Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Côte d'Ivoire easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
Just came back from Grand-Bassam and Abidjan, and used my Mastercard without any problems at shops, hotels, and ATMs. I tried Amex once at a boutique hotel and it went through, but none of the local eateries or stores accepted it. Even some ATM machines didn’t show Amex logos. For convenience and coverage, definitely bring a Visa or Mastercard as your main card.
Travelling in Cote d’Ivoire for work, I had my Amex Platinum and was surprised how limited acceptance was. ATMs from banks like BICICI and Ecobank rejected it completely. I had to switch to my Visa debit card for cash withdrawals and restaurant payments. Some upscale spots in Cocody or Zone 4 might take Amex, but it's safer to rely on Visa or Mastercard for consistent use.
I tried using my Amex at a few restaurants in the Plateau area of Abidjan, and none of them took it. One manager told me only certain banks process Amex transactions, and most merchants don’t want to deal with the higher fees. My Mastercard worked fine at places like supermarkets, ATMs, and even local boutiques. Amex might work at the airport and high-end hotels, but not for daily spending.
I was in Abidjan last month and found that very few places accepted American Express. Big hotels like the Pullman and Radisson Blu took it, but most restaurants, cafes, and stores either didn’t recognize it or said their terminals didn’t support Amex. I ended up using my Visa card from Wise almost everywhere. If you’re heading outside the main cities, definitely don’t count on Amex.
I was in Abidjan last month and found that very few places accepted American Express. Big hotels like the Pullman and Radisson Blu took it, but most restaurants, cafes, and stores either didn’t recognize it or said their terminals didn’t support Amex. I ended up using my Visa card from Wise almost everywhere. If you’re heading outside the main cities, definitely don’t count on Amex.