Comment by Freak_NL
1 day ago
American Express I get. No one uses that in Europe. Visa and Mastercard debit cards are what everyone uses and they work in all German ticket machines. You weren't trying to use a credit card where you?
What language do you expect the Germans to use?
I don't think the person expected the Germans to use a different language, only was saying that they weren't entirely sure what it said.
As someone travelling for the first time in a while - Wise has changed travel for the better, and dramatically.
Managed 2 weeks in the UK without touching cash and the transactions between currency were inexpensive and quick.
Massive fan.
How were you using it? I have only ever used Wise for bank transfers. There are travel credit cards without any foreign transaction fees and that’s what I always use.
> How were you using it?
I’ve used it like a debit card/credit card. On phone and as a physical card for tap-and-go on transport. I’ve used it for booking accommodation bookings online too.
Fees are low/non existent and conversion rates good.
Lots of people use Amex in Europe. It's very popular as a business card.
I doubt that it is popular with the actual users, only with the company that they work for. When I had a company issued AMEX card the damn thing was practically useless. In fact even in the US there were plenty of places that wouldn't accept it.
I use an Amex as my primary and preferred personal card, and legitimately can't remember any place in the US where it wasn't accepted.
In Europe it is pretty hit or miss though, unfortunately.
For a train going to an airport, English.
This is the norm around the world, especially with complicated situations like a train splitting in two.
Is it though?
Why should anywhere cater to my failure to learn their language and systems? It’s nice if they do but I don’t expect it.
Are you seriously asking why Airport infrastructure should support English or is it rhetorical?
If you are not a backwater that doesn't get any travelers, you should cater to tourists who, as a rule, do not speak your language. Even those tourists who do speak a few phrases will absolutely be unable to understand something as complex as a the train spilling up into two before going to the Airport.
> Why should anywhere cater to my failure to learn their language and systems? It’s nice if they do but I don’t expect it.
I certainly don't see this attitude from Germans in Spain.
1 reply →
If you want international travelers, English is the language to allow that.