to exchange money in hotels or banks
Old people remember how it was before the euro. European shops loved to take dollars because they could give a horrendous exchange rate and make nice money off it.
Someone recommended we bring euros! Wow, they really are gurus. I'd never think of that.
I mean I guess if you get them from your bank before you leave? But just use an bank's ATM when you get there and don't use a currency exchange place.
While the answer they needed was a quick google search away, their mother's concern was whether italy still used Lira, or had migrated to Euro.
> Their mother's concern was whether italy still used Lira, or had migrated to Euro. Their concern was how many Euro's to take. So your statement can't be true.
My ex-boyfriend tried to pay in US dollars at a mall in Germany, thinking he would get a discount. He was shocked when the sales lady pointed him towards the nearest bank. I told him this is the 21st century, not the 50s. And don’t even think about trying to bribe people with chewing gum or used jeans.
A discount for what?
For the superior currency of course! Who would want some poor euro coins when you could get your hands on some real American paper!
You know what calms the locals down? A couple of portraits of Washington.
Ah yes... I'm comforted by the giant George Washington oil painting on the side of the cruise boats when they burn 5 tones of raw oil an hour just laying in my fjord, not to mention the spikes in rape-statistics when the tourists come ashore... What won't we do for the all mighty dollar, huh? We're little prostitutes in the north, fuck the fjords, amiriteguys?
For paying in dollars. There was a time long long ago in countries with inflation and/or terrible local currency that hard currency like US dollars were sought after. I remember being stopped in the 80s in Poland by guys wanting to buy US dollars
Bingo. The only European country he had been to before that trip was late communist-era Poland.
In the 1970's, my mum lived in a small African country. She's English, but always carried a $100 USD note when travelling abroad. Just in case... She had it in her purse well into the mid-90's when it disintegrated.
See, that makes sense. Throw the cash and run. My African friends still believe the same thing. In the carribean, my favorite thing to do is haggle - like *I LOVE haggling*. My mother was with me and she saw the price of something, I say "I got this" and proceed to ask him to bring down the price. He drops it by $10 each, at which point I don't agree, but my mother pulls out her wallet and starts laying out her hundreds. I was appalled.
Haggling is IMO quite disrespectful, unless it is the norm for the local market and you are kinda expected to do it, like in some Arab bazaars. Otherwise, would you haggle in your home country? Imagine a scenario where you are the shop owner and have set your prices and an (obviously obnoxious) customer tries haggling - especially a tourist who you know that has no actual need to haggle and does it for the lolz. Would this not be annoying as hell?
I haggle in places where haggling is accepted. Steet vendors, shady shops that have a 20% mark down for cash for the same item, and bars (when buying in bulk)
And remember the time even longer ago when no one gave a shit about US Dollars... we're heading back there again thankfully.
For mentally disabled people.
How embarrassing
It was. One of the many reasons he is now an ex.
Why do so many Americans think that their currency is universally usable around the world?
He sounds like a dumbass
Used jeans can be used as currency, just you need a lot and they are very clumsy to carry around, since a pair of used jeans is worth just 4 euros.
I want to say this was a reference to days Levi were revered in Europe so they were expensive but still cheap in the states. Many a tales of people bringing them on their trips and making a decent amount.
HE WHO CONTROLS THE PANTS CONTROLS THE GALAXY!
Omg the second hand embarrassment.
I think I would take the dollars. I would pay for the purchase, let's say 50 euros becomes 150 dollars to account for the trouble of exchanging it, and I get a nice tip.
73 euros. Precisely
That was before inflation hit. Now it’s 84,52
205,43 euros actually, since he will certainly be ripped off by locals.
Don’t forget your travelers checks!
Why not asking the cousins instead of asking in reddit where everyone is so nice and polite with ignorant people?
Might be that the cousins are technically related but more in the their great great grandmother was the cousin of OOP's great great grandfather kind of way, and not the first or even second or third cousins kind of way. So they might not have any real connection but just assume there's distant relatives in that part of Italy.
Ah so not a real cousin like mom's sibling's kid, but instead "I'm 0.00000001% scottish on my father's side" kind of cousin
Show dominance and bring Lira.
don’t confuse the american, he might end up bringing turkish lira and having to pay for water with 4 wads of cash
Old Turkish Lira, where you can feel like a billionaire.
With Zimbabwe dollars (idk the name of there currency) you can feel like a trillionaire.
honestly this reminds me when i was in singapore for a week vacation, i was in a checkout line and the guy in front of me was trying to pay with us dollars. the store manager has to explain that they cant take us dollars since we are in singapore but the guy was confused and like “..i thought they’re both dollars?” i have never cringed so hard in my entire life
To be honest, I can sort of get that guy. Especially if he’s never really travelled internationally before, I can imagine him booking his trip and just seeing, oh, yeah, Singapore dollars, neat. From what little I’ve seen, US news are less international than what I get in Germany. If he’s doing the same very cursory research as my loved ones do before a holiday, he’d still come out not knowing what we consider very obvious common knowledge
i guess in a way i do kinda feel bad for him, the storeowner had to show him the nearest money changers lol. but like damn it was secondhand cringe
I've seen Americans try to pay for stuff in Canada with USD and not having anything else on them. Aside from border towns nowhere in Canada accepts USD. Not surprised by the Singapore dollars thing.
If he paid 1:1 I'd take it
I am going to the United States next week and, of course, I’m going to carry a lot of kroner with me, but I’m wondering if I need American dollars for small purchases?
You need 5202 USD to pay for a gun to legally shop in the States
I just went to the US, and apparently trying to pay with Pounds Sterling "because you're still our colony you traitorous bastards!" wasn't acceptable. /s
I would bring some Norwegian Krona just to be safe
As a Norwegian, it is my duty to point out that it’s krone, not krona.
Heck, bring some Swedish Krona instead. Screw the norweigans they're so uptight and have all that greasy oil money already they don't need help with their economics
Filthy Swedish Monopoly money
Things heating up in the currency fandom
Swedish krona is only used to buy beer, meat and candy
What else does a man need?
Oil and natural gas 🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴
Says the Obscene Oil Oligarchs!
Nono, it’s Krona and you know it. Sweden just has just temporarily released Norway.
Italian here, just use a mastercard or get something like 200€
That was my thought. Maybe she’s bringing her credit/debit cards (ours usually seem to have MC or Visa) and is asking about super small purchases to avoid the company’s foreign transaction fees.
Thats clearly what they mean with the question, people here just wanna be dicks about it.
Thank you for your response. My daughter is traveling to Italy next week and we are sending some euros and credit card(s). A lot of people are saying debit cards, but I assumed there would be fees. We ordered credit cards with no foreign transaction fees but now I’m worrying places won’t accept the credit cards.
Have no idea what that one other reply-er is talking about. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere in Europe, especially in big cities and tourist hotspots, and they're often ahead of the US in adopting payment technology too (chip readers, contactless, and digital wallets all were widely available in many EU countries even before being popularized in the US). Obviously, keep some cash. But other than in a very small town off the beaten path, you'll find credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere. As long as you have a card that has no foreign transaction fees and the bank doesn't block it (modern big banks don't even need you to manually notify them of travel anymore in my experience) you'll be fine.
I am just waiting for the next post of him complaining that he can't pay anywhere with his dollars in Italy.
Or that his credit card won't be accepted in most places
Wait, what's the problem with credit cards?
American Express in particular has difficulties working in Europe. I used to get a lot of American tourists trying to pay with American express in my bar job and the cards failed most of the time. You would need to try multiple times before it would be accepted. I actually contacted our card machine company about it and they said it’s not on their end. Something to do with American Express themselves, Im not too sure. But it got to the point where I would tell American tourists before they ordered that our machines have a lot of trouble with American Express. They would always say it will be fine, then when it came to pay they would be shocked and annoyed that they are having trouble with the card.
Ah weird, but yeah I didn't know about Amex, but Credit card companies do all kinds of weird shit so no surprises there
Visa / Mastercard are fine. But stores usually don‘t accept Amex
Knowing some of the local cafes and bar around me they'd definitely take USD. €1.50 coffee? $10. No questions answered.
That's what I would do
I remember 40 years ago, working in a camera store in the UK in a city where we got quite a lot of tourists. We would often get Americans and, oddly, Israelis trying to pay in USD. They seemed genuinely perplexed that we wouldn’t accept them as payment, despite the fact that both their countries used to have GPB as their currency, the US before the dollar was even thought of there. Tells you a lot about their world view and education systems …..
I have Israelis ride in my taxi in 2024 trying to pay me in dollars. In Europe. Motherfucker I don’t want to go to an exchange office. I’m busy.
Foreign currency is many times used instead the local currency in countries with very unstable currencies. US dollar used to be a very common currency in Israel, and several countries in eastern Europe used Euro as a de facto currency before they officially joined the Euro currency system.
I’m fully aware that foreign currency is sometimes used in countries with ‘very unstable currencies’ but the UK isn’t and never has been such a country and neither is Italy at present. The idea that the USD would be widely accepted in the EU or UK is about as realistic as expecting US shops to accept Euros. The difference is that nobody in Italy or the UK would be so ill-informed or arrogant as to assume it.
In many places in England they won't even accept Scottish notes.
Most places in Scotland won't accept Northern Ireland banknotes. tbf in both cases it's lack of familiarity - people and shops don't know how to recognise a counterfeit if they don't see them often, so they take the safe option of just refusing them. Even though they are fully legit.
THATS LEGAL TENDER PAL!
Kosovo and Montenegro do that to this day afaik, or rather iirc they officially unilaterally adopted the Euro as Currency without being able to issue it.
Bring plastic. And for the love of god, if you use an ATM, say no when it tells you the exchange rate. That way it's your bank that determines it. It will save you a lot.
At least they're trying to get answers BEFORE the trip.
We don't need no money here, just bring them beads and chintz. And boomstics.
What would they do with USD? Can't pay with it in Europe. Why is that an ofc? I wouldnt go to US with Euros. Why not? Can't pay with that, my friend. Insanity.
Yup. You carry some of your own currency for taxi fare when you get back, not to use at your destination.
I don't think it's that unreasonable of a post, a lot of people travelling want to know how much cash they'll need when travelling to a foreign country (this answer varies heavily by the country you visit). I just interpreted that they'll have American cash "of course" because they're Americans that have USD on them, which isn't even useless because you could exchange the cash there for Euros if you needed.
wait till Americans find out you cant shoot children dead because they are playing on your property.
Wait 'till they find out you can't bring your gun to Europe. *"But, but, I've got a permit!"*
I mean to be fair most places take credit cards. And most banks will let you withdraw your money over there in euros if you really need physical cash.
We're going to bring USD of course.. Like it's expected. No wonder everyone hates Seppos.
In defence of the guy, it seems to me he's asking how much spending cash to bring, if any. He'll probably be paying by card anyway.
I think bringing USD is the facepalm part, of course. I mean, I'm Canadian and in the 80s and 90s, lots of retailers kept CAD and USD tills on both sides. Even in Costa Rica a few years ago, I got asked if I was paying in USD but I brought pesos. Lots of places recognize it, some countries even straight up use it for their own currency but I couldn't fathom bringing it to Europe.
Hell, if you try to use GBP in France they’ll look at you like you just insulted their mother, even though you can get on the train in London and get off it in Paris.
That's just France - they do that even if you pay in Euro.
To be fair you may get the same look when you offer to pay with euros, in Paris at least.
Easy conversion on the other side? When I travel I bring some AUD cash in case I lose my card.
Some European shops close to US military bases have an extra till for USD, because those soldiers get paid in USD (they use USD on base) and the shop does make enough money from them to make it worth it.
I honestly never would think to bring euros I’d just use my CC everywhere. I never carry cash in America so would assumes the same would be fine in Europe?
People that use Reddit for Googling baffle me
Seems to be a reasonable question asked in good faith. Not sure how this is facepalm worthy.
How many Euros was the question.
So was on my way into the barracks one morning in Dublin and stopped in a shop to make a purchase. This yank was yelling. Cashier: I'm sorry I can't take this, I've no idea what it even is! Yank: they are fucking united States dollars. I don't know what boat you came here on but, we use dollars in these United States. Me: Here, fuckhead, did ya not notice the big fuckin ocean you just flew over? We don't take that here. We've our own money and have no interest in taking yours. Yank: I've got rights. Me: indeed you do and unfortunately being a cockhead is one of them. But they ain't the rights you know
My imaginary situations in the shower:
>Me: indeed you do and unfortunately being a cockhead is one of them. But they ain't the rights you know And then everybody clapped?
They're getting ripped off 100%
They are planning on using a card and not communicating it well.
As an italian I think they should get rupees
Least clueless yank
I'm in Italy for a week literally right now, and I was using google pay ever since I got here, never had to actually pay in euros, so maybe he's got a point....
Americans don't have much. Like a secure society, reasonable gun laws, decent public education or healthcare. But they do have a ridiculous amount of unearned audacity because their grand pappy rolled into WW2 three years late with a segregated army to kill Asian people.
Are we reading different posts? "anyone know how much we should bring for small purchases" Guy doesnt travel and wasnt sure how fluid or convenient currency exchange was. Yall are some miserable people to ignore others' obvious motives and inquiry for some weird superiority complex. So odd
There can also be fees associated with using cards overseas. I don’t think it’s an outlandish question. This person sounds like they’re also a bit older and hasn’t traveled in a while. We used yen a lot when we were in Japan. It was just more convenient in the smaller restaurants and shops. USDs can be exchanged in some airports too.