Cashback on the Camino

[Michael & Cathy]

Hi Everyone,
If ATM's are out of service on the Camino, Is it possible to get cashback in the local shop's.

Michael&Cathy.

 

[PANO]

No way. Cash is king along the Camino. Most shops, bars, etc are tiny Mama–Papa businesses with a relatively tiny revenue, they cannot afford to play bank. Larger supermarkets belonging to chains have strict rules, electronic cash registers, forget it. My advise: take 300 to 400 Euro p.P. as cash reserve and replenish when you're down on 100. (If you are walking as a couple, 200 € each is fine.) This will take you past plenty of ATM's.

 

[Michael & Cathy]

No way. Cash is king along the Camino. Most shops, bars, etc are tiny Mama–Papa businesses with a relatively tiny revenue, they cannot afford to play bank. Larger supermarkets belonging to chains have strict rules, electronic cash registers, forget it. My advise: take 300 to 400 Euro p.P. as cash reserve and replenish when you're down on 100. (If you are walking as a couple, 200 € each is fine.) This will take you past plenty of ATM's.

Hi Pano, Thank you so much for your great advice, We really appreciate it.

Michael&Cathy.

 

[lfamiglio]

One other cash source:
I found one emergency need when my ATM card was not accepted last week in Pamplona. I was nervous! Oh no! Why won't my card work?

Ah solution! Instead, I tried my back up cash advance from my credit card and it worked. I paid it off right away.

 

[scruffy1]

Pano got it right! And should one be left with say 100-150 Euro at the end, put it in a big envelope and save it for your next Camino!

 

[AlanB]

I managed to get cashback a few times. Wasn't a problem and was much appreciated at the time. Each time was in a Hostal/Bar that had a cash machine. Most of them do.

 

[whariwharangi]

Pano got it right! And should one be left with say 100-150 Euro at the end, put it in a big envelope and save it for your next Camino!

Not a good idea. I did this with a 20 pound note on a previous trip via GB in 2008. No business would take it in October 2012. I was lucky to be able to exchange it at a bank with only a couple of months before the note expired.

I'm in possession of a 10000 Sucre note from Ecuador (was worth about $10). Ecuador now uses the US dollar as its currency.

Currency has intrinsic value of ink on paper. Don't keep it unless you want a souvenir.

 

[scruffy1]

With apologies to G. Stein, "An Euro is an Euro is an Euro" they don't suddenly disappear.

 

[Michael & Cathy]

Thanks everyone for all your comments,We really do appreciate your advice.

 

[whariwharangi]

With apologies to G. Stein, "An Euro is an Euro is an Euro" they don't suddenly disappear.

There is the story of the miser who kept all his cash in a safe deposit box. He didn't trust the banks. One day a mouse made a nest of his life savings.

 

[koilife]

One other thought might also be to take a VISA cash card as a backup source of money. In a cash economy, it probably won't make much difference if the ATMs are truly out, but it might be usable inside a bank to pull cash or at hostels/restaurants in larger towns.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Our Mastercard euro cash card can be used in ATMs and also as a debit card where cards are accepted. Watch the charges, they vary according to the specific card.

 

[november_moon]

Just don't let your cash reserves fall below 100 euro or so before seeking out an ATM. Some towns are too small to have them and sometimes the ATMs are out of order, so it may be a few days before you can get more cash. If you have at least 100 euro on you at all times, then if you can't get more cash for some reason, you can last at least a few days.