Traveling with an Amex - will I be able to use it widely in Guinea-Bissauor should I carry a backup Visa/Mastercard?
Amex is almost useless in Guinea-Bissau for day-to-day spending. Visa and Mastercard are your go-tos here, and you’ll need cash for the markets and taxis. I used Ecobank ATMs in Bissau that worked well with Visa and Mastercard but never saw one for Amex.
From my experience, don’t count on American Express in Guinea-Bissau. Even in nice spots like Hotel Azalai, it’s hit or miss. The better strategy is to bring a Visa or Mastercard and plenty of local currency. ATMs are rare and mostly support Visa/Mastercard as well.
Traveling with Amex in Guinea-Bissau isn’t ideal. Few places accept it-mostly Visa and Mastercard have wider acceptance, especially in the capital. I recommend a backup card plus local currency cash for small vendors and transport since many places don’t take any cards at all.
In Guinea-Bissau, Amex acceptance is very limited. Most shops, markets, and even ATMs prefer Visa or Mastercard. I had trouble using Amex in Bissau except in a few higher-end hotels. Definitely carry a backup Visa or Mastercard, and plenty of cash in West African CFA francs because card use overall can be patchy.