Wales uses the UK currency usually known as Sterling, which is based on the pound, divided up into 100 pence. Bank notes (bills) are available in units of £5, £10, £20 and, rarely seen, £50. Coins are worth 1, 2,5, 10, 20 and 50 pence, one pound and two pounds. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. However, in smaller retail outlets and cafes, the acceptance of cards may be limited to Visa and Mastercard and cards such as American Express may not be accepted. It is then usually a good idea to keep a supply of ready cash available, preferably in smaller denominations. Other currencies, principally the Euro and US dollar are rarely accepted.
Wales (and the wider UK) have been early adopters of digital payment by card or smartphone. Contactless cards can be used for payments of up to £30. However, in the case of cards issued outside the UK, it is still common to require a signature on a printed slip generated by inserting the card into the retailer's machine.
ATMs (cash / currency issuing machines) are very widely available in Wales.
Tipping
In Wales, tipping is always warmly welcomed as a way of showing appreciation of good service. However, it is neither mandatory nor essential to ensure an acceptable level of service. In Wales, there is a national minimum wage, so staff do not rely on tips to bring their wage up to an acceptable level. Because of this way of working, there are no clear or general rules although a good starting point is around 10% if you believe the service was good.
The practice also varies between high end restaurants, where staff expectation of a tip is higher, and fast food type outlets where the expectation of a tip is very low. In some cases, a service charge may well be added to your bill, and this should be clearly indicated on your menu and on the bill. Tipping in cash is always best, because the likelihood of the staff member receiving a tip included in a card payment is much lower.
In other areas of service, for example, hair and beauty, or a taxi services, similar advice applies. In all cases, tipping is particularly appropriate if you believe a special effort has been made to care for your individual needs and the person has delivered a high standard of service.
