Cafe wants LankaQR and the FriMi girl looked at my Wise card like I was a ghost - can a tourist even pay cashless
Colombo 4 cafe, no cash, sticker says LankaQR / FriMi. Wise tap failed. They said "Indian UPI can". I am British. Do I need a local bank app or do I just carry rupees like a dinosaur.
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4 Answers from travellers
LankaQR is a local-bank / wallet rail (FriMi, other bank apps). A random UK/US card will not become FriMi. Indian UPI and some CUP wallets can hit some merchant QR - that is a specific corridor, not a British Wise feature. For you: Visa/Mastercard at hotels and bigger cafes, cash rupees everywhere else. Do not open a full local bank account for a 12-day holiday.
Scam Watch: colombo
Driver claims the meter is broken and quotes an inflated flat rate. Common on arrival at airport or railway stations when tourists are tired and disoriented.
Drivers wearing official-looking uniforms claim to be "government-approved" and charge 3-5x normal rates. They may have fake badges or ID cards.
Women with babies approach asking you to buy milk powder at a nearby shop (not cash). The shop is run by accomplices and charges 5-10x normal price.
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