Originally Posted by JBord

Many here will disagree that it's a "must". It's a nice to have. I don't have one and the only time it causes me even a slight annoyance is when I'm buying a train ticket. Hotels, restaurants, and most shops will take a chip & signature card without making a fuss at all. I also always carry enough cash to cover small purchases during the day, like a snack from a street stall or whatever the case might be where the card isn't accepted.

Personally, I wouldn't impact my credit report negatively for a card that will come in handy 2-3 times per trip, especially if, like many people, the trip is a once-a-year vacation to Europe.

Originally Posted by snic

Well, ok, fine, it's not a "must", but it sure is nice. It's saved me plenty of time and annoyance - not just at train and public transit stations, but also at museums and self-checkout supermarkets. Yes, these occasions might be 2-3 times per trip, but before I got that card I had several experiences of having to wait ages for a ticket agent. It's not the most fun way to spend even a part of your vacation, if you can avoid it.

And applying for another card is not going to have any lasting effect on your credit score - that is why there are thousands of credit card churners with excellent credit ratings.