The european debit card systems are not comparable with how it works in the US. In the US I will use credit cards, because that is the better system down there. Over here in Europe, I'll hardly ever use a credit card.
So yes, luckily.
So yes, luckily.
I really miss this system every time I go back to continental Europe and suddenly have to carry around huge amounts of cash with me. Because nobody accepts cards, and even if they do it's usually only Maestro etc.
But yeah for other stores and restaurants, better have cash.
You must be going to the wrong areas in Europe. Literally, everywhere I go (France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands in the past 6 months alone) cards are accepted.