Is American Express accepted in Germany, Italy?
Jan 25th, 2006, 05:12 AM
#5
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You should keep in mind that most smaller restaurants and stores in Germany (and I believe, Italy as well) do not accept any form of credit card. Beyond that, American Express is not as widely accepted as Visa/MC, which gives you a very small number of places where it will be welcomed.
Tourist areas, large hotels, and large department stores are likely to accept credit cards in general, and I imagine some of them will also take AmEx. But in my opinion, you'd be better off relying on cash. Most German ATMs will allow you to withdraw cash from an American bank, and you don't have to worry about changing currency when you do that, either.
Tourist areas, large hotels, and large department stores are likely to accept credit cards in general, and I imagine some of them will also take AmEx. But in my opinion, you'd be better off relying on cash. Most German ATMs will allow you to withdraw cash from an American bank, and you don't have to worry about changing currency when you do that, either.
Jan 25th, 2006, 06:45 AM
#6
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I agree with getting cash out of ATMs where you'll get the best exchange rate but there are, obviously, many advantages to using a credit card.
In my experience I would agree that Visa and Mastercard are more likely to be accepted than an AMEX card in many places. I always carry a Visa and use it as much as I can (it earns airline miles) but have another Visa from a different bank and a MasterCard which i also carry as back-ups whenever i go to Europe.
I would not go without a backup credit card if you are planning to use a CC a lot.
In my experience I would agree that Visa and Mastercard are more likely to be accepted than an AMEX card in many places. I always carry a Visa and use it as much as I can (it earns airline miles) but have another Visa from a different bank and a MasterCard which i also carry as back-ups whenever i go to Europe.
I would not go without a backup credit card if you are planning to use a CC a lot.
Jan 25th, 2006, 08:13 AM
#8
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I'll have to disagree with wolflady 26 when she says that Amex is accepted "in a very small number of places." True, it's not as widely accepted as Visa or MasterCard, but much more than a very small number of places.
Jan 25th, 2006, 10:04 AM
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AMEX is accepted in most upscale hotels and restaurants - but in many moderate, less expensive or smaller places they may not take it. You certainly can;t go with that as your only card - you would need at least a Visa as well.
