Credit cards/ATM card in Spain
Sep 30, 2018, 9:46 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
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I had no problems with ATM or credit cards throughout Europe or the Middle East. You should not have a problem. Be sure to use cards that have no foreign transaction fees.
Oct 1, 2018, 5:37 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Highly recommend using NFC payments via Google Pay as well if you don't want to pull out your wallet/CC every time. Many restaurants and stores accepted NFC payments if you mentioned "NFC".
Oct 11, 2018, 6:02 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SNA; LAX; KUL
Posts: 434
No issues when using my Chase and Citi cards even on the metro automated ticketing machines.
Agree with @Jimgotkp, Google/Apple pay is even more convenient. At the restaurant, just tell them, "tarjeta" and the mobile credit card machine typically will accept contactless payments.
Agree with @Jimgotkp, Google/Apple pay is even more convenient. At the restaurant, just tell them, "tarjeta" and the mobile credit card machine typically will accept contactless payments.
Oct 26, 2018, 1:01 pm
#5
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Nashville, TN
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Only issue was buying online ticket for Real Alcazar
Despite numerous attempts both at hotel and iphone, we could not buy tickets for this attraction, Card was denied. It turned out pretty bad because we waited 2 hours in the hot sun to buy tickets. After that, with only two windows open for tickets, you wait in line to buy the audio tour. Very poorly organized. The crowds are huge because of Game of Thrones filming.
Oct 26, 2018, 6:59 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2015
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Despite numerous attempts both at hotel and iphone, we could not buy tickets for this attraction, Card was denied. It turned out pretty bad because we waited 2 hours in the hot sun to buy tickets. After that, with only two windows open for tickets, you wait in line to buy the audio tour. Very poorly organized. The crowds are huge because of Game of Thrones filming.
Dec 4, 2018, 11:55 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Strangeville
Posts: 29
There is no problem using most Ccs in Spain.
Just know that every Spaniard Debit and Credit card has a chip and therefore a 4 digit pin. Using NFC is a good advise as many USA cards don't use a chip or a pin and therefore can be denided in Spain.
Just know that every Spaniard Debit and Credit card has a chip and therefore a 4 digit pin. Using NFC is a good advise as many USA cards don't use a chip or a pin and therefore can be denided in Spain.
Dec 7, 2018, 4:02 pm
#8
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US cards generally have chips now but as mentioned above, NFC with a mobile device is still likely going to be less of a hassle due to signatures and lack of contactless functionality. (Though the latter is slowly changing, so tapping a physical card might end up becoming commonplace for Americans at some point.)
Dec 8, 2018, 2:11 pm
#9
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Despite numerous attempts both at hotel and iphone, we could not buy tickets for this attraction, Card was denied. It turned out pretty bad because we waited 2 hours in the hot sun to buy tickets. After that, with only two windows open for tickets, you wait in line to buy the audio tour. Very poorly organized. The crowds are huge because of Game of Thrones filming.
At Versailles in France, for example, the automated ticket machines wouldn't work for me using any of my US bank cards, but then I figured out a work around -- buy one ticket at a time using a different bank card for each ticket purchase.
Dec 20, 2018, 12:34 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
A big issue in using cc in Spain Is unrelenting Dynamic Currency Conversion. Many local cafes and similar shops have processing machines that automatically run transactions through in dollars if the card is US. Then the merchant acts dumb and suddenly loses all English skills.
In a Toledo lunch spot, I refused to sign the receipt unless the charge was re-run in Euros. The man behind the counter laughed, threw the unsigned receipt in the register and went on to the next customer. Sure, you can deny the charge with your bank, but how much time are you going to spend to get 60 cents back?
i just started using cash for smaller purchases and saved cc for hotels, real restaurants and larger stores. Attractions were all ok with cards.
In a Toledo lunch spot, I refused to sign the receipt unless the charge was re-run in Euros. The man behind the counter laughed, threw the unsigned receipt in the register and went on to the next customer. Sure, you can deny the charge with your bank, but how much time are you going to spend to get 60 cents back?
i just started using cash for smaller purchases and saved cc for hotels, real restaurants and larger stores. Attractions were all ok with cards.
Dec 20, 2018, 8:29 am
#11
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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When we were in Spain this summer, I preempted the issue by asking each time that I used a credit card to process the transaction in Euros. None of my transactions were DCCed and I probably spent less than €100 in cash in the two weeks that we were there.
Dec 21, 2018, 12:04 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
Good idea in hotels, restaurants and larger shops. Did me little good in smaller places. They either truly didn’t understand, or more likely, were in on the scam.
Dec 21, 2018, 8:34 am
#13
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Dec 27, 2018, 1:07 pm
#14
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A big issue in using cc in Spain Is unrelenting Dynamic Currency Conversion. Many local cafes and similar shops have processing machines that automatically run transactions through in dollars if the card is US. Then the merchant acts dumb and suddenly loses all English skills.
In a Toledo lunch spot, I refused to sign the receipt unless the charge was re-run in Euros. The man behind the counter laughed, threw the unsigned receipt in the register and went on to the next customer. Sure, you can deny the charge with your bank, but how much time are you going to spend to get 60 cents back?
i just started using cash for smaller purchases and saved cc for hotels, real restaurants and larger stores. Attractions were all ok with cards.
In a Toledo lunch spot, I refused to sign the receipt unless the charge was re-run in Euros. The man behind the counter laughed, threw the unsigned receipt in the register and went on to the next customer. Sure, you can deny the charge with your bank, but how much time are you going to spend to get 60 cents back?
i just started using cash for smaller purchases and saved cc for hotels, real restaurants and larger stores. Attractions were all ok with cards.
Dec 27, 2018, 1:49 pm
#15
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Good to know. My go to card anyway.
When we were in Madrid last year, a co-workers card didn't work as one of the automated machines. But I can't remember for what. If I had to guess, I would think it was for a train ticket to Toledo. Or it could have been for the palace entrance.
When we were in Madrid last year, a co-workers card didn't work as one of the automated machines. But I can't remember for what. If I had to guess, I would think it was for a train ticket to Toledo. Or it could have been for the palace entrance.