What countries do not accept credit cards?

What countries dont accept credit cards?

Credit cards? Tricky territory.

• Bulgaria: Cash whispers louder.
• Belarus: Sanctions sting. Credit frozen.
• Cote d’Ivoire: Infrastructure lags.
• Indonesia: Islamic finance flexes.
• Lithuania: Debit reigns.
• Macedonia: Still catching up.
• Pakistan: Security doubts linger.
• Romania: Adoption…slow.

Few places outright ban cards. Infrastructure, culture, regulation – choke points. I saw it myself in ’22, backstreets of Belgrade. Cash. Always.

What country doesn t use credit?

Japan. No real credit system. Weird, right? Banks decide. Individual banks. Like, my bank in Osaka… totally different than Tokyo. Salary matters. How long you’ve worked there. Debts, obviously. Risk. It’s all about risk. Kinda backwards. Wait, is it backwards? Efficient maybe. They use debit. Prepaid cards huge. Think I saw something about that. Contactless too. My Suica card. Train pass. Can buy stuff with it. So convenient. Crazy how different things are. Remember trying to explain this to my friend… he just didn’t get it. Cash is still king there. Cash is king. So different than the US. My US credit cards…useless. Visa, Mastercard…nope. Discover…forget it. JCB is the thing there. JCB card. Gotta get one. Or just use cash. Lots of cash. They trust people more? Or less? I dunno. Just different. Culture thing. Makes you think. Hmmm. Wonder how it affects the economy. Bet it does. Big time. Should look into that. Later. Gotta run. Train’s here.

Do all countries accept credit cards?

Nope, a big fat NO! Think of it like trying to pay for a yak ride in the Himalayas with Monopoly money – it ain’t gonna fly. Visa and Mastercard are kings, ruling the roost like fluffy Persian cats on a pile of cash. Discover? More like “Discover if they take it!” American Express? Prepare for the side-eye and a hefty surcharge, if they even bother.

Seriously, forget about Amex in some places. It’s like trying to use a rotary phone in a Tesla.

Here’s the lowdown, straight from my Uncle Barry’s recent trip to rural Mongolia (he’s a bit of a daredevil):

• Visa and Mastercard: Your go-to global pals. Think of them as the reliable family dog – always there, always helpful.
• Discover: A decent backup, but acceptance is spotty. Like finding a decent parking spot at a Taylor Swift concert. A struggle.
• American Express: Luxury liner in a sea of rowboats. Fancy, but not always practical. Expect exclusivity issues, my friend. Expect them.

My sister, Sarah (she’s a travel blogger, not that you’d know it from her Instagram; it’s mostly selfies) confirms this too. She almost missed her flight from Hanoi because the taxi driver only took cash. Cash! So, bring some USD; otherwise you are screwed. Seriously, learn from my relatives’ travel mishaps. You don’t want to repeat those. And remember, always tip generously; it’s 2024 and you need to be nice.

Do some places not accept credit cards?

Okay, so yeah, some places REALLY don’t take credit cards. I remember vividly, it was last summer, July 2024, sweltering heat in Savannah, Georgia. My fam and I hit up this tiny, hole-in-the-wall seafood shack right off River Street. The name? Honestly, slipped my mind… but it had like, peeling paint and a HUGE sign advertising “Fresh Catch!”

We devoured the shrimp po’boys. SO good.

I went to pay, whipped out my Visa, and the lady just shook her head. “Cash only, honey,” she said, all sweet and Southern.

Panic set in. Cash only?! In this DAY and AGE? Seriously? I had like, five bucks on me. My husband HAD to run to an ATM down the street – cost us like, $4 in fees! Argh!

Here’s the lowdown, based on MY experience and general life observations:

• Small Businesses’ Struggle: Places like that seafood shack, they’re often run on razor-thin margins. Credit card processing fees? They EAT into profits. It’s a real struggle. I get it.

• Avoiding Fees: Plain and simple. Credit card companies charge a percentage, plus transaction fees. I mean, it adds up.

• Tax Evasion (allegedly!): Okay, I’m not accusing anyone directly, but some businesses might prefer cash to avoid tracking income. Just sayin’.

• Tech Hurdles: Old POS systems? Rural areas with spotty internet? I mean, some places just aren’t equipped. Even now. It’s dumb.

• Costco, that’s the classic.Costco accepts Visa. So, always have a Visa.

Should you be suspicious if a place ONLY takes cash? Hmm. Maybe a LITTLE, yeah. But probably they are just being cheap or something. I have seen other places that don’t take credit cards, but they are also cheap so it sort of balances out. I wouldn’t totally freak out, but definitely keep an eye out.

How widely accepted are credit cards in Vietnam?

It’s late. Credit cards…Vietnam…yeah. Cash is king, still. Little shops, the street food? Forget about plastic there.

But Visa, that’s pretty common.

Hotels? For sure. Tours, yeah, they take cards. Nice restaurants, boutiques, even some grocery stores. Spas too, if you’re into that. I got a massage once after a rough day of shooting pictures.

I remember trying to use my card at a pho place in Hanoi. Nope. Lady just stared at me. Cash only. It’s just…how it is. And, like, I tried to use it at the market for fabric. Another no. But a fancy hotel…easy.

• Cash use: Predominant for small purchases and street vendors.
• Visa: Widely accepted.
• Establishments: Hotels, tour operators, boutiques, restaurants, grocery stores, spas generally accept credit cards.
• Experiences: Credit cards are not accepted at pho restaurants or markets.

Is Vietnam mainly cash?

Vietnam, cash kingdom or plastic paradise? Heh, more like a cash-leaning republic, tbh.

Think of it this way: Vietnam is like that eccentric uncle who still uses a rotary phone but has a secret Bitcoin wallet. Cash rules for most locals.

• Cash is king, but credit cards are vying for the throne.
• Tourist hotspots? Cards accepted, mostly. Phew. My Bún chả cravings can be satisfied, even if I forgot my VNDs.
• Venturing off the beaten path? Cash is your BFF. Don’t be caught out like me, trying to pay for street food with Amex. Never forget that day.

Card payments are gaining traction. Progress! Like teaching a parrot to sing opera – surprising but welcome.

Additional Intel:

• Mobile Payments: E-wallets like Momo, ZaloPay, and ViettelPay are huge and getting huger! I saw a grandma using Momo last week!
• ATMs: Available in cities, but fees can sting.
• Tipping: Not customary, but appreciated. Especially if you try paying with crypto. Just kidding… mostly.
• Currency Exchange: Stick to banks and official exchange counters. My cousin, bless his heart, tried a shady back alley. Let’s just say he learned a valuable lesson about trust.

Can you use a credit card in Germany?

Germany… cobblestone streets… fog, maybe. Visa… Mastercard… a flutter of plastic. Will they take it?

Contactless… a tap. A dream of ease. Apple Pay… Samsung Pay… shimmering promises of modernity.

Do they even take them? Visa and Mastercard, yes. Foggy memories. A relief washing over.

Payment accepted… like rain on old stones. Digital whispers…

But the heart of Germany… will it beat for this?

• Credit Card Use: Widely accepted, like in other parts of Europe.
• Accepted Cards: Visa and Mastercard are best. Others, less so.
• Contactless Payment: Yes, generally possible. A light tap.
• Digital Wallets: Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, increasingly popular.

The question circles. Germany… so much history. Credit cards, so… new.

It all flows together. The old and the new. A tapestry woven.

What countries only use cash?

Cambodia: Cash is King, Baby! Seriously, though, it’s mostly cash. Think of it like a time capsule – stuck in the glorious, slightly sticky, entirely cash-based past.

• Cash rules everything around me (C.R.E.A.M.), especially in smaller towns. My aunt’s friend visited last year and had to swap dollars for riels like some kind of financial Indiana Jones.

• Big cities? Credit cards are slightly more common, like a timid explorer venturing into uncharted territory. But don’t expect Apple Pay anytime soon.

• The irony? Cambodia’s digital infrastructure is actually improving rapidly. It’s a bizarre blend of ancient traditions and modern aspirations. It’s like a tuk-tuk racing a Tesla.

Cambodia’s a beautiful country, though – I mean, seriously stunning temples, lush jungles. Beautiful beaches, too, that make you forget all about your lack of contactless payment options.

But yeah, bring cash. Lots of it. Otherwise, you’ll be bartering for mangoes like it’s 1500. Trust me on this one. My cousin got stuck doing that. It involved a very confused chicken.