How much cash to bring?

[CPT Trips]

5 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

WHO has cash anymore?

It’s always wise to have some Tinklegeld. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[ural guy]

If you tip your cabin steward with USD, I figure they'll consolidate with the other tips they get, and convert them to Euros or Philippine pesos or whatever when they get home.  The extra hassle for them is much better than no tip at all, which is the alternative if you have no other cash.  For good or bad, the Yankee Greenback is used all over the world, and holds value better than other currency.

 

My only new piece of advice I haven't seen mentioned is always have them charge you in the local currency.  The card machine can have this option to be charged the home currency of your card, or local currency.  It is sometimes worded poorly.  The difference is that paying local currency your bank sets the exchange rate, otherwise it is the local merchant/owner of the ATM getting a nice conversion fee.  Some places can be pretty annoying with this. and tell you they are doing you a favor.  They're not.

 

A better explanation:  

https://www.investopedia.com/dynamic-currency-conversion-dcc-term-4769305

 

[Canal archive]

In years past over our many trips to the USA my DH made sure he had a sufficiency of dollar bills and when I joined him it was one of his first priorities to ensure I had the same. So no problem Asia to a certain extent the same but in whatever local tender. Although I agree that Europe can for regular tippers be somewhat problematical. To tip or not to tip that is the question whether it be safer to do so and therefore avoid embarrassment or to do so and throw caution to the winds. U.K. don’t worry unless it’s the doorman at say Claridge’s  Hotel  London note the position of his hand it’s a clue. Most restaurants have a service charge and any server if asked ‘do you get an included tip’ will answer. Although these days the youngsters are very happy to accept recognition for good service and I for one don’t blame them. Most people these days earn a living wage, tipping came about because this was not always the case. 
Wherever your traveling to in this world Europe included a few pennies in the local money is most probably a sensible precaution if not used put it in a safe place to be used or not on your next visit across the pond.

[Daisi]

16 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

As Europe converts to plastic-only, the restaurants are going to have to give up the insistence on cash tips.  WHO has cash anymore?

 

 

I think the only time we use cash here is when we go to our hairdresser's. She works from home, and doesn't have a card machine. Other than that, we use our card, because they pay us to use it. 

 

[Canal archive]

I’ve never used a card in my hairdressers only cash but then he’s in a very small Wiltshire village used to be a hairdresser in the film industry until he met his soul mate, retired and then started up again. He’s a well kept secret, cash only!

[AnhaltER1960]

On 9/29/2024 at 6:33 PM, btregoning said:

 

Do you find that the ATM fee is less than the exchange fee for getting foreign currency from the bank?

Yes.

[gnome12]

12 hours ago, Daisi said:

 

 

I think the only time we use cash here is when we go to our hairdresser's. She works from home, and doesn't have a card machine. Other than that, we use our card, because they pay us to use it. 

 

For me I use cash regularly for 2 things only. My cleaning woman, who, when I asked about e-transfer looked at me blankly so I continue to pay her in cash, and I go to monthly concerts by a band of mostly retired musicians and music teachers, and they are still cash only.

And, just tonight, I bought a box of Girl Guide Cookies (the chocolatey mint ones) that were being sold at my singing session.

[Canal archive]

Thanks for supporting your Girl Guides but I’m surprised they’re not more entrepreneurial but I expect they make up for it in other ways. We hosted a group of Canadian Girl Guides some few years ago now - what a mistaka to maka - what one group didn’t think of the other did and supported each other whatever happened and this was way before Girl Power - they had it in spades.

[gnome12]

3 hours ago, Canal archive said:

Thanks for supporting your Girl Guides but I’m surprised they’re not more entrepreneurial but I expect they make up for it in other ways. We hosted a group of Canadian Girl Guides some few years ago now - what a mistaka to maka - what one group didn’t think of the other did and supported each other whatever happened and this was way before Girl Power - they had it in spades.

This was actually an aunt bringing some boxes of cookies to our singing group. I have no idea what (or if) the guides do anything differently when they sell them as a group.

[Daisi]

Maybe because of the distance here, but most GG cookies here are sold over local FB pages - someone lets everyone know what is coming up and when they will be available, and we all put in our orders. Once in a while when we drive into town, we will see the girls out selling them at grocery stores, but they just can't go "door to door" as they do in urban areas. I have a feeling that thanks to the FB pages, sales in the area have increased significantly. When you only get them 2x a year, people order them and freeze them. 🙂

 

[gnome12]

5 hours ago, Daisi said:

Maybe because of the distance here, but most GG cookies here are sold over local FB pages - someone lets everyone know what is coming up and when they will be available, and we all put in our orders. Once in a while when we drive into town, we will see the girls out selling them at grocery stores, but they just can't go "door to door" as they do in urban areas. I have a feeling that thanks to the FB pages, sales in the area have increased significantly. When you only get them 2x a year, people order them and freeze them. 🙂

 

When I was working (pre-Covid) there would always be someone with a kid in Guides who would bring them in, put them out in the kitchen, and sell them. (It was considered impolite to go office to office, but leaving them in the kitchen avoided anyone feeling pressured to buy.) I have on very rare occasions seen a group of girls selling at a mall, but never door-to-door.

[DaisyRose]

I am going on a Scenic Christmas Markets cruise that is mostly in Germany.  When I booked, the price (which I thought was on the high side) said all tips for crew onboard and local guides were included in the price I paid.  So as I read this thread about currency and tips, I am wondering if, even though the booking said all tips including local guides were included, am I still expected to tip additionally?  On ocean cruises when I have a package that includes gratuities, I only tip extra for someone who I felt offered extraordinary service, usually the stateroom steward.  I appreciate any responses you have to offer.  

[Canal archive]

Daisy Rose absolutely on Scenic you are not expected to tip at all, in fact when they first went all inclusive (some few years ago)it was definitely frowned on. Now if you think a member of staff has gone over and beyond reward as you wish but don’t be surprised if it is politely refused. Tipping is definitely not expected even for tour guides and bus drivers. I’ve even seen their brown envelopes!

It is absolutely possible to step on board on arrival and step off without opening your wallet. If you want anything or something done just ask, especially your assigned Butler.

You can of course splash out in the on board shop or something in the massage line or maybe extra laundry but everything else is included.

Have a great cruise. CA

[Steelers0854]

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is the OP is ending in Amsterdam.  Just be aware that some restaurants and many of the local grocery stores do accept cards but only Maestro (like the local version of Mastercard).  If you don’t have a Maestro card you will need Euros as they don’t accept Visa.  We almost got stuck at a restaurant as we knew to ask before we were seated if they took credit cards, our issue is we should have asked, do you  accept Visa?  We thankfully had enough euro to cover it so we didnt have to wash dishes.  Now we know, in the Netherlands we always ask before sitting down if they take Visa (that and we have a healthy amount of Euros just in case).  

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, Steelers0854 said:

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is the OP is ending in Amsterdam.  Just be aware that some restaurants and many of the local grocery stores do accept cards but only Maestro (like the local version of Mastercard).  If you don’t have a Maestro card you will need Euros as they don’t accept Visa.

Do they take US MasterCards?

[btregoning]

5 hours ago, Steelers0854 said:

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is the OP is ending in Amsterdam.  Just be aware that some restaurants and many of the local grocery stores do accept cards but only Maestro (like the local version of Mastercard).  If you don’t have a Maestro card you will need Euros as they don’t accept Visa.  We almost got stuck at a restaurant as we knew to ask before we were seated if they took credit cards, our issue is we should have asked, do you  accept Visa?  We thankfully had enough euro to cover it so we didnt have to wash dishes.  Now we know, in the Netherlands we always ask before sitting down if they take Visa (that and we have a healthy amount of Euros just in case).  

Thank you for this information.

[Canal archive]

Just for info you may find that some places in the U.K. don’t accept Amex cards. Each country to their own it can be a bit fiddly. So just ask although it can be just a tad difficult in a language you personally don’t speak!

[Daisi]

 

16 hours ago, Steelers0854 said:

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is the OP is ending in Amsterdam.  Just be aware that some restaurants and many of the local grocery stores do accept cards but only Maestro (like the local version of Mastercard).  If you don’t have a Maestro card you will need Euros as they don’t accept Visa.  We almost got stuck at a restaurant as we knew to ask before we were seated if they took credit cards, our issue is we should have asked, do you  accept Visa?  We thankfully had enough euro to cover it so we didnt have to wash dishes.  Now we know, in the Netherlands we always ask before sitting down if they take Visa (that and we have a healthy amount of Euros just in case).  

 

14 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Do they take US MasterCards?

 

 

Maestro is (actually was, as they are phasing it out) part of MasterCard, so I would assume that they probably do. We've never had a problem with our MasterCard in either the Netherlands or other parts of Europe.

 

@Canal archive, there's lots of places here that don't accept Amex. I've heard it's because the merchant fee is higher, so it's not worth it.

 

We always travel with both Visa & MC, just in case there is a problem with one of them. I do find that now my cards are in my phone wallet, they don't have problems with the machines (sometimes the swipe strip gets damaged), but when the stores have a limit...trying to remember that PIN is a pain! 🙂

 

[Canal archive]

Daisi your right it was when I was in retail Amex charges are significantly higher.

[pontac]

On 10/19/2024 at 1:41 PM, DaisyRose said:

I am wondering if, even though the booking said all tips including local guides were included, am I still expected to tip additionally? 

 

No. Not on Scenic.

 

 

[Kristelle]

On 10/19/2024 at 11:11 PM, DaisyRose said:

When I booked, the price (which I thought was on the high side) said all tips for crew onboard and local guides were included in the price I paid.  So as I read this thread about currency and tips, I am wondering if, even though the booking said all tips including local guides were included, am I still expected to tip additionally?

 

 No.

 

Scenic even says in their brochures/literature - "you can leave your wallet at home"

 

All gratuities are included.

[Kristelle]

On 9/29/2024 at 8:14 PM, CDNPolar said:

We also try to collect Euro coins for Toilets.

 

 

Just quoting this point as it is buried upthread - many places you will need euro coins for toilets.

 

If you bring no other cash, do bring a few coins for this purpose.

[Canal archive]

Will try to remember but I think in Germany or Belgium you could tap your card in the Ladies facilities mind you it was one Euro, bit of an expensive tidle.

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, Kristelle said:

If you bring no other cash, do bring a few coins for this purpose.

I would if I could.  Getting Euro coins is harder than hens' teeth!

[Canal archive]

Before ‘C’ our wider group of friends when traveling to Europe just used Euro cash borrowed from each other, we also luckily included in our number a couple who own their own French cottage on a French canal miles from anywhere. I’m sure the same few Euro coins have most probably crossed the channel quite a few times. It was known as the French pot as Jazz your right getting Euro cash is  just a bit fiddly.