๐ช๐บ Europe
Europe pays with cards everywhere โ but each country has its darling: Germany loves PayPal and SEPA, the Netherlands lives on iDEAL, Scandinavia on Swish and Vipps, Poland on Blik, Switzerland on Twint.
Traveler tip: contactless is universal, but Germany & Austria still love cash โ carry โฌ20โ50. In the Netherlands many shops don't take credit cards at all (iDEAL is debit-only).
๐ Asia
The world's most mobile-first region: China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay, India on UPI and Paytm, the Philippines on GCash, Singapore on GrabPay, Japan on LINE Pay, Korea on Kakao Pay, Thailand on PromptPay and TrueMoney.
Traveler tip: set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before China, Japan runs on cash + Suica outside big cities, and India's UPI now accepts foreign cards via UPI One World.
๐ Africa
Africa is the mobile-money continent: Kenya lives on M-Pesa, much of East and West Africa on MTN MoMo, Airtel Money and Orange Money, while Flutterwave and Paystack power the card rails underneath.
Traveler tip: M-Pesa works for visitors too (M-Pesa Global), and safari camps and markets are often cash-only โ bring small USD bills in East Africa.
๐ Americas
Brazil runs on Pix โ 40% of the country's online payments. The US adds Cash App and Zelle, Canada Interac, Mexico pays at OXXO, Colombia with PSE, and Mercado Pago spans the south.
Traveler tip: the US is tap-everywhere, but locals split bills with Venmo or Cash App. Brazil: cards + a little cash serve tourists fine; Pix needs a local bank.
๐ Middle East & Oceania
The Gulf embraces Apple Pay and local rails like mada (Saudi Arabia) and benefitPay (Bahrain), with buy-now-pay-later stars Tabby and Tamara. Australia and New Zealand stick to cards, PayID and BECS direct debit.
Traveler tip: the Gulf is fully contactless (Apple Pay everywhere, mada in Saudi shops), while Australia has almost gone cashless โ one card is genuinely enough.
Currency & tipping cheat sheet
Ten destinations FlightProof travelers fly to most โ what your coffee will cost and what's expected when the bill arrives.
| ๐ฉ๐ช Germany | Coffee โฌ3.50โ4.50. Tipping: round up or add 5โ10% in cash โ card tips aren't always possible. Say โstimmt soโ when handing over. |
| ๐ซ๐ท France | Coffee at the bar โฌ2.50โ4. Service compris โ the tip is included; leave โฌ1โ2 in coins if you liked it. |
| ๐ฎ๐น Italy | Espresso at the bar โฌ1.20โ1.50 โ never more at the counter. Tipping optional: leave coins, not percentages. |
| ๐ช๐ธ Spain | Cafรฉ con leche โฌ1.80โ2.50. No tipping expected; round up or leave small change for good service. |
| ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom | Flat white ยฃ3.50โ4.50. 12.5% service is often added in restaurants; tip baristas only if there's a jar. |
| ๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands | Coffee โฌ3โ4. Round up or 5โ10%; many cafรฉs are pin-only (no credit cards). |
| ๐ฏ๐ต Japan | Coffee ยฅ400โ600. Tipping does not exist โ leaving cash causes confusion or a chase to return it. |
| ๐น๐ญ Thailand | Iced coffee เธฟ45โ70. No tipping culture; round up street prices โ and never tip in temples. |
| ๐ฆ๐ช United Arab Emirates | Specialty coffee AED 18โ25. Service is usually on the bill; 5โ10% extra is appreciated, cash preferred. |
| ๐บ๐ธ United States | Drip coffee $3โ5. Tipping is the salary: 18โ22% in sit-down places, $1โ2 at counters and cafรฉs. |
Golden rules before you fly
Carry at least two payment methods (card + cash), tell your bank you're traveling, install the local wallet apps before departure, and photograph your cards (stored securely). Money should never be the reason you miss a flight.
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