Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in Equatorial Guinea or I have to give them cash
Got back from Equatorial Guinea and here’s the wisdom: it’s almost entirely cash‑based-especially for hostels and local lodgings in Malabo and Bata. Credit cards are nearly never accepted except at top hotels. ATMs are sketchy and sometimes out of cash. Best strategy? Bring euros or dollars, convert them to CFA francs upon arrival at a bank, and carry enough for your stay. Trust me-that approach made my trip smooth and worry-free.
I traveled between Malabo and Bata, hopping into a few basic guesthouses-and yep, they all wanted cash on the spot. I couldn’t swipe anything. ATMs were scarce and occasionally offline, so I ended up carrying enough CFA in my wallet after an early exchange. Bit of a hassle but honest, and everything worked fine once I adjusted. Lessons? Cards are nearly useless there-cash is the hero.
Just wrapped up a stay in Malabo and aboard, and let me tell you-Equatorial Guinea is very much a cash society. I tried using my card at a small guesthouse in Bata and they simply couldn’t process it. Only a handful of top‑end hotels might accept cards. ATMs exist in Malabo and Bata, but can be unreliable. My tip: bring enough cash in CFA francs or euros and exchange at legitimate places, because cards won’t save you here.