Paying with card is not the same as paying with a dollar bill.
Comment on What was the stupidest form of US defaultism you've encountered in real life whilst they're abroad?
disregardable@lemmy.zip 3 days ago
A lot of countries do have tourist areas where staff are taught to speak English and will take USD. Like the only places in Spain I went where someone didn’t speak English were a beauty store and a taxi stand. Otherwise there was always at least one who spoke English. The card reader allowed me to choose between USD and Euros. Touristy areas are designed to accommodate foreigners.
Lydon_Feen@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Nibodhika@lemmy.world 2 days ago
People speaking English in tourist areas is normal, but I’ve seen Muricas complain about people speaking Spanish first or even among themselves here in Spain.
Also, no, the machine asking you USD or EUR is because your card is in USD and you can choose whether to have the bank in Spain do the conversion or let your bank do it. If you tried to give a dollar bill in that same establishment you would be informed that they don’t take dollars, or be charged an absurd conversion rate to justify his bother of having to exchange that money.
starlinguk@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Even my doctor (in Germany) doesn’t speak English. And I’m in a very popular tourist area (the Black Forest). Also, nobody in Europe accepts cash dollars.
glasratz@feddit.org 2 days ago
If you find a place that takes USD in cash in Europe, prepare to be ripped off. They only do that because they can overcharge you on the conversion without you noticing it.
Lehmuusa@nord.pub 3 days ago
Choosing between USD and EUR is a fraud scheme, though. They have an exceptionally bad exchange rate for the non-EUR currencies. It’s basically always cheaper (unless your own bank is an absolute madhouse!) to choose payment in local currency and let your bank do the conversion.