[Margaret Pilkington]

I think it must be generational Cashy.
We are not the smartphone generation, even though some of our generation have smartphones, we are unlikely to use them for paying for things as we were brought up with the tangible value of cash.

I had to get a credit card when I spent 6 months in Australia.
Hotels will not accept bookings if you do not have a credit card.
It is routine for them to swipe your card and keep a copy of the details until you check out.
This is to make sure they can get any charges that have been incurred during your stay.
Also booking flights in Australia would not have been possible without a credit card, but since my return I have used it very little.