Currency exchange while traveling: why do some still carry wads of cash? (page 11 of 28)

So you either need to bring cash or bring your own food...

This company must be losing money if they can't offer a card payment service.

Which one is it?

This is about Finnlines, a Finnish company in a country where card payments are preferred in all situations.

Michel

I booked the hotels...

I just don’t give my bank—or anyone else—the right or the ability to know which country I’ve gone to visit. That’s nobody’s business. In this age of overly intrusive and nosy social media and technology, I like to keep my freedom of movement.

I get the idea, and I respect all ways of thinking. Yes, it’s legitimate to question how our personal data is used, even if for me, it’s a losing battle as soon as you use the internet.

That said, you withdraw cash from ATMs when you’re not traveling—even that’s info for your bank.

And I just hope you’re not looking up hotels on booking sites from your phone or computer, and especially that you don’t use—or even bring—your phone abroad, or even to Papeete for that matter.

I also hope you’re not signed up for any sites, government or private, and that you never browse any social media—or even any website—to be truly sure...

I just don’t give my bank—or anyone else—the right or the ability to know which country I’ve gone to visit. That’s nobody’s business.

Fair enough, but you’re literally listing the countries you’ve traveled to on this site...

Il s'agit des paiements à bord....

Of course, there will always be cases where nothing beats cash. The plumber who wants to be paid under the table will still demand cash. But overall, when it comes to work or administrative services, digitalization is growing like crazy. The use of cash is following the same trend. I only do my shopping with Apple Pay now, both abroad and in France. Except at Franprix—they’re a bit behind 😛

Hi there,

It’s true that if everyone starts paying for everything with bank cards, we’re basically speeding up the end of cash ourselves.

This makes me think of shops—everyone complains that jobs are disappearing (especially cashiers), but at the same time, they’re pushing for self-checkout machines and online payments to settle purchases...

I know Argentina well... the most dangerous are the official taxis, which claim your bills are counterfeit by doing sleight of hand and give you small change back. In Buenos Aires, Uber exists in part.

Hi Alain,

I see you’ve got me cornered there… and you’re right! Like everyone else, I’m under the watchful eye of Big Brother tech, even if I’m less so than others. I’ve significantly cut my yearly banking fees by using cash, even when I’m not traveling. I never make card payments under 30 €. When I travel, if necessary, I only deal with local travel agencies I can pay in cash. I have one or two credit cards just in case, but I almost never use them while traveling. And I don’t stay in sketchy neighborhoods or third-rate hotels. I take precautions in every situation—for example, I book a private taxi if I arrive late at night in a country flagged as ‘difficult,’ like Nicaragua or Guatemala. Some might call me paranoid, but it’s actually pretty smooth in practice. And from chatting here and there with other French travelers or foreigners, I’m not the only one who does things this way.

Moana

I only shop with Apple Pay now, both abroad and in France.

I’m afraid you’re way ahead of me on this one.

I wonder how people who still rely on cash payments will manage when even cards become obsolete

So I’ll plan to bring my own picnic and a ticket if I ever fly with this airline.

That could actually be a whole separate discussion: where in the world can you only pay in cash?

Good evening Attila,

I wonder how those who still rely on cash payments will manage when even cards become obsolete

That won’t happen anytime soon in France. And in a way, that’s a good thing. The end of cash would mean the end of our freedoms...

The "hustle," as you call it, is a way for people like me—of modest means—to get by day to day. Paying or getting paid under the table is, for many of us, sometimes the only way to escape financial hardship.

As for the *real* hustlers—the white-collar ones—they don’t hesitate to maintain a lifestyle funded by dirty money, mastering the system perfectly. But shhh... we’re not supposed to talk about them...

In conclusion, when that day comes (the end of cash), I hope I won’t be around anymore...

Hi there,

Totally on the same page as what you just wrote... The end of cash means the end of our individual freedoms. The countries leading the charge in phasing out cash aren’t the ones you’d expect. Instead, they’re supposedly very democratic nations but with tight digital control over their populations: Norway, Sweden, the Baltic states (especially Estonia), and Finland (though the latter adopted the euro...). We’re still far from that, largely thanks to the Germans, who are very attached to banknotes and see the current euro as the equivalent of their old mark. They’re obsessed with currency devaluation and have bad memories... Go to Germany, and you’ll see people happily paying with 200 € bills. Try that in a French supermarket, and you’ll get some interesting reactions... To answer another contributor’s question about where it’s possible, recommended, or advantageous to pay in cash: I’d say all of Central America (use US dollars, especially small bills like $1, $5, $10, and $20, and pay for hotels with $50 or $100 bills), Latin America (especially Colombia and Argentina right now), Turkey (where the lira has collapsed and euros are accepted at favorable rates for hotel stays), Southeast Asia..., and Greece, where cash is also popular. So be wary of the constant misinformation on this topic. The French finance ministry would love to eliminate cash in France too, all to monitor citizens more closely and track how they spend their money... Privacy laws still protect us a little, but for how long?

Moana

The end of cash would mean the end of our freedoms...

For conspiracy theorists, not for the rest of us.

Paying or getting paid under the table is, for many of us, sometimes a way to escape financial difficulties

No. It’s refusing to take part in society. It’s stealing from those who do.

Your under-the-table deal, I’m the one paying for it. I don’t necessarily want to.

Whether it’s small or big schemes, morally, it’s exactly the same thing.

Not admitting it is just burying your head in the sand.

I wonder if the groundhog gets paid in cash or chocolate?

' Central America (use US dollars, especially small bills of $1, $5, $10, and $20, and pay hotels with $50 or $100 bills), Latin America (especially Colombia and Argentina right now), Turkey (where the lira has collapsed and euros are accepted at favorable rates for hotel stays), Southeast Asia..., Greece where people love cash aus

Not true for Southeast Asia. (ATMs available) Not true for Latin America in general, even if Venezuela and Argentina might be exceptions. (ATMs available) Not true for Turkey (there are ATMs) Not true for Greece (ATMs everywhere)

In the case of Greece, it’s not nice at all for the locals who live there and can’t or don’t want to work under the table to have to accept cash payments.

Just because paranoid people and those dealing in dirty money want to exchange their euros is one thing, but it being a necessity is another.

A necessity is when you have no other choice or in a country that’s completely collapsing.

Myanmar during the blockade. Venezuela.

You’re mentioning many regions plagued by drug money or institutional black markets.

By refusing to participate in one system—that of our democracies—you end up participating in another. That’s your choice.

For the conspiracy theorists, not for others.

Obviously, if you still believe that those who hold the keys to power in our societies make decisions for the good of all and in the general interest, with total and transparent sincerity, there's nothing I can do for you...

No. It’s refusing to participate in society. It’s stealing from those who make the effort.

Your under-the-table work, it’s me who pays for it. I don’t necessarily want to.

Whether small or large schemes, morally, it’s exactly the same thing.

Not admitting it is burying your head in the sand.

You’re spreading the same rhetoric as those we usually call the "guard dogs of the system"... Shaming ordinary people by putting them on the same level as those who, however, take advantage of it shamelessly and with complete impunity.

This discourse that points fingers at "small-time fraudsters," and without shame tells us that if the local artisan or shopkeeper ends up doing a few hours or jobs under the table because they struggle to make ends meet with the meager income they earn from their activity compared to what’s taken from them every month, they’d be a "thief" who "takes advantage" of society.

Morally, this rhetoric makes me sick.

I’m not trying to make anyone feel guilty. I’m just reminding you who you are.

I don’t get why that bothers you. You’ve got to own your choices.

No, the arrogance and self-righteousness in your words just highlight your own ideology.

I fully stand by mine, but I find it surreal and absurd to be called a thief when all I’m doing is lamenting the sorry state of our corrupt societies—where indecency and hypocrisy have reached their peak... especially when it’s coming from a sanctimonious rant defending a system that’s completely upside-down, then turning around to lecture us about "democracy."

If you’re assuming you don’t want to take part in the social contract and steal from those who do, things are clear.

Our societies are indeed corrupt. You’ve admitted to being part of that.

It can’t be easy wanting to fight against yourself.

Hi there,

"In the age of zero-commission cards and fee-free accounts..." Simply put... The answer is in your question— not everyone has a zero-commission card or a fee-free account! Sure, you save pennies compared to the total cost of a trip, but I just like not paying more than necessary for expenses.

Why, when it's so easy to open one?

Out of loyalty to your bank? Too lazy? Generosity toward the financial system? Because 100 € more or less doesn’t matter?

It's funny because I pretty much only use cash

The fees on ATM withdrawals and card payments seem high to me.

In Thailand, it's 400 Baht per withdrawal, so 12 €!

I'm with Société Générale and the fees are steep... unless you're in the EU eurozone!