Where they would not take a credit card
 

We just got back from a 10 day trip to Italy. WE were in Tuscany most of the time but spent a few days in Rome at the end.
It was a wonderful trip but we did get one suprise. None of the musumes or attractions would take a credit card. It had to be cash! Most of the stores had a 12-15 euro requirment to charge too.
While this didn't dampen our trip, it did mean that I had to use the ATM more often. I was glad that I had kept a fair balence in my checking account and that I had overdraft protection. This was one thing that I had not planned for.
I post this so that it might help someone else who is going to Italy.
Carl

Twice I was unable to pay for lodging by credit card. The first time was at a small hotel in Lucca in 1997. I thought that was very odd. I've stayed twice in an agriturismo in San Salvatore di Fitalia in Sicily which does not take credit cards. That's really not surprising, though. The place does not have guests on a regular basis and the surrounding area does not see huge numbers of foreigners or a lot of Italian commercial activity either. I saw not ATMs there either. I was told that most/many shops and restaurants in the Aeolian islands don't accept credit cards, so I didn't try to use one. But I didn't buy much there and it would've been silly to pay for a bag of capers with a credit card.

An interestin thing happened to us in Paris in 2001. We surveyed the various eating places along the street in La Vilette area and chose one that had a menu we liked and that had all the major credit cards posted on the window. When our bill came, my husband put out a credit card and the waitress got very excited and said "No credit cards." We pointed to the signs on the window and she still said "No." Then her explanation was not on weekends--this was a Friday night. Fortunately, between us, we had enough cash to pay the bill. The next night, we asked "first" at any place we were thinking of dining. By that time, we knew where the closest ATM was, in case there was some mis-communication on the credit card use.
Since that time, we have always asked--no matter what cards are listed on the window. In 2002, in Rome, we went back to a place where we had eaten before, during our time there--we did ask and she apologised and said that the phone connection was not going through that night. Since it was our last night and we did not want to draw out from the ATM, we found another very good establishment nearby. mhm

On our trip to Germany in 2002, a couple of the gasoline stations we stopped at would not take MC or Visa. This in spite of the fact that both had MC and Visa logos on their pumps. One told us he had stopped accepting credit cards because of the cost.

The guy at the window at the Naples train station would not take a credit card. I was able to use a credit card in Rome and Florence.

Joelle

In Tuscany and Umbria there are a lot a great Inns that take no cards. There are also some restaurants.
Some places will take your card # to hold a room, but add that they only take cash at check out.
When you get to the cities,that changes.The exception is most tour agencies (especially Rome) only take cash.

I've had several experiences at hotels and restaurants in which the major credit card logos would be displayed, but when it came time to pay the bill, the proprieter would become visibly upset when I'd hand him the credit card. The excuses I heard included..."The card...yes...well...that is only to hold the room for you...the bill must be paid in cash...the phone link is not working now...we only accept cards during the peak season...we would not be able to give you such a good price...etc". I have no problem paying cash in these situations, but these establishments should not mislead their customers by displaying credit card logos when they have no intention of accepting them. This problem ocurred exclusively at small to medium-sized establishments.

I agree completely with platzman. I've had this happen in both Italy and France, though more often in Italy. When it did happen - and it was always at small, family-run establishments, I always wondered, what if the person were young and didn't have the resources I did to sort this out - i.e, go to an ATM and get $300 or write a check in euros?

I would actually never expect museums to take credit cards, though I'm sure some do. But small hotels and restaurants ought to let you know in advance or NOT display credit card logos on their doors if they don't, actually, take them.

It's never ruined a vacation for me, but it has caused a moment or two of consternation, and for a newbie traveler or one without a lot of back-up monetary plans, it could be a small nightmare.

One museum that does take credit cards is the Louvre--and usually the lines to get your ticket from the c/c machine are shorter or non-existant.

Very intersting post. I have never had any trouble using credit cards all oer Italy and France previously (even in the most remote little villages), but haven't been for a few years before the Euro.

I suspect it's simply a matter of cost now that the Euro is here?

It's good for the heads up, though.

This, along with a post from someone in France who hasn't been able to use his ATM card while there. Yikes... lord knows I wouldn't ever want to go back to, ick, traveller's checks.

~k

The bigger question is whether you will want to pay with a credit card. Most of the smaller hotels, will give you a cash discount, usually about 10%. Always ask if there is a cash price if they don't offer it.

Another reason to pay cash: the exchange rate you pay on an ATM is likely to be less than your credit carge company charges you.

Hi Carl - thanks for a good post. I found at the German Christmas markets the vendors didn't take credit cards or travelers checks. It was my first unnerving experience with a foreign ATM back in '96. Even McDonald's wouldn't take a TC. I had difficulty finding working ATMs on weekends in Germany on a subsequent trip. Never had a problem with hotels in Europe, but small stores and restaurants like cash. It's a good idea to go armed with everything just in case; locate the ATM and cambio upon arrival; verify hours. It ain't like home - which is why we go, after all. Happy traveling.

This post reminds me of the old Boy Scout motto...BE PREPARED. Never allow yourself to become depleted of local currency. I'm always ahead at least 100 euro, then spend down this extra amount the last few days OR bring a little back home. By doing this, I don't need traveler's checks.

Most of the hotels/penions that we stay use in Italy DO NOT take credit cards. This is not that unusual. In fact, some ask that we send money to book a room during high season vs. accepting a credit card. Same with many smaller, family restaurants. Does not bother me at all. Better than paying an extra 6 or 7 percent. Italy is very much a cash economy-probably because of the tax situation.

Another place that wouldn't take a credit card was the automatic-pay gas pump at a station in Rennes on a holiday. Since no one was around, we were out of luck--and nearly out of gas, barely making it to a station a way out of town where there was an attendant. It turns out that most US credit cards lack the microchip required by many European card-readers.

The nice thing about paying cash for nearly everything in Italy is that when you come home - no bills- the trip is paid for!

Joelle

The main reason smaller businesses don't take credit cards is not the fees that Visa/MC/Amex charge (usually less than 3%, and 4% at the very most), but that they can hide cash income very easily. They have to pay tax on credit card receipts, as it's so easliy traced. This is why they are so anxious to give you a discount that amounts to more than double what they pay in CC fees.

Also, Visa/MC do not permit "minimum" charges. If they find out a store has implemented a minimum charge to use a credit card, they will revoke that store's priviledges.

Wouldn't it be interesting if someone decided to report to Visa, M/C and Amex those businesses/hotels etc. that advertise the logos and then won't accept the cards!

I was wondering about the no minimum business with Visa/MC myself. What I have been able to discover is that in the UK, there was a law passed prohibiting credit card companies from preventing merchants from setting minimums for use of a cc. Generally it is around £5....however most supermarkets do not have one, most shoppes at the airport do not have one and the machines on the Underground do not have one.

In France, they discovered during the strike of drivers delivering bank notes to banks several years ago that credit cards could substitute for cash very nicely thank you. So until several years ago, the machines on the Metro did not take credit cards for under 42 French Francs, about €7 by today's rates. But that has since been phased out and the machines on the Metro now take credit cards for as little as a single fare €1,20 or something like that.

Visa/MC agreements in the US prohibit imposition of a minimum charge amount by merchants taking Visa/MC. Amex allows minimums as does Discover but require no discrimination so that if merchants can't set a minimum for MC/Visa they can't set a minimum for Amex. They also prohibit surcharging a credit card; although they permit discounts for cash (someday somebody will explain to me the difference). Of course the biggest users of this were several oil companies but they have since given up on that sham.

Finally, how many of you boys and girls have had work done by a contractor (such as an auto repair body shop) and when told you would pay with a credit card, suggested they would not charge you tax if you paid with cash. I wonder why they would do that!

I always use cash. When the EUR rate is in my favour I buy relatively large quantities of them to keep in stock. This way, whatever I pay for is at a constant rate of exchange. If I were to use cards, and the rate was not so favourable, I'd lose out, however marginal it might be!