Cash or credit card

[JohnKennySang]

Just a brief practical question. I will be on the Camino in the fall of 2017. I do not plan to carry too much cash on this trip. Should I be able to use my credit cards along the way? If not, how much of a minimum cash one should carry on a 4-5 trip?

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hi John ,
First I think It's the fall from 2018.
For a 4 or 5 day walk , when you stay in alberque's €250,= will be more than enough.

Wish you a wonderful time and a Buen Camino,Peter.

 

[Dorpie]

Hi John,

Cash is king on the camino. I think Peter's budget is more than adequate if you're planning on staying in Albergues. I personally wouldn't want to be carrying less than €200 at any one time, but this rather depends on which part of which camino you are doing.

Buen Camino,

Rob.

 

[mspath]

Generally the camino is a cash economy. Private tourist accommodations usually accept cards but at most albergues you pay in cash. ATMs are found in most of the major villages and towns. Never carry a lot of cash but always have some tucked away only for emergencies.

Whatever your budget and whichever card(s) you carry always have a stash of emergency cash. This stash might be very useful when an intense storm knocks all power out and no ATM works or during a long holiday weekend when the machines are 'milked dry'. As always it helps to be prepared!

See this earlier form thread for more info re ATMs along the CF way.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/atms-on-camino-frances.46635/

 

[Samantha Davies]

Just a brief practical question. I will be on the Camino in the fall of 2017. I do not plan to carry too much cash on this trip. Should I be able to use my credit cards along the way? If not, how much of a minimum cash one should carry on a 4-5 trip?

Some accommodations might take credit card, but most places (especially restaurants, bars and small shops) will be cash only. I would recommend between 250-300 euros. Usually 250 is enough, but personally I rather have enough for emergencies, as ATM fees will rip you off.

 

[trecile]

ATM fees will rip you off.

Unless you use a bank like Charles Schwab that refunds all ATM fees.

 

[williamlittig]

Generally the camino is a cash economy. Private tourist accommodations usually accept cards but at most albergues you pay in cash. ATMs are found in most of the major villages and towns. Never carry a lot of cash but always have some tucked away only for emergencies.

Whatever your budget and whichever card(s) you carry always have a stash of emergency cash. This stash might be very useful when an intense storm knocks all power out and no ATM works or during a long holiday weekend when the machines are 'milked dry'. As always it helps to be prepared!

See this earlier form thread for more info re ATMs along the CF way.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/atms-on-camino-frances.46635/

Knowing where the next ATM is (some have hours) is important to your budgeting... Ultreya

 

[november_moon]

Even with standard banks that don't reimbuse ATM fees, you are probably still better off with ATM fees than the currency exchange fees you'll pay by getting euro at home before you go or at a currency exchange booth on arrival. But, if you are only talking 250 euro or so, the actual difference in fees won't be that much.

 

[Louis Lloyd]

Just a brief practical question. I will be on the Camino in the fall of 2017. I do not plan to carry too much cash on this trip. Should I be able to use my credit cards along the way? If not, how much of a minimum cash one should carry on a 4-5 trip?

We have Westpac Global Currency card from
Australia, cashed up with Euros. Has anyone had problems using this card in Spain & availability through Spanish ATM’s

 

[peregrina2000]

I know I am in the minority on this, but I use my credit card in as many places as I can. Any chain supermarket, even the little ones in small places, will take cards. Many restaurants and private accommodations do too. Albergues seem to be the one consistent exception to that. I still carry a couple hundred in cash, but it lasts me a long time. If you want to use cash, that´s fine, but if you prefer the card you may be surprised at how many places do take it.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

Also bear in mind if you are going to Spain from the US you will be hit with the foreign transaction fees that really add up quickly.

 

[Ellen the Pesto]

My USA debit and credit cards would not work in Spain. My bank informed me that they are blocked in certain countries due to the risk of identity theft. I used a prepaid Travelex card to get cash every few days. Getting the leftover cash back from them after I returned home was a nightmare, but the next time I will ask them to send me a check.

 

[peregrina2000]

Also bear in mind if you are going to Spain from the US you will be hit with the foreign transaction fees that really add up quickly.

Hi, Bob, It's good to point that out, but we should also add that there are credit cards you can get that don't add foreign transaction fees. I have one from Merrill Lynch with no fees, and also one from Capital One. I think many people here have sung the praises of some card from Charles Swab as well.

 

[trecile]

My USA debit and credit cards would not work in Spain. My bank informed me that they are blocked in certain countries due to the risk of identity theft. I used a prepaid Travelex card to get cash every few days. Getting the leftover cash back from them after I returned home was a nightmare, but the next time I will ask them to send me a check.

Did you notify your banks before you left the US that you would be using your cards in Spain?

 

[Ellen the Pesto]

Did you notify your banks before you left the US that you would be using your cards in Spain?

Yes I did, thank goodness. If I had just blithely gone without checking, I could have been in a pickle. I tend to panic and lose any common sense when things get rough, so I tried to anticipate and troubleshoot before I left home.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

Great point Trecile.......

 

[Givesome]

We have Westpac Global Currency card from
Australia, cashed up with Euros. Has anyone had problems using this card in Spain & availability through Spanish ATM’s

Hi [U]Louis Lloyd[/U] I have the same type of card from South Africa and I used it successfully last year. We loaded the card with Euros back home and used it in the same way as a credit card without the currency conversion. It worked at all ATM's and any other pay points. The biggest benefit of these cards are that some banks in Spain can issue you with a replacement card if it get lost. If you loose your normal bank card you will have to get a replacement from your home bank which can put you at risk of running out of cash.

 

[Louis Lloyd]

Hi [U]Louis Lloyd[/U] I have the same type of card from South Africa and I used it successfully last year. We loaded the card with Euros back home and used it in the same way as a credit card without the currency conversion. It worked at all ATM's and any other pay points. The biggest benefit of these cards are that some banks in Spain can issue you with a replacement card if it get lost. If you loose your normal bank card you will have to get a replacement from your home bank which can put you at risk of running out of cash.

Thanks for the thumbs up on the card. We are loading the card before leaving Australia.

 

[Kurt5280]

I carried about 10-20 Euro in a wrist wallet...another 100 Euro in a ankle wallet...and if all else failed I had another 200 Euro hidden in various places my bags...my advice is never intentionally get below 200 Euro...ATM cash works best...and I only ever used a credit card at small hotels in cities.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

All great points to consider.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Just a brief practical question. I will be on the Camino in the fall of 2017. I do not plan to carry too much cash on this trip. Should I be able to use my credit cards along the way? If not, how much of a minimum cash one should carry on a 4-5 trip?

As mentioned, "Cash is King," on the Camino and the amount carried depends entirely on the section being covered.

If there will be many main or larger cities to traverse, costs will be higher but will also provide more opportunity to utilize a credit card, or using the right kind of debit card, acquire more cash from ATM's. Most will carry 200 to 300 euro till they get down to under 100 euro and then they start looking for an ATM. Certainly, using ATM's means user fees and if you are in Spain and not Spanish, there will be further charges for the money transfer.

BTW, if you are really going in the Fall of 2017, may I go with you? I would have loved to have had a time machine and returned last year.

 

[AquariusT]

Thanks for the thumbs up on the card. We are loading the card before leaving Australia.

Hi Louis....I am leaving Cape Town SA on 15th April. Which bank issues this global card you mention? I bank with Nedbank and had planned on cash in euros plus my debit card which I always use when travelling overseas. Any advice would be most welcomed. Thanks.

 

[Anniesantiago]

There is really no reason for a special card.
Just be sure your bank card is a VISA and use it.
Or get a separate account and card for your travel money. That way you can transfer cash in if you need it. The ATMs in Spain are like the ATMs everywhere. Put in the card, put in your 4 digit pin, get your cash. They're all along the Camino and easy to use.

 

[AquariusT]

There is really no reason for a special card.
Just be sure your bank card is a VISA and use it.
Or get a separate account and card for your travel money. That way you can transfer cash in if you need it. The ATMs in Spain are like the ATMs everywhere. Put in the card, put in your 4 digit pin, get your cash. They're all along the Camino and easy to use.

Annie thanks. Yes it's a Visa card and use i in USA and all over Europe. Thanks!

 

[Louis Lloyd]

Hi Louis....I am leaving Cape Town SA on 15th April. Which bank issues this global card you mention? I bank with Nedbank and had planned on cash in euros plus my debit card which I always use when travelling overseas. Any advice would be most welcomed. Thanks.

We use Westpac in Australia. The card is a global cash card which isn’t a specific Westpac card however they are promoted by them. Not sure it’s the best way however that’s what we have done.

 

[Anamiri]

A lot depends on where you intend to stay and if you intend to book ahead through a site like booking.com, (that will be pensions, hostals, casa rurals, and hotels depending on your budget) or stick to albergues. Albergues will require cash - and they are a lot cheaper. Other types of accommodation took credit cards, visa, most of the time.
I believe in a safety margin, so took cash, but used credit cards where we did stay in alternative accommodation. .That stretched our cash out. Food and drink were cash.
I bought the cash over some time, watching the exchange rates to get a good deal. Probably better rates than using ATM's - which we did infrequently.
I hope that helps.

 

[Louis Lloyd]

I am buying and loading 500euros each two weeks as I have no idea what the exchange rates are doing.

 

[Doti]

Lost my debit card (ATM). Then I had problems with Visa for cash withdraw as I needed my credit card PIN and had no idea what it was...Chase customer service insisted that I could do a cash withdraw at any Spanish bank with my passport...was not so. They all told me to use the ATM machine
Carry cash!

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

Thank you for this update

 

[JillGat]

Just to be safe, I carried an ATM card associated with my Charles Schwab account (savings specifically for travel), my regular bank ATM card, and my VISA credit card with PIN. I never was unable to get cash from an ATM along the Camino, but I did find that certain banks would not accept certain kinds of cards. It was alarming to get that error message, but I had back up. I kept about $200E on me at a time.