My son will be traveling to Spain next month. Are credit cards (specifically Mastercard) widely accepted for small purchases and budget meals? He will of course have an ATM card and will make sure to have some euros on him but would prefer to use his credit card as much as possible.

IME, spaniards tend to use cash for small purchases and c/cards for larger ones, so it would be unusual to use one for snacks and such like.

also, some shops require you to have your passport/ID for c/card purchases, but not restaurants.

Your son can use his ATM debit card in order to obtain cash as needed. You can set the daily limit to whatever amount you want by checking with your bank.

As noted, credit cards are generally used only for larger purchases, including a slightly more expensive lunch or dinner, but cash always works well. He will need to carry a photo ID, or copy of his passport.

I wouldn;t try to use a card for anything less than abuot 15 euros - just like here you wouldn;t pull out a card to charge something that costs $4/5. That's why there's cash. (And the more budget the restaurant the less likely they are to take plastic.)

At a El Corte Ingres store, I was asked to produce a REAL passport when using my credit card. The sale person looked at the copy of my passport, asked her supervisor and told me it was no good -- come back with a REAL passport.

a driver's license also works SOMEtimes.

A driver's license always works, even at El Corte Ingles.

Awhile back I know I was with someone once who could not use the license.. but anyway.. good to know your experience has been different.

Thanks, everyone. I'll pass this information on to my son.

Here in the US I use my credit card for pretty much everything, even small purchases.

how on earth did anyone way something to offend the moderators on this thread?

Have your son notify Mastercard that he will be in Spain between certain dates -- to prevent the card being frozen for suspicion of fraud.

might have been an ad.

I used Visa, Mastercard and Amex in Madrid & Granada without any problem at all last April. Some retailers asked to see my passport (I'm Australian).

Sorry Pat, didn't read the "budget meals" bit. We generally used cash for small purchases, so can't comment on that aspect.