Using cc for everything inc tips instead of cash?

[scottsman]

It’s normal for them to take the card away, and I’ve seen people advised they can’t go into a staff area to watch the card been swiped.

If your that worried I would advise using a revolut card which tells you what transactions go through in real time and gives you the ability to block the card.

Alternatively pay in cash.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Ricky_Spanish

We go in Aug for 2 weeks and I was thinking of taking around $1k in cash. We are onsite with dining plan. If possible I would rather just use my cc for everything including tips. Is this possible or are there instances where cash is the only option? If cc is possible for most things how much cash is recommended?

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I would not carry $1k in cash at home so I would not carry it to Florida either. The only time we ever use cash in Florida is to pay for the taxis to and from the airport. Everything onsite is paid for with magic band and offsite with credit or debit card, again, same as at home.

[duchy]

Originally Posted by CookieMonster54

I would assume there would be nowhere within the parks where they wouldn’t take cards especially where they want to encourage people to use their magic bands to pay for things and you can pay for parking with a credit card.

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As mentioned above the only time onsite was tipping Bell Services ... and a cart selling bubble machines on Main Street ... offsite everything was card except for tipping the celebrant who married us , which isn't likely o be an issue for most people
Just like here everything is card nowadays even Lyft you add the tip on the app after the ride.

[offtoseemickey]

I only spent around $20 cash last holiday.

Please make sure you check how much cash is covered on your insurance policy if you haven’t already.

[tspill]

Originally Posted by landandword17

It’s also not always possible to accompany them to the till, especially in fancier places where the till is not on the restaurant floor, it’s back in the staff area. I’ve eaten in a lot of restaurants in the US, probably over 100, and I’ve never seen anyone follow the waiter to the card machine. I use a credit card never a debit so I don’t worry about it. I’ve only ever had my card compromised once (at home) and it was sorted with a quick phone call.

I’m sort of curious now what they’d say if you asked to go to the card machine. I suppose it would be okay in the chain type places where the till is visible on the floor, you could just follow them over but for insurance purposes I doubt a customer would be allowed back to the staff area at the restaurants where there’s no till on the floor. And I assume you couldn’t touch their card machine to look for any skimming devices that might be on it.

Has anyone here asked to see their card being swiped, were you able to examine the card reader or just watch to make sure the waiter didn’t take down the number? How did they react when you asked? What do you do when they swipe your card under the desk when checking into hotels? I’ve not seen a card reader visible on top of the desk in hotels either, it’s always in on their side under the desk where they could have a skimmer or a camera recording the number. Same at the car rental places, they skim your card in the exit booth or on their side of the desk.

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I have never had a problem accompanying the server to the till. I have been doing this for many years and several trips per year. Never once had a problem. Never once has the till not been on the same floor and easily accessible. It really isn't that difficult.
In the other places you mention, you can nearly always see the reader. If not just ask - no big deal. Takes 2 seconds to ask vs getting your card frauded. Seems an easy decision to me just to ask.

[tspill]

Originally Posted by scottsman

It’s normal for them to take the card away, and I’ve seen people advised they can’t go into a staff area to watch the card been swiped.

If your that worried I would advise using a revolut card which tells you what transactions go through in real time and gives you the ability to block the card.

Alternatively pay in cash.

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I have never once in hundreds of restaurant visits been advised that I can't go to the card reader.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by mouli1

I prefer not to use it for petrol or tips. I always make it clear to the server that I will leave the tip on cash if I pay with a cc .

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I always tip on the credit card too, if I'm expected to fund the staff's wages through tips I want to know the income is being declared and taxed

[rafjen]

Disney Balloons and bubble machines are cash only

[Wigan Lass]

Charge everything including tip to your magic band and pay it off by credit card.

TBH I would no longer leave tips in cash after I saw too many instances of double charging - tip paid in cash and then also taken from card.

We do a mid stay pay off with the card, mainly so the task of checking the charges are all correct isn’t as laborious as leaving it until night before check out.

Last trip we took $300 in cash and had most of it left on the last day.

[Ricky_Spanish]

Thanks for all the responses. I will lower the amount of cash I take and make sure I have a couple of cards in case any issues arise.