Traveling with an Amex - will I be able to use it widely in Rwanda or should I carry a backup Visa/Mastercard?
Took my Amex to a Rwanda-themed gift shop-got a polite “no.” Then I pulled out my Mastercard and it went through fine. Ended up using Amex once, when paying for a gorilla trek deposit at a fancy lodge. Everywhere else, only Visa/Mastercard or cash. So yeah, Amex is extra-not essential-for a smooth trip.
I tested Amex, Visa, Mastercard at Kigali cafes and a few lodges-only one lodge accepted Amex. Visa/Mastercard functioned at all ATMs I used and at POS stands. Even the airport VIP lounge took Visa, not Amex. Rwanda’s payment infrastructure isn’t Amex-friendly yet. Bring it, but expect to use Mastercard/Visa 95% of the time.
Had success with Amex at one high-end lodge near Volcanoes Park, but everywhere else-street vendors, local restaurants, smaller lodges-said “no Amex.” Visa and Mastercard worked perfectly, even for smaller amounts. My advice: bring Amex if you want rewards, but use Visa/Mastercard for everything else-just to avoid awkward declines.
Tried Amex at a few upscale hotels and tour operators-got mixed results. Some accepted, most didn’t. Local cafes, markets, even museum shops generally said they take Visa or Mastercard only. My Mastercard saved me more than once. If you’re bringing Amex, treat it like a fancy backup - not your day-to-day lifeline.