Germany seems to be another place where cash reigns supreme at least more so than in the Anglo-Saxon world. I get that. The solution is simple. >g? I don't visit those countries!

Actually for many years, in the USA so I guess I got used t this both mc and visa had written into their merchant agreements stipulations that merchants could not impose minimum purchase requirements and could not surcharge credit card sales. In a very silly anti-consumer banking bill, mc and visa were prohibited from continuing those consumer friendly protections in the USA. Merchants can now refuse to take credit cards for purchases less than $10 and can impose surcharges for use of credit cards.

However, many enlightened states in the USA have on the books laws prohibiting merchants from imposing surcharges on use of a credit card. Many merchants, who don't give a call it what you will about the law, simply disguise their credit card surcharges as cash doscounts. See what many gasoline stations pull. Still, most larger merchants do not impose surcharges or do not apply credit card minimums in the USA.

My daughter has just completed a year-long overland trip from London to Cape Town, travelling through Europe and 11 African countries. When she next Skypes, I will try to remember to ask how many times she used her cc or debit card in Africa. ;-)