Cash only?

I read in a Berlin guide that you may have a hard time paying with a credit card in Berlin - that many restaurants, bars and shops take cash only.

This sounds very strange and out of fashion - is it really true?

/sun

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Neither strange nor out of fashion, but that%26#39;s the way things are in Germany. Many businesses, including shops, from locally owned to some large chains, won%26#39;t accept credit cards because of the fees teh credit companies charge them. About no one will accept plastic money of any kind for purchases under 10 €, neither credit nor debit cards. Better get used to carrying and using cash.

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Better restaurants and shops do accept credit cards.

The more budget ones not. Blandine gave already the reason.

Just have a look for credit card stickers at the entrance or the cashier(s).

No credit cards does not mean that no cards are accepted at all.

E.g. ticket machines for public transport and for parking do often accept MAESTRO or GeldKarte cards. Just no credit cards.

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abalada, where did you get that neat picture of the old TEE?

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Old DB poster/brochure cover?

http://img242.imageshack.us/i/teetimehq8.jpg/

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... and than there is of course the ultimate TEE video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRCGSGh3ZiM

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Thank you both for taking the time! This is good thing to know - and now I also have the reasons.

We have been traveling mostly in the US for the last years and over there, as you probably know, you%26#39;re in trouble if you don%26#39;t have your credit card ...

In Sweden, we take for granted that both credit an debit cards can be used practically everywhere. Some establishments take a small fee if the amount is very low. But I don%26#39;t think that%26#39;s actually allowed.

I%26#39;ll bring cash to Berlin!

/sun

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Many stores such as drugstores and supermarkets will take a debit card even for very small amounts.

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BTW It is the same in most of Central Europe - Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, etc - they are all cash-based societies, and debit/credit card use is not widespread. I can%26#39;t remember the last time I used one in a restaurant, certainly not in a pub!

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Places that don%26#39;t take credit cards are not necessarily %26quot;bad%26quot; or %26quot;budget%26quot; places - they are often the locally owned, individual, unique places which may be better than the big chains. Accepting credit cards is no criteria of quality.

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BlandineForberg;

%26quot;Places that don%26#39;t take credit cards ... are often the locally owned, individual, unique places ...%26quot;

Great tip - I%26#39;ll keep that in mind!

/sun