Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Cape Verde easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
Cape Verde was beautiful, but my Amex card was basically useless. Even when trying to book a kite-surfing lesson, they wanted cash or Visa. Mastercard worked fine at the airport and bigger hotels. ATMs charged small fees, but at least they worked with Visa removed link I’d plan €80-120 a day including excursions, and carry cash for local spots. Amex might be okay as a backup at resorts, but you can’t depend on it.
Honestly, American Express is more a backup than a main card in Cape Verde. At hotels it sometimes works, but cafes, bars, and tour operators almost never accepted it. The ATMs didn’t recognize Amex either. I used my Visa debit card for cash withdrawals in Escudos and then cash for most transactions. Meals are cheap - €5-10 for local dishes, €20-25 for seafood dinners - but you need the right card or cash ready.
I travelled through Mindelo and Praia and found that Amex acceptance was rare in Cape Verde. Maybe one upscale restaurant took it, but even then they seemed surprised. ATMs from Caixa and BCA worked with Visa and Mastercard, never with Amex. If you’re budgeting €70-100 a day for food, taxis, and a bit of nightlife, stick to Visa. I had to pay cash for a boat trip to Santo Antão because they couldn’t process Amex at all.
In Cape Verde, I’d say don’t bother carrying only American Express. On Sal Island, a few resort hotels accepted it, but when you go to local restaurants or souvenir stalls in Santa Maria, they asked for Visa or Mastercard. ATMs also leaned heavily towards Visa. I kept around €50 cash daily for taxis and beach bar meals (most were €10-20). For card payments, Mastercard always worked faster and without awkward “no Amex” moments.