I think there's a large regional variation. That is, in Germany and Switzerland, the small hotels I've stayed at want payment in cash, and often don't accept credit cards. See http://www.thestar.com/business/2012/07/27/germanys_tough_ba... for example, which describes how IKEA in Stockholm accepts credit/debit cards, but not IKEA in Berlin, which is cash only.
In Germany one time I bought a camera at the electronics store Saturn. Again, the store didn't take a card, though there was an ATM in the lobby so I could draw the cash for it. This pro-cash view is also why Germany pushed for the 500 EUR bill. Apparently many people don't trust the banks, and prefer to keep their wealth in cash.
In the UK I've found that the taxis basically don't deal with credit cards, while in Sweden, every taxi supports it. Most Swedish banks are trying to get away from dealing in cash.
And I spent a week in Iceland without ever having Icelandic money. Even the local corner stores took my debit card.
In Germany one time I bought a camera at the electronics store Saturn. Again, the store didn't take a card, though there was an ATM in the lobby so I could draw the cash for it. This pro-cash view is also why Germany pushed for the 500 EUR bill. Apparently many people don't trust the banks, and prefer to keep their wealth in cash.
In the UK I've found that the taxis basically don't deal with credit cards, while in Sweden, every taxi supports it. Most Swedish banks are trying to get away from dealing in cash.
And I spent a week in Iceland without ever having Icelandic money. Even the local corner stores took my debit card.