Do albergues accept debit/credit cards?

[Miles2go]

On the Camino Portuguese, is it common for albergues, pensions, hostels, etc. to accept debit or credit cards or is it advisable to be prepared to pay for lodging with cash?
Thank you in advance for your feedback.

 

[mspath]

On the Camino Portuguese, is it common for albergues, pensions, hostels, etc. to accept debit or credit cards or is it advisable to be prepared to pay for lodging with cash?
Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Cash is best. Private facilities generally accept cards, but Xunta, municipal and parish albergues usually only take cash. ATMs are found in most villages so that obtaining cash with your card is relatively easy. Be sure to read this earlier 2015 thread regarding credit and debit cards.
Always keep some euro bills in small denominations; breaking a 50 euro bill in a remote village can be impossible! However, gas stations will often make change even if you don't buy gas!

 

[Albertinho]

I have never seen albergues, hostals and pensāoes accepting credit card payments on the Portuguese caminho.
Cash is king.

 

[Miles2go]

Cash is best. Private facilities generally accept cards, but Xunta, municipal and parish albergues usually only take cash. ATMs are found in most villages so that obtaining cash with your card is relatively easy. Be sure to read this earlier 2015 thread regarding credit and debit cards.
Always keep some euro bills in small denominations; breaking a 50 euro bill in a remote village can be impossible! However, gas stations will often make change even if you don't buy gas!

Thanks for your reply. I searched for posts on this topic but apparently didn't choose the right keyword combination. The tread you directed me to was helpful.

 

[Miles2go]

I have never seen albergues, hostals and pensāoes accepting credit card payments on the Portuguese caminho.
Cash is king.

Thanks! I will be prepared.

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Miles - cash is king, as my friend Albertinho says.
And, after all, you'll only be charged a few euros for accommodation in Hostals and albergues.
Spain - and probably Portugal - is very much a cash culture: it sometimes saves on the tax bill