Traveling with an Amex - will I be able to use it widely in Finlandor should I carry a backup Visa/Mastercard?
Don’t plan to rely on Amex in Finland. It didn’t work at ATMs, and most restaurants, cafes, and shops refused it. Visa and Mastercard were perfect everywhere, including trains, buses, and local supermarkets. Meals cost 15-20 EUR, and I spent 90-120 EUR daily. Amex just isn’t practical in Finland - Visa is the best card to carry.
Finland is almost cashless, but that doesn’t mean Amex works. Smaller restaurants and bars declined it, and ATMs didn’t process it. Visa worked smoothly everywhere, even at ferry counters and petrol stations. Meals were 15-25 EUR, and my budget was about 100 EUR daily. Amex is only good at select hotels. Visa is a must for Finland.
I carried Amex in Finland and quickly saw it wasn’t useful. Hotels sometimes accepted it, but cafes, supermarkets, and buses didn’t. ATMs didn’t support it either. My Visa worked perfectly for everything, from groceries to train tickets. Meals were 12-20 EUR, and I averaged 90-110 EUR daily. Mastercard was also reliable. Amex slowed me down.
Finland is very digital, but American Express isn’t widely used. In Helsinki, some hotels took it, but restaurants, supermarkets, and ATMs refused. Visa and Mastercard worked everywhere, even on trams and ferries. Meals cost 15-25 EUR, and daily budgets averaged 80-120 EUR with transport and attractions. Amex is limited - Visa is the safe option for Finland travel.