Going to Copenhagen, use cash or card?

lyle1993

Travelling to Copenhagen, Denmark with the girlfriend for a few nights away. I have a Nationwide FlexPlus account card (which offers free cash withdrawals abroad) and a Nationwide Select credit card (which offers free purchases abroad).
My question therefore is do I bother taking any cash at all? I have the hotel to pay for when we get there which is 1250 DKK (about £120) and they've informed me they charge 2% for credit cards.
Thanks !

PeacefulWaters

If you have a good range of backup cards and know where the ATMs are before you need to use cash I'd just take cards.

And I'd be over to the ATM before paying the hotel.

zagfles

Yes no need to change any cash. What I usually do is take a bit of GBP cash in case of emergency, like all the ATMs are down which you can change there if you really have to. But no need to waste time and money changing any here before you go.

Doshwaster

I've been to Copenhagen several times with work and found that you can easily go cashless for the entire trip as everywhere takes plastic.

Pincher

I would bring what EUROs you have left, and try offering that first.


Still have about 200 Norwegian Kronas left, really annoying.

callum9999

Pincher wrote: »

I would bring what EUROs you have left, and try offering that first.


Still have about 200 Norwegian Kronas left, really annoying.

Why would you take Euros to Denmark, a country that doesn't use Euros?

Pincher

Touristy places are highly like to take EUROs.
The change would be in local currency, usually.


Would you believe that Bicester Village not only takes Union Pay, which is a Chinese payment system, Air China is now doing a Chinese New Year promotion, where you get further discount if you show your Phoenix Air Miles membership card.


Never under-estimate shops' willingness to take you money.

PeacefulWaters

Pincher wrote: »

Touristy places are highly like to take EUROs.
The change would be in local currency, usually.

Never under-estimate shops' willingness to take you money.

What marvellous money saving exchange rates do you expect to receive?

Pincher

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

What marvellous money saving exchange rates do you expect to receive?

For sizable amounts, you would whip out your Clarity card.


I just hate leftover money from trips. On a cruise three years ago, every port of call was a different currency. Fortunately, they are used to cruises, so nothing they can't handle.


If I remember correctly, when the EURO was created, cash tills in London were upgraded to handle EUROs.


When I travel, I usually keep the US dollars and EUROs handy.


The really annoying thing was, I assumed the airport bus into Bergen needed cash, so I took some Norwegian Kronas out of the ATM at the airport, and then the bus driver will only take credit card! I think the only place that needed cash in my entire stay was a hotdog stand.

callum9999

Pincher wrote: »

For sizable amounts, you would whip out your Clarity card.


I just hate leftover money from trips. On a cruise three years ago, every port of call was a different currency. Fortunately, they are used to cruises, so nothing they can't handle.


If I remember correctly, when the EURO was created, cash tills in London were upgraded to handle EUROs.


When I travel, I usually keep the US dollars and EUROs handy.


The really annoying thing was, I assumed the airport bus into Bergen needed cash, so I took some Norwegian Kronas out of the ATM at the airport, and then the bus driver will only take credit card! I think the only place that needed cash in my entire stay was a hotdog stand.

They made no mention of having Euros in the first place (unless you're remembering a previous thread) which is what made the suggestion particularly bizarre. Not to mention, odds are they will be visiting a Eurozone country in the not too distant future anyway.

Some stores take Euros at bad exchange rates, not in London particularly - it would be far more prevalent in Northern Ireland.

If that makes you more comfortable then fine, but it's unnecessary in vast swathes of the world - pounds will usually do.

Pincher

The leftover money that you never use could make a bad exchange rate seem insignificant. I end up making unnecessary purchases at the duty free, making up the difference by credit card.


A relative brought his family over from USA, and we went to Europe. Being the lazy couldn't be bothered so and so that he was, he gave me US$5,000 in paper cash to pay for his share of the transport, accommodation, etc. Do I have a US$ account? No. I went on a cruise, where they said shipboard expenses and tips will be in US$, and I was so happy. Went to check out on the last day, with the cash, and they DON'T TAKE CASH! It took me five years to use it up, usually at not very good exchange rates. That is the ultimate in nuisance leftover money from a trip.


In retrospect, I should have made him pay for stuff with his US credit card, obviating the need to give me cash. But he is so useless, he was bound to get the reservations wrong.


In case you ask, I DID tell him to transfer the money to my account, repeatedly, but he just turned up with the cash any way. Because it's easy FOR HIM.