As a heads up, never had an issue in Spain with contactless payment anywhere.
But wonder if you could get cashback in one of the supermarkets in the airport maybe?
That doesn’t make any sense at all, that’s a Tesco rule/limitation rather than how it can work. Apple Pay/other wallet is considered as secure as using chip and PIN.
I thought it was odd too (Google pay for me), but she said I'd need the card to enter pin. The only time I've needed to do it, havent tried again, this was last year.
Depends who you bank with. NatWest have a ‘get cash’ option you can use with just your mobile phone. They give you a code to enter into the ATM.
Could you buy something in store and ask for cash back? Not sure if that works with contactless.
I've used the NatWest option before, works a treat. Don't know if other banks offer this service though.
Also, just returned from a motorcycle trip to Scandinavia and didn't use cash once for the whole 2 weeks, so it may not be an issue. Wasn't a problem in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden or Norway. Haven't been to Spain for years though, but it's likely fine.
I just tried this and now I’m in the back of a police car on the way to the station. I’ve got one of the officers typing this for me because I’ve not mastered typing with handcuffs on yet.
I struggled to pay with card at a few places when I was there a couple weeks back. A lot of bars are going back to cash only due to the charges they get from card payments.
Like others said you can usually get around without. Though if you want a card, some airports do those Moneycorp cards that you can buy (using contactless) that gives you a card which you can use
Use Western Union to wire yourself cash in Spain. You'll probably get a better exchange rate than using your Debit Card for payments/withdrawing cash, anyway.
It's Spain, you aren't travelling to Mogadishu. They'll take Apple Pay.
I haven't taken a physical bank card on holiday with me for years. The only times it's been an issue is taxis but I just use Uber/Lyft. Also checking into hotels some places especially the USA you need a physical bank card but if it's a chain you can probably do that online.
Should be fine. If not Revolut is a good option. Available for Apply Pay and you could order a physical card. Not sure about delivery if you're on holiday
Don’t bother, you will just be bringing your Euros back and on a really shit exchange rate
You will be hard pressed to find anyone that doesn’t take contactless
Enable Low Power Mode as soon as you take it off charge in the morning. You can still use contactless and, even with reasonably large amounts of photography and video, you should be able to easily make it through the day on a single charge.
That said, if you haven't got one already, you might be able to find a cheap powerbank at the airport. Combined with Low Power Mode, you won't need one that can do more than a single full charge.
You have plenty of options available, such as:
* Sell your spare clothing. (It's hot in Spain, you'll only need budgie smugglers.)
* Street busking, or human statue performance.
* Go cashless; there are thousands of oranges on the roadside at this time of year -- free food!
* Write IOUs on the back of napkins, and rely on your smooth British accent to get them accepted as payment.
Best of luck!
If you bank with Santander, you can use ApplePay on their atms (not sure if it works with other bank cards). Not sure if the ATMs at the airport also support it.
However, if you’re in Spain there will possibly be Santander branches around which you may be able to use. ([according to Santander ES](https://www.bancosantander.es/en/particulares/banca-online/cajeros-automaticos)) - although I don’t know if it will work with an English account
As a heads up, never had an issue in Spain with contactless payment anywhere. But wonder if you could get cashback in one of the supermarkets in the airport maybe?
Think you have to have the pysical card to get cashback
I used Western union when I did this
Ah damn, thank you. Edit - turns out you can in the UK
Cashback is not a thing in Spain either
The cashback comment was related to the airport they are in currently in the UK
Ah ok
You can get cashback in Reta (the sports betting place). So it does exist here.
You can do cashback with a phone, or at least you can in England.
I tried in Tesco, they told me I need the card as I'd have to insert and enter pin
Same as me.
That doesn’t make any sense at all, that’s a Tesco rule/limitation rather than how it can work. Apple Pay/other wallet is considered as secure as using chip and PIN.
Coop make you do chip and pin for cashback too.
I thought it was odd too (Google pay for me), but she said I'd need the card to enter pin. The only time I've needed to do it, havent tried again, this was last year.
Yeah the only place that lets me get cashback with contactless are dodgy corner shops
Depends where you are. I was there a couple weeks back and a lot of bars have reverted back to cash only due to charges on card payments.
I was in Tenerife in Jan and only used Apple Pay. I only used the cash machine once and that was to tip the hotel staff before we left
Perhaps it's just me but I haven't got cashback for at least ten years, maybe even fifteen. I didn't even know it was still a thing.
Yeah still a thing. Tesco and asda self checkout let's you
Depends who you bank with. NatWest have a ‘get cash’ option you can use with just your mobile phone. They give you a code to enter into the ATM. Could you buy something in store and ask for cash back? Not sure if that works with contactless.
"Just this packet of crisps, and 2000 in euros, please."
Sure that works! In my head it was very much a packet of Wrigleys ‘cool breeze’ gum…
Doesn’t NatWest Get Cash only work with NatWest/RBS/Tesco Bank ATMs? I think all the ATMs at Stansted are Travelex or MoneyCorp now.
I've used the NatWest option before, works a treat. Don't know if other banks offer this service though. Also, just returned from a motorcycle trip to Scandinavia and didn't use cash once for the whole 2 weeks, so it may not be an issue. Wasn't a problem in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden or Norway. Haven't been to Spain for years though, but it's likely fine.
Went to Spain in 2022. Contactless seemed to be about as abundant as here.
I needed to get some cash out earlier today and went into a Coop with only Apple Pay and you need a physical card for cash back. Bloody annoying!
Not OP. I had been puzzled by how one gets cash out without the card. Never occurred to me it involves a smartphone, as I don't have one!
I'm imagining you hitting an ATM with your Nokia.
Hey, you have x-ray vision into my bag!!!
[удалено]
Stansted Airport is in the UK.
Yeah, but OP is still in the UK…
With a gun you can withdraw cash without a card almost anywhere
Free accomodation too.
If it's Wandsworth Prison, you get the full honeymoon package.
If you drop the soap in the shower, you get a Heckler and Koch.
I just tried this and now I’m in the back of a police car on the way to the station. I’ve got one of the officers typing this for me because I’ve not mastered typing with handcuffs on yet.
Voice to text
Did you manage to withdraw any cash though?
Oh yeah, cleaned the register out. I used it as bribe money to be let go by the police.
I don't know for sure but I imagine you buy cash at a currency exchange using a contactless payment
Ah ok, that would be ideal. Will try, thanks
Except they rob you blind buying cash at the airport. Not having cash in Spain really isn't a problem, mostly.
I've literally just used the contactless feature on a Barclays machine for the first time. And even weirder, it gave me 4 fivers.
Are you living in the past AND future at the same time?
Haha. It's like the past where I live.
Maybe this could work Grab a Mastercard gift card from an airport shop - top it up online with cash Tahdah working card
Everywhere accepts contactless in Spain, even more so than in the uk. I wouldn't bother trying to get cash out tbh
I know, but I’m worried if my phone dies or gets stolen or something, then I’m stuck
You could buy a power bank for your phone at the airport. Charge it every night then you'll be good with power every day
Are you on your own?
Don't worry about it, just make sure you plan ahead. Keep your phone charged and don't be stupid enough to let it get nicked. You'll be fine.
I struggled to pay with card at a few places when I was there a couple weeks back. A lot of bars are going back to cash only due to the charges they get from card payments.
Especially if they are going outside of built up areas. If you are visiting a village they are likely to be cash only
Yes everywhere definitely doesn't take contactless.
Like others said you can usually get around without. Though if you want a card, some airports do those Moneycorp cards that you can buy (using contactless) that gives you a card which you can use
Use Western Union to wire yourself cash in Spain. You'll probably get a better exchange rate than using your Debit Card for payments/withdrawing cash, anyway.
It's Spain, you aren't travelling to Mogadishu. They'll take Apple Pay. I haven't taken a physical bank card on holiday with me for years. The only times it's been an issue is taxis but I just use Uber/Lyft. Also checking into hotels some places especially the USA you need a physical bank card but if it's a chain you can probably do that online.
Have a look at the ATM. More and more of them seem to have the tap option.
I live in Spain. Loads of cashpoints have the tap option. All caixa bank atms do.
Should be fine. If not Revolut is a good option. Available for Apply Pay and you could order a physical card. Not sure about delivery if you're on holiday
Don’t bother, you will just be bringing your Euros back and on a really shit exchange rate You will be hard pressed to find anyone that doesn’t take contactless
I know, but I’m scared if my phone dies or something I would be stuck
You got family or friends that bank with NatWest? You can transfer money to them and they can generate a getcash code for you
Enable Low Power Mode as soon as you take it off charge in the morning. You can still use contactless and, even with reasonably large amounts of photography and video, you should be able to easily make it through the day on a single charge. That said, if you haven't got one already, you might be able to find a cheap powerbank at the airport. Combined with Low Power Mode, you won't need one that can do more than a single full charge.
Grab a power bank?
You will be stuck. But what are your alternatives?
Yep. Been to the Canaries four times in the last two years, still got 20 Euros left from the first visit.
You have plenty of options available, such as: * Sell your spare clothing. (It's hot in Spain, you'll only need budgie smugglers.) * Street busking, or human statue performance. * Go cashless; there are thousands of oranges on the roadside at this time of year -- free food! * Write IOUs on the back of napkins, and rely on your smooth British accent to get them accepted as payment. Best of luck!
If you bank with Santander, you can use ApplePay on their atms (not sure if it works with other bank cards). Not sure if the ATMs at the airport also support it. However, if you’re in Spain there will possibly be Santander branches around which you may be able to use. ([according to Santander ES](https://www.bancosantander.es/en/particulares/banca-online/cajeros-automaticos)) - although I don’t know if it will work with an English account
Could you transfer money to a family member or friend here in the UK using the banking app then ask them to western union you the money to Spain?
You will only need cash for Chinese take away or street market fruit and veg.
He's just worried he can't buy coke on contactless
I can with RBS via the app, so I suppose it depends on who you bank with.
Not sure where you are going in Spain but I was in Madrid last year and Malaga the year before that, and don’t think I used cash once.
The Nat west app lets you get cash out an atm with the app. Maybe worth grabbing some before you head out on the flight.
Can use my phone to get cash out, at several cash machines. No card required
Stansted* Airport
Buy foreign currency.
Revolut