Had similar experience: my Amex was impossible at several Vatican souvenir kiosks. Even my MasterCard failed at one low-end bookstall. I finally withd...

March was busy with Vatican visits. I planned €80/day: €35 for a private hostel in Prati with good wifi, €20 on food, €15 on entrances, €10 on transpo...

Arrived by train at Roma Termini in June, then flagged a taxi to Vatican City. The driver asked for “cash or app?” I offered Visa but was told “cash o...

In Livingstone, I tried paying a driver with Visa - but his card reader was unlinked and offline. He politely declined and asked for cash. He did ment...

Since March I’ve used the new LuBus shuttle service in Lusaka - it has contactless QR booking, but you'll show the printed QR code from your phone, no...

Used hostelbooker for a stay in Kitwe in June and paid the deposit by Visa card - worked fine. At check-in they asked for remaining balance in ZMW cas...

Visited a craft shop in Victoria Falls this May where Amex was outright rejected. The shop said, “Terminal only supports Visa/MasterCard.” Same story ...

Had multiple rejects in Kitwe earlier this month - no PIN, no swipe, just segmentation faults. It turned out my card was blocked by my home bank’s fra...

Just arrived in Livingstone this June and tried airport exchange - felt like daylight robbery: exchange fee, tourist markup, plus commission. Instead ...