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Cash or Cards on the Norte route

Happyinharrogate

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Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances 2021 and Camino del Norte 2023
Will I need to take much cash with me for my Camino Norte starting this month or will most cafes/ restaurants and hostels along the way accept cards?? Would welcome people’s recent experiences of this And specifically guidance on what kind of place will need cash.
 
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Big discussion on this recently on the forum with lots of diverse viewpoints. For small purchases, I would carry cash. Some places will have signs that say a minimum purchase of XX euros for a card. Cards in grocery stores, many restaurants, hotels. Small donativos and some municipal albergues will still only be able accept cash. Spain has moved the mark towards more cashless purchases, but still cash will be useful.
 
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trecile said:
I generally start with about €200 Euros that I get from an airport ATM to supplement any cash that I brought home on a prior trip.

When I fall below €100 I withdraw more cash.
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Strongly agree with both the above points… i guess personal preference plays a part too. I only use cash when I absolutely have to nowadays (maybe 1 ‘purchase’ in 50)..reasons include ease, hygiene, hassle for vendor, etc, (and I guess ‘preparing’ for the cashless society that we are heading towards) for the majority of us, or in countries that are ‘not so far’ down the cashless path as Spain such as Germany ( am told significant underinvestment in IT) and even USA, where the whole tipping thing, and sometimes a need to put in a PIN, take away a big part of the ‘ease’ benefit.

Each to their own of course. I have just walked into a coffee shop in UK and paid for a coffee with the vendor app which charges me and adds point in one hit, the lady in front of me has handed over a £5 for a drink and a small piece of cardboard for her stamp! I am sure her coffee will taste just as good!
 
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Thanks yes I saw that other thread after I’d posted but thanks for your thoughts on it.
 
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Happyinharrogate said:
Will I need to take much cash with me for my Camino Norte starting this month or will most cafes/ restaurants and hostels along the way accept cards??
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Just a note for any traveler paying by credit card abroad -

IF given the option on the credit card device to pay in your own currency (instant exchange) or in Euros - pick the Euros. Your own bank will give you a much better exchange rate than their credit card processing company.

Some of my expenses were many percent higher (20% or more) by picking my Canadian currency in error.
 
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Don't mean to nitpick, but most likely this refers to Debit card transactions, and is sound advice. I swear when I use my CC i've never been asked to choose the currency. I could be totally wrong.
 
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Damien Reynolds said:
Don't mean to nitpick, but most likely this refers to Debit card transactions, and is sound advice. I swear when I use my CC i've never been asked to choose the currency.
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It almost always comes up on the card reader if I want to pay in Euros or my home currency, when I use my debit card or my credit card.

Here's an article about the practice called Dynamic Currency Conversion

Why You Should Avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion

Here's all the information you need on how to spot dynamic currency conversion during your travels and some steps on how to avoid it.
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Yah, I guess i am more concerned at the ATM. Maybe I just don't notice it, or I forget (i'd always choose Euros0. I mean it's been almost 3 months since I was there.
 
Walking the Norte right now and card has been no problem. Once there was a minimum spend of €5 but I just had another beer!
 
The practice of offering payment in local or your home currency is pretty much established in even the smallest of cafes now. Bought 2 coffees this morn. Bill for €3 was offered in Euros or GBP. Same yesterday and day before!

Minimum payment still does exist but is hugely reduced.

I did come across a place that didn’t take card yesterday… attached to a market. No cash but thanksfully Sabadell Bank which was adjacent sells currency at €1.80 not the €6-7 that many high street banks charge!
 
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