Trying to plan ahead so any know if card payments are common at hostels in Madagascar or cash is king?
My advice: don’t expect to use a card in Madagascar hostels. The two I stayed at in Antananarivo and one in Nosy Be were strictly cash only. ATMs from BNI and BFV-SG exist but are unreliable, so it’s best to stock up when you can. Madagascar is a country where carrying cash is essential, and hostels are part of that. Plan ahead and don’t rely on a card reader being there.
Madagascar is not card-friendly for hostels. In Antananarivo, my hostel wanted cash on arrival, and in Nosy Komba, cash was the only way to pay. ATMs are around but they’re not always functioning, so backpackers often advise withdrawing enough in Tana before heading out. For hostels, cash is the absolute standard here - cards are more for upscale hotels, not budget spots.
I stayed at hostels in Tana and Diego Suarez, and both were cash only. The staff told me card terminals weren’t reliable in Madagascar. I had to use a BFV-SG ATM in Tana, which luckily worked, but outside the capital, ATMs are limited. If you’re planning to move around, carry plenty of cash because you won’t be able to depend on cards for accommodation at all.
Madagascar is very cash-heavy, especially outside Antananarivo. In the capital, my hostel near Isoraka accepted cash only, and the same was true in Nosy Be. ATMs from BNI Madagascar and BFV-SG are available in bigger towns but sometimes empty or offline. If you’re traveling around the country, withdraw enough in Antananarivo and carry ariary because hostels rarely have working card systems.