Trying to plan ahead so any know if card payments are common at hostels in Seychelles or cash is king?
I stayed at a couple of guesthouses and hostels around Beau Vallon and Anse Royale. Most of the bigger ones did accept Visa and Mastercard, but the smaller, family-run hostels really preferred cash in Seychellois rupees. One hostel added a 3% fee for card payments which was annoying. ATMs are not hard to find near Victoria, but they can run out of cash on weekends. I’d say always have a backup of cash on you, because while cards are increasingly common, the islands are still a bit old school with payments.
First night in Praslin, I showed up ready to tap my card like a pro - owner just laughed and pointed to a hand-written sign: “Cash only, no Wi-Fi.” From then on, I started asking hosts during booking if cards were accepted. Honestly, even if they say yes, always carry backup cash. Between power cuts, patchy internet, and machine issues, it’s a gamble. Carrying some extra SCR saved me from more than one awkward moment.
Most of the budget spots I stayed at wanted cash. A couple had card machines but only used them if I really pushed - and one added a fee. It wasn’t a huge deal, but definitely something to be ready for. I kept around SCR 1,000 in small notes just for lodging and transport. If you're booking online, you can sometimes prepay, but lots still expect the balance in cash when you arrive.
I stayed at two guesthouses and one hostel-style lodge in Mahé and Praslin. One took card at check-in, the others said “cash preferred” because of internet issues. They weren’t trying to be dodgy - just said the machine only worked sometimes. I ended up paying part card, part cash. So yeah, carry some cash for check-in, especially if you're arriving late or staying in smaller properties.