People still use cash in the modern world? I haven't needed it in years. Don't know anybody else either (Estonia).
https://www.bundesbank.de/en/press/press-releases/payment-be...
There are also historical reasons why Germans are concerned about the possibility of being tracked, which apparently not everyone sees the dangers of.
This simply isn't true, outside of large chains or supermarkets. Many smaller businesses like pubs, "kiosks", barbers, non-chain restaurants, and so on, are cash only.
It's a combination of tax avoidance and trying to avoid the insane level of paperwork needed for bascically every aspect of life, but especially if you have a business, no matter how small.
Source: live in Germany, near a large metro area.
I have a different experience. I pay by card even for < 1 eur things almost everywhere (from time to time): sometimes I just have no cash with me anymore and I am totally ok. This has changed dramatically in the last 10 years, and I wish that the mainstream theme was different than "wooooow in Germany they still accept cash-only". Until now I only experienced this "cash-only" limitation in very few places.
My recommendation, though, is to always have some cash on you, especially if you don't know where you're going. But I would do the same in any other country in the world.
I meant: if you're not familiar with the place you're going to, or which way to take, etc.
Source: lived in Germany, at the outskirts of a large metro area, still visiting every few weeks to months into my own appartment, which I didn't abandon.
When it was time to pay, we were surprised to hear only local German cards were accepted. I couldn’t use Visa, Mastercard, anything. It never occurred to them to warn us. I had to walk around for 25 minutes on the hunt for an ATM to pay my due.
What was a nice lazy Sunday morning turned into an annoying time travel back into the early 90s.
Meanwhile, more and more places accept NFC payment.
You can also go cash-only in Austria, if you want to.
Austria is one of those rare places in the Free World where personal agency and responsibility are still, relatively, extant throughout society ..
the bigger/international cities like hamburg or berlin are a stark contrast however, drive like 50 miles outside of them and not much has changed during the last 100 years, except for buildings/infrastructure in general.
I carry like 20€ with me at all times for when I have to deal with these situations in an emergency, but turns out I increasingly don't need to replenish this cash in my wallet for months.
* drafts as you mentioned will get you a stiff neck (and absolutely it's not your crappy pillows)
* going outside with wet hair
* not wearing scarf, hat and gloves outside whenever there's slightest weather imperfection
* not wearing socks and slippers indoors, despite being heated to comfy 22.5C
* air conditioning, heat pumps, electric heating or any sort of fan blowing directly at you
* getting your feet cold and wet
* just merely breathing cold air indoors
bonus:
* treating feverish infant by wrapping them in additional layers and bedsheets
This is shared across most intellectuals. Likely more embedded than some of the human rights we cherish in west. My family screamed, nearly disowned and accused me of "killing" my kids because of above. Even many in medical field believe this, tho actual doctors will say it's horseshit when pushed. And, no, the actual words from doctors mouth has never changed their view either.
Ask for a receipt at the hotel, and you better make sure you ask for an "non-German" receipt, otherwise you get a six page dossier.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/03/german-intelli...
Also this creates unwritten requirements to traveling to the EU: 1. You must have a bank account. 2. Mastercard/Visas/$otherPaymentProcessor will be aware of your application.
I don’t have an issue with these payment methods being available, I take issue with them being the only available methods. Countries’ immigration departments have no business compelling travellers into a contract with a private entity (the bank), and I also believe their dealings with european immigration departments shouldn’t be exposed to foreign payment processors.
At the very least cash payment at a local embassy should be an option.
I did query the chip on my plastic MC Debit and it definitely reveals my name.
Germany has a very weird relationship with technology, and, yes, right now it is turning itself into a museum of sorts because change is not popular.
Not sure there is winning if one side has no interest in going there, though.