If you’re planning a trip to Belgium, you’ll find that most places out there will accept Mastercard or Visa card payments, with some also accepting American Express. However, a few smaller establishments might only accept cash payments, so it’s important to take some cash with you to ensure you don’t get caught out.
That said, ATMs are widely available across the country so it’s easy to withdraw more cash if you need it.
Paying for items with a debit card is quick and easy and many shops and restaurants will accept contactless payments. Visa and Mastercard debit cards are widely accepted and you’ll also be able to withdraw cash on your card if you need to.
However, the downside of using a UK debit card overseas is that many providers will charge a fee. For example, you could be charged a foreign transaction fee of between 2.75% and 2.99% whenever you make a purchase, plus a further 2% to 2.75% for withdrawing cash. For this reason, it’s worth looking for a debit card that won’t charge these fees before you go abroad.
A prepaid travel card can be used in much the same way as a debit or credit card, but you load it with currency before you leave. Many prepaid cards let you load them with euros in advance, meaning you can lock in a set exchange rate. Should you spend what’s on your card, you can simply top up again while you’re travelling.
Prepaid travel card providers use either the interbank exchange rate or the rate set by Mastercard or Visa, or one of these with a fee on top. Depending on the card you choose, some won’t charge you for cash withdrawals.
Similar to debit cards, using a credit card while you’re on holiday in Belgium can be quick and convenient. Most places accept credit card payments and you’ll also benefit from purchase protection. All purchases costing more than £100 and up to £30,000 will be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
However, you will need to choose your card carefully as many charge foreign transaction fees of around 2.75% to 2.99%, plus an additional fee if you withdraw cash. What’s more, if you don’t pay off your bill in full each month, you will usually be charged interest.
Traveller’s cheques are no longer widely accepted in Belgium so you might struggle to cash them in. Even if you can, fees are likely to be high so it’s usually better not to take them with you.
If you’re heading off on holiday to Belgium, it’s certainly worth taking some form of plastic with you, whether that’s a credit card, debit card or prepaid card. Just make sure it’s one that doesn’t charge extortionate foreign usage fees and if you’re using a credit card, remember to pay off the balance in full each month to avoid paying interest.
It’s also well worth taking a little cash with you to ensure you don’t get caught out if certain establishments don’t accept card payments. Should you need to withdraw more cash, keep in mind that it’s best to use a prepaid card or debit card and not a credit card.
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