JBord

None. Typically, you'll still get a signature slip at restaurants and other places where they want a tip. About an hour ago, I purchased $100 US worth of groceries, slid my chip card into the terminal, took it out, was handed a receipt and left the store. Truly no verification. I'm not 100% comfortable with it, but the security is no worse than before. How is looking at a signature on the back of the card extra security? Only if they look at an ID too, which really only happens at hotels, and never at all when you buy online...

tmiw

To add, while in theory PIN isn't supposed to be asked for if the card's chip says it's not supported, I have heard reports of the cash advance PIN working at unattended terminals. That is definitely not something one should rely on to work, though.

ID has issues too. For instance, I doubt the typical cashier is trained well enough to be able to readily detect fakes, especially if the store doesn't sell alcohol or other restricted products. Not to mention that if you have the resources to clone a card, you probably have the resources to produce/obtain a good enough fake (depending on the IDs a state issues).

That said, I doubt we'll get anything better than chip and signature/nothing, especially considering how hard contactless is being pushed. At least using your phone's mobile wallet is an option since US devices seem to always require PIN or fingerprint (unlike with some European phones where transactions under the contactless limit are typically allowed).

MonikaCro

I wouldn't go anywhere without at least a small amount of cash with me. Some places still don't accept credit cards, for example, public transportation, kiosks etc. You can use a credit card in most places but you never know why and when some cash will be required. So a minimum amount of cash is recommended to take with you.

JBord

I agree. Stories of people using nothing but credit cards for vacations frankly baffle me. Not because you can't do it, but because you're very likely missing some fantastic places.

Last weekend we found a restaurant that makes phenomenal cheeseburgers. Two of us ate delicious burgers and fries for $22 -- and they only accept cash. There's also a dive bar near where I live that has a whole lot of interesting atmosphere, but they only accept cash. Try getting some of the most amazing street food in Thailand without cash.

This is, of course, not to mention how handy cash is for places where tipping is the norm, or for kiosks that don't accept US chip & signature cards.

MissJ

I have never walked away from an experience because of lack of cash.

If I was in a country and saw that cash was needed for things, I would just go to an ATM. Almost never have cash at home either.

dlffla

Romanianflyer

Cardless travel is for sure easily possible in Scandinavia as even the smallest of pubs, public transport, department store toilets etc allow you to pay even the tiniest amount by card. You won't miss out on anything.

That said there are still many places in Europe where I recommend to have at least a tiny bit of cash as there are always some shops or cafes which do not accept cards, especially the more local ones. That even counts (or especially counts!) for such countries as Germany/Belgium, but also Southern and Eastern Europe.

Giggleswick

This reflects my experience. Most recently, in Germany this spring, several cafes did not accept credit cards for small amounts. If I'd been caught cashless and unaware, I rather doubt that the wait staff would have been too happy to let me walk away with the bill unpaid in search of an ATM.

Romanianflyer

There are a variety of other issues too. In some countries there are some payment systems common with shops where it is possible to pay with debit card but credit cards are weirdly not accepted (happened five years ago to me in the Netherlands - even at one of the country's largest supermarkets! Same at a major clothing store).

Then there is also the obvious problem of tipping. Yes, in Scandinavia that's easy by card as they will first enter the bill (eg. 1,000 NOK - approximately 100 EUR - which you might then adjust to a higher amount if you want to include a tip, eg to 1,1100 NOK if tipping 10 percent). However, this brilliant system is weirdly enough not existing in many other countries, where tips have to be left in cash. Sure, Europe is not the US and nobody bats an eye if its just a beer or a coffee, but for a sit-down meal at a restaurant or long day lounging at an outdoor terrace it would be rude not to tip if service/food etc is fine.