Most widely accepted internationally - Visa or Mastercard?
#16
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,866
Domestically I carry AMEX (preferred) and MC as backup where the former is not accepted. Except backwards government agencies those 2 have gotten me by
International I carry AMEX, MC, and VISA. VISA is really not necessary IMO, but the Cap 1 Visa just happens to have 0% Forex Fees
International I carry AMEX, MC, and VISA. VISA is really not necessary IMO, but the Cap 1 Visa just happens to have 0% Forex Fees
#19
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,057
It's not hard just to have one of each, though--a lot of American banks issue both, and Chase even lets you get the same card as either MC or Visa.
The only exceptions I can think of are the Olympics (Visa only, by contract with Visa) and American wholesale clubs (Costco takes only AmEx, Sam's takes only MC).
#20
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: CTS
Programs: AA:1MM
Posts: 743
Chase (freedom as visa and mc) and Citi both have this in the US. Shoot, Citi has AMEX, MC, and Visa versions of some of their AA cards. The common issuance of visa and mc has to do with how the two organization were founded. The ability to issue AMEX is a result of a lawsuit.
#21
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
Small stores Visa only, and Tim Hortons Mastercard only?
I read somewhere (maybe on FT or another credit card forum) that small ethnic stores sometimes only accept Visa but not Mastercard in Canada (primarily in Vancouver and Toronto). Also, the famous Tim Hortons does not accept Visa but only Mastercard?!
Can any Canadians or anyone confirm this?
Can any Canadians or anyone confirm this?
#22
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 415
I read somewhere (maybe on FT or another credit card forum) that small ethnic stores sometimes only accept Visa but not Mastercard in Canada (primarily in Vancouver and Toronto). Also, the famous Tim Hortons does not accept Visa but only Mastercard?!
Can any Canadians or anyone confirm this?
Can any Canadians or anyone confirm this?
As for Tim Hortons? There was an exclusivity arrangement with Mastercard years ago as Tim Hortons was the launch customer of their PayPass technology. These days you can pay by Visa/MC/Amex or Interac at Tim Hortons. And cash as well, I guess.
#23
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1
I'm from southern Brazil and establishments here seem to accept Visa and Mastercard equally. When I was at the beach last month in Balneário Camboriú - SC, I noticed even people that sell things as bracelets in the sand of the beach accept cards
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
When I was in Puerto Vallarta recently card acceptance wasn't nearly as common as in the US. Even at places that took cards people generally paid cash if possible. The weird thing was the number of places that seemed to only have the Visa logo in their windows. I'm not sure if they would have taken MasterCard if given one, but I imagine they would have.
#26
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SPG Gold, Hilton Diamon, IHG Spire
Posts: 374
Country-wide or region-wide speaking, I was recently in Zambia and Zimbabwe, and it was PITA to go look for a ATM that accepts Mastercard. My impression is that Visa just dominates Master in these countries/region.
#27
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 154
YES! I would NEVER travel without diversifying 1) debit+ATM-that-can-be-used-as-if-it-were-credit vs. actual-credit, 2) brand (visa/mc/etc), and 3) where I stash them (get one of those waistband things you tuck down your pants and never let it off your body unless you're showering/swimming - and then lock it somewhere - your passport should be in this, too; if you're a woman, consider doing a skirt+shirt instead of dresses for dress-up so you can still reach down your waistband).
Typically, I think you do well with 1 all-purpose (debit+ATM+acts-as-credit) "refunds your ATM fees and has no foreign transaction fees" card in your wallet from a bank that gives debit cards as good of fraud protection as they give their credit cards. Then have a 2nd "all-purpose" card in your money belt in case you need cash and your first card is stolen - doesn't have to be as awesome as the first. Finally, have a credit card in your money belt - again, for emergencies (e.g. unexpected need to purchase more than you have in the bank). One of the 2 in your money belt should be a different brand than the one in your wallet.
No need to keep more than the 1 in your wallet; it's thief-bait.
I would only diversify past Visa/MC if I were going somewhere that the guidebooks said I needed something else.
If I were carrying other cards for the perks (e.g. free luggage), I'd keep them in the money belt and only flash them as necessary.
Typically, I think you do well with 1 all-purpose (debit+ATM+acts-as-credit) "refunds your ATM fees and has no foreign transaction fees" card in your wallet from a bank that gives debit cards as good of fraud protection as they give their credit cards. Then have a 2nd "all-purpose" card in your money belt in case you need cash and your first card is stolen - doesn't have to be as awesome as the first. Finally, have a credit card in your money belt - again, for emergencies (e.g. unexpected need to purchase more than you have in the bank). One of the 2 in your money belt should be a different brand than the one in your wallet.
No need to keep more than the 1 in your wallet; it's thief-bait.
I would only diversify past Visa/MC if I were going somewhere that the guidebooks said I needed something else.
If I were carrying other cards for the perks (e.g. free luggage), I'd keep them in the money belt and only flash them as necessary.
#28
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 9,538
If you need to find an ATM in the future, you can use the global MC ATM locator app or this link: http://www.mastercard.us/cardholder-...m-locator.html Just pick your country.
#29
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,194
MasterCard is growing quickly in Africa and globally has just as many acceptance locations as Visa.
If you need to find an ATM in the future, you can use the global MC ATM locator app or this link: http://www.mastercard.us/cardholder-...m-locator.html Just pick your country.
If you need to find an ATM in the future, you can use the global MC ATM locator app or this link: http://www.mastercard.us/cardholder-...m-locator.html Just pick your country.
In south America I've come across one or or two places that have only taken MasterCard and sometimes Amex or Diners Club as well but no Visa.
#30
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 409
It's a slight tangent, but here is another data point for this topic: A couple of years ago I was in French Polynesia, and for about 4 days, VISA was 'down' in the entire country. MC worked fine. So as has been mentioned, when travelling internationally, it's not a bad idea to have one of each.