Question about paying cash in German hotels
 

Later this month we will be spending six nights at a small hotel in the former East Berlin.

The hotel does not accept credit cards and has asked for payment in cash.

Our question: never having stayed in a hotel that does not accept credit cards, we are unsure how paying cash will work. Since we're staying for six nights, are we expected to plonk a whole lot of cash down on the reception desk when we arrive? (Naturally we'd rather not travel across the Atlantic with a bag full of cash). Or is it generally accepted that you pay, say, for the first night upon arrival, and then the balance upon departure?

I will try to contact the hotel about this but would be glad of other travellers' comments. Many thanks.

If you can withdraw a certain amount of cash from an ATM after arrival that would eliminate the necessity of carrying a large amount trans-Atlantically.

I'm not sure in this case there arew necessarily any "accepted" "rules" other than what this hotel decides to impose. I would have them make clear, in writing, their payment policy and if it sounds laborious, etc., I'd look to stay elsewhere.

Are you saying they accept dollars rather than Euros? I would NOT bring a bunch of Euro on a plane..either get them at an ATM or stay somewhere else.

Thanks for your replies.

The hotel accepts Euros (not dollars).

My experience in many German hotels has been that you just pay the whole amount at the end.

In all the centuries of hotel-keeping, this plastic stuff is a pretty new kid on the block, and there's never been anything particularly unusual about expecting guests to pay with real money. If you hit a particularly untrusting hotel, they might request part-payment after a couple of days for the bill you've incurred so far.

It's nuts to buy Euros in America, and Eurozone ATMs are always the best place to get Euros. But I can't understand why you're concerned about crossing the Atlantic with cash. Piracy's not been a problem in these parts since Henry Morgan drank himself to death.

I suppose that they will ask you to pay at departure. When you booked the hotel, did they ask for your credit card number as warranty?

Thanks for your replies.

Valtor, the hotel didn't ask for a credit card number. They just said that they accept no credit cards and prefer payment in cash.

We've decided to travel from Canada with just enough cash to pay the first night (if required). We shan't have a great deal of time to look for ABMs between arrival in Berlin and reaching the hotel before it closes for the evening.

Most hotels don't make you pay until the end, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just accumulate enough cash throughout the trip to pay in full by the time you leave.

Usually bank machines are available at your arrival airport, no need to look all over town.

Does it have to be cash/cash or could it be travelers checks?

I ask because I stay a number of places that don't accept credit cards but will take either cash or TC's.

JoeTro, Thanks for the advice.

Suze, I will ask about travellers' cheques.

But if you do Traveler's checks, I'd strongly advise you to get them in euro, not in dollars. Otherwise you could be faced with the hotel deciding their current rate of exchange is something like 10% or more higher than standard and you would be forced to comply. At least when you buy euro TCs in the US you KNOW what rate you're buying them at -- still maybe not great, but at least it's a known rate.

NeoPatrick, thanks for the tip.

It's rather unlikely that a german hotel will accept travellers cheques when they don't even take credit cards or maestro!

I agree with that, but you never know. I haven't done it in Germany, but I've paid for hotels in cash elsewhere, or they said there was a discount if you did, and it's like any other stay only in cash -- meaning you pay at the end of your stay. This was for hotels that preferred cash though, rather than not even accepting credit cards, so they would have my CC number for deposit or something (or if I left in the dead of night without paying, I suppose).

But as someone said, it doesn't matter what we speculate, you have to ask them what they require.

No big mystery or problem - while you are waiting for your bags at the airport, get a 300 or 400 € out of an ATM (if the ATM has a lower limit just step to the next machine and get more).

Don't mess w/ TCs (dollar or euro) - they will be expensive and the hotel will probably nail you for extra fees, IF they take them at all.

I don't think the hotel will accept TC's. In Germany we always pay on departure, either in cash or by CC if the hotel accepts the latter.

"It's rather unlikely that a german hotel will accept travellers cheques when they don't even take credit cards or maestro!"

That has not been my experience. Lots of small hotels and businesses don't take credit cards because they don't want to register and pay a monthly fee to do so or pay the fees to accept them. But most of them know that they can take TCs in euro and deposit them just like cash at their bank without any fee. I've used TCs for both deposits and for payments for hotels and apartments that did not take credit cards. If the TCs are in euro there is NO reason for them to charge you anything at all as it will cost them nothing.

This sounds like I'm a fan of TC's. I'm not -- but this is one time when they do come in handy -- depending on the owners of the hotel of course.

Oh, but I understand the reasoning behind thinking many will not want TC's. Some people have tried to pay using US dollar TC's which confuses and frustrates the small business owner since he has no idea what amount his bank will give him for those dollars -- which is also why if he does take them he's likely to add on huge amounts to make sure he's covered. But if you owe him 200 euro and you give him 200 euro in TCs, he knows his bank is going to credit him the full 200. So it is quite likely that a business owner will balk or refuse US dollar TCs.

> deposit them just like cash at their bank without any fee
Not really, a german bank cheque is always accepted without fee. A TC usually costs a fee, no matter if it's in € or $. My bank charges 3€ to cash a TC for cheques in € or $.

Maybe you should look at other banks? I've been told by numerous owners that there is no fee for depositing TCs in the local currency. Twice in Germany, several times in the UK, a couple of times in France, and a number of times in Italy. Most recently, twice this summer.

But by the way, perhaps there is a difference between cashing a TC and depositing one in your checking account? In fact I know some European banks will even cash one for no fee is that person has an account there -- I've had friends cash them for me.

I don't see that paying with regular money is any big deal. At least, not in Germany.

Go to an ATM, draw out the money, and hand it over. The machine will spit out euro notes, a receipt and return your card. The only differnce is that a balance inquiry is not possible in my experience. You might keep a check on the exchange rate and run a tab to let you know how big a dent you are making in your checking account.

(And don't put your credit card in the slot. The withdrawal becomes a cash advance and the fees are very good for the bank but not for you.)

I suggest you know in advance what kind of daily withdrawal limit your bank might impose. Other than that, get your money and pay your bill.

Germany is more cash oriented than we are. I paid my hotel bill in Munich that way this summer.

If you are in a city, I don't think finding an ATM machine will be difficult If a financial institution is not within easy view, ask at the hotel.

The difference between a TC and a bank cheque: Bank cheques will be processed automatically, the are of a standard DIN size and are machine readable. A TC will need some human handling, this costs a fee at german banks (so they say). If they do accept them, they simply were being nice and paid the fee themselves. Those banks are greedey! A TC will ONLY be accepted without fees if you have bought it at this bank. That's they way it is in Germany.

It's absolutely uncommon in Germany to pay with travellers' cheques. Some big international chain hotels may accept them, perhaps, but I would not expect anyone else except banks to do so.

In Germany, the entire hotel bill is paid upon departure, i. e. the last morning when checking out. (If you want to, you may pay earlier, but no one will ask you to.) Thus you'll have enough time to find an ATM in Berlin or change your TC's into cash.

I'm not sure how we got onto this whole discussion about Traveler's Cheques, which I will agree is a bad way to pay for anything! And no, I wouldn't "expect" anyone to accept them either, but it is true that some people who won't take credit cards will take TC's.

All I did was suggest that if you DO use them as suggested by one person for the specific purpose mentioned above, then by all means do them in euro rather than dollars to save a bunch of money and to know what your exchange rate will be.

I think we have convinced Votkuta that TCs aren't a very good idea - but to say &quot;<i>do them in euro rather than dollars to save a bunch of money</i>&quot; Is misleading.

The cost of &euro; TCs in the States is very high. Even &quot;no fee&quot; TCs will have a ridiculously bad exchange rate.

But as most of us have said, paying cash won't be a problem so don't bother w/ TCs - $ OR &euro;

janis, you missed my point. Any way you use TCs will cost you money, that's for sure. Which is why they are not a good idea, I agree.

But if you buy euro TCs in the states in advance you KNOW what rate you pay. At AAA it may be something like an extra 5%. Yes, that's horrible. But once you get to Europe, and you pay for something with them (if you find someone who takes them) they take them at face value. If you owe the hotel 500 euro and you give them 500 euro in TCs, you're even and the whole thing has only cost you the 5% you spent when you bought them.

But if you've ever looked at posted &quot;today's exchange rates&quot; in small hotels, you may see that they will charge as much as 10 or even 15% to exchange currency. And it may be even worse if they don't even post exchange rates. So if you hand them US dollar TC's, then they may easily add that kind of percentage extra, or anything they want to add. That's far worse than the rate you pay getting them in advance. I would not want to be left to the mercy of the &quot;merchant&quot; who has the right to tell you how many US dollar ones we wants for the right amount of euros.

I wasn't talking about the &quot;know what your exchange rate will be&quot; bit.

I was only commenting about &quot;save a bunch of money&quot;. As you know, TCs are a big money waster in general - but buying them in foreign currency in the States is even worse . . . .

We aren't disagreeing - I just didn't want the OP or anyone else to mis-read what you said and think euro TC will save them money.

Oh, YES, that would be a major misreading. I certainly didn't mean save a bunch of money compared to using cash or other method. I just meant using euro TCs would save you a bunch of money over using US dollar TCs in this case.

Thank you for the helpful replies. Since several posters have mentioned that it's normal to pay the bill upon departure in hotels which don't accept credit cards (rather than, as with hotels that do accept credit cards, to give an imprint of your card upon arrival), we will withdraw cash from a nearby ATM as needed, just before leaving the hotel.

Hi
Just wanted to let you know ATM machines are all over Berlin. TC's are outdated and most places wont accept them. It's easier to go to an ATM Usually Bankomatics and get what you want. I haven't used a TC in years, just an ATM. Berlins a great city, enjoy your trip.

Thanks, aeiger. We're looking forward to the trip and are glad of your encouragement and enthusiasm.

Concerning ATMs, make sure that your ATM card has a four-digit PIN. Otherwise it won't work.

I'm wondering if you will be expected to pay -up front- for your stay if paying with cash. Otherwise, the hotel has no recourse should a customer decide to 'move on' suddenly.

Travelnut, yes that does sound logical -- but I've been amazed at even renting a couple of apartments without any credit card, no deposit, and the owner in no hurry after our arrival to collect the money -- in fact it wasn't until the last day we were there and then we had to track her down and give it to her. And we've been in many small European hotels where there is no mention at all of paying until we check out. A different mind set!

You expect people not to steal from you, that's all.

Definitely a different mind set - and a refreshing one at that. It is one of the things that really impressed me about Germany. There seems to be a lot less theft and people are more careful with other people's property.

Besides, the hotel will make you fill in a form that asks for name, address and passport number upon arrival.

We're back from Berlin.

It turned out (despite numerous assurances in their e-mails that they accept only cash), that the hotel accepted just about every credit card except American Express. So, panic was unnecessary. I guess it's a case of the right hand (whoever mans the e-mail station) and the left hand (whoever runs the check-out desk) not communicating.

Name, address and passport number wouldn't get you any money if someone skipped out on the bill.

Anyway, it's kind of odd that whoever answered the emails didn't know such a basic thing about the hotel they worked for.