Got stuck in a tiny town in Portugal with no cash and a dead card reader

Last fall, I was in a small village near Porto trying to buy a bus ticket back to the city. The machine only took cash, and my card wouldn't work at the one ATM because the strip was worn out. I had about 5 euros in coins. I walked to the only open cafe, bought a cheap espresso for 1 euro, and asked the owner in my bad Portuguese if he could give me cash back if I paid for a larger item with my card. He let me buy a 20 euro bag of local coffee beans with my card and gave me the cash difference. It got me home. Has anyone else had to get creative with a payment problem in a place with few options?

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3 Comments

joelharris6mo ago

That's a solid move. I've done something similar at a gas station in rural Spain, buying a pack of gum and a ton of bottled water on card and asking for cash back. The key is picking a place that's not a chain, they're way more likely to help you out.

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milesh896mo ago

Read that in a travel blog once.

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kim.stella6mo ago

Actually, I always ask first before I buy anything. Some small shops have a minimum spend for cash back or just don't offer it at all. You don't want to be stuck with twenty bottles of water and no extra cash. I learned that the hard way in a similar spot. It's better to explain the problem and ask if they can help you out. Most people are nice if you're honest and polite about it.

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