Originally Posted by
EasternTraveler
The REAL problem you will have is that a majority of merchants do NOT accept credit cards to begin with in some of these countries. France and Italy will not be a problem. Spain and Portugal, just look for the logo or shop somewhere else. Austria and Poland, either shop at international chains or hit the bank up for cash.
This must be a regional issue as I had no problems in Venice and Florence 2 years ago anywhere I'd want to go.
Can you give an example of a type of merchant that doesn't take credit cards? Or location? (i.e. I'd expect everyone in/near a train station or airport to take them, but maybe not in some rural village.) Maybe it's that I have a tendency to remain on the main drags and in "popular" restaurants so I've never had issues... but I can't think of a time when I've been to Western Europe and had any issues whatsoever.
Traveler's checks... well... that's another story. Ugh.