payment in Europe

[itrashcan]

Do people generally pay cash? I'm wondering if there's any way to pay electronically (like venmo in the US). I'm thinking about multiple days and I'm not sure if I want to carry that much cash with me.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

1 hour ago, itrashcan said:

Do people generally pay cash? I'm wondering if there's any way to pay electronically (like venmo in the US). I'm thinking about multiple days and I'm not sure if I want to carry that much cash with me.

I always pay cash in Europe... But I almost always pay cash in the U.S. as well.

You don't have to carry multiple days worth of cash on you.  If you have an ATM card, they work the same in Europe and will dispense cash in the local currency. 

I carry 2 ATM cards with me, from 2 different banks (I leave one in my hotel room safe as a backup).  Both have no foreign transaction fees, and one of them reimburses all ATM fees at the end of every month (It's a free Charles Schwab debit card, which can be opened for free after you open a free Charles Schwab brokerage account.  You never have to put any money in the brokerage account).

Tip: When using an ATM in a foreign country, always "Decline conversion".  Even though the bills dispensed will always be in local currency, the ATM will ask of you want the debit to be posted to your account in U.S. Dollars or in local currency, and then offer you a conversation rate.  Never accept the conversation if you have a card with no foreign transaction fees.  The conversion rate offered by the ATM is always worse than the rate your bank will use when it sees a withdrawal in foreign currency.

Edited April 24 by Vegas_Millennial
Added TIP about ATMs

[zeyfur]

I do PayPal, Bank transfer and cash.

[+ Jamie21]

I take cash (any currency, clients have paid me in £, US$, €) and can accept all credit cards. Venmo isn’t used here as far as I’m aware. PayPal is possible but I don’t like it. If you have a bank account with a platform like Revolut you can pay me from that too very easily (including payment in Crypto 😬). Banking is much more advanced here in Europe than it is in the US. 

Edited April 24 by Jamie21

[+ JamesB]

In my experience, cash is definitely king in Europe. While each country tends to have its own local payment apps, those usually aren’t accessible to short-term visitors. The only app I’ve successfully used across multiple countries is PayPal. There’s no need to carry large amounts of cash, just withdraw what you need from an ATM as you go. Also, be sure to follow the tips mentioned above by @Vegas_Millennial, they’re spot on.

[Thomas_Belgium]

3 hours ago, Jamie21 said:

...Venmo isn’t used here as far as I’m aware...

Venmo can't be used in Europe:

https://help.venmo.com/cs/articles/accessing-venmo-while-abroad-vhel130

 

[forrestreid]

Revolut seems to be very common in Europe, if you want to avoid cash.

I think America can set up an account with them on their phone and use it to pay providers in Europe.

[Dolman]

In the UK, most ATMs don't dispense bills higher than £20, so you end up having to carry a pretty big stash. A provider once told me he'd be suspicious of £50 or £100 bills since they're not in circulation much.

In the Eurozone, most ATMs will dispense €50 bills but not €100 bills.

[Thomas_Belgium]

1 hour ago, Dolman said:

In the UK, most ATMs don't dispense bills higher than £20, so you end up having to carry a pretty big stash. A provider once told me he'd be suspicious of £50 or £100 bills since they're not in circulation much.

In the Eurozone, most ATMs will dispense €50 bills but not €100 bills.

 

 

€ 100 bills are not pupular at all, in my opinion.

 

 

Warning: naughty & maybe a little bit dirty stuff.

"Automated Teller Machine" not to be confused with "Ass To Mouth".

 

 

 

[TelaramundItaly]

I live in Italy and never pay cash

[irfy]

5 hours ago, Dolman said:

In the UK, most ATMs don't dispense bills higher than £20, so you end up having to carry a pretty big stash. A provider once told me he'd be suspicious of £50 or £100 bills since they're not in circulation much.

In the Eurozone, most ATMs will dispense €50 bills but not €100 bills.

I'd be suspicious of £100 notes too, as they don't exist! I think £50 notes are fine now with the latest polymer version depicting Alan Turing.

[Thomas_Belgium]

18 hours ago, irfy said:

I'd be suspicious of £100 notes too, as they don't exist! I think £50 notes are fine now with the latest polymer version depicting Alan Turing.

 

Here are some pics of this, in my opinion, beautiful note (I dont like the euro notes at all):

https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/polymer-50-pound-note

 

[+ tassojunior]

(1) i always keep at home and abroad $5K cash for emergencies in $100 bills which is about a quarter inch thick  and surprisingly  easy to hide. You also get about the best exchange rate at the exchange down the street almost anyone can recommend, especially the hotel, as that's where locals change money often (there are 33 currencies in Europe). They mostly like $100s. Personally i sometimes stoop to just giving guys $100 bills. Saves me the fee and they always know the best exchange places. Keeping to dollars you also don't have to endure the loss of exchanging back to dollars again coming home. If you can get a Euro 200 date for $200 it's a deal. But Genjamins are not as respected as in past years now............I have never met an ATM in Europe that I liked, or that liked me. Except for a very very few they vary from rip-offs to big rip-offs. On everything else i just use credit cards with no exchange fee.  .......................(2)..PayPal use is very rare. Revolut, a UK company is Europe's PayPal and afaik, every escort has it.. It also has much better conversion rates and fees than PayPal. Usually half what you lose with Paypal. I've had a terrible time trying to set it up from the US but i will keep trying as my next trip approaches. 

[+ Jamie21]

4 hours ago, tassojunior said:

Revolut, a UK company is Europe's PayPal

I have Revolut. It’s very easy and flexible. Better than PayPal IMO. 

[+ tassojunior]

4 hours ago, Jamie21 said:

I have Revolut. It’s very easy and flexible. Better than PayPal IMO. 

I've tried my last two trips to set it up for days before leaving and i cannot get past the photo of passport/ stage ever. I've texted them several times. A shame because if they were easier to set up so many people would switch from PayPal, it's so much better and much better conversion rates. 

[Thomas_Belgium]

European governments and banks advise to have some cash for calamities. In my opinion this is also good advice for tourists.