Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in Turkmenistan or I have to give them cash
When I visited Ashgabat, I stayed at a small guesthouse not far from Independence Park. They only accepted manat in cash. I tried a Visa ATM at a bank, but it didn’t dispense anything. Luckily, I had USD with me and got it changed. Same story when I travelled to Mary near Merv-guesthouse was cash only. Cards basically don’t exist in Turkmenistan’s payment system. It was a bit of a hassle to keep exchanging, but once I figured it out, I got by fine.
My trip through Turkmenistan was fascinating! I stayed at a guesthouse in Ashgabat arranged by my tour, and while they only took cash, it was straightforward because I had brought USD. Changed it into manat easily in the city. Everything-from hotel to taxis-ran on cash. Honestly, once I accepted it, it was simple. I kind of liked the feeling of having notes ready, and the hostels and guesthouses were very hospitable. Just make sure you prepare before you arrive, and the experience is smooth.
In Turkmenistan, everything is heavily cash-based. Hostels in Ashgabat like Ak Altyn Hotel or small guesthouses only take cash in manat. International cards rarely work inside the country. Some ATMs in Ashgabat technically accept Visa, but they often don’t have cash or are out of service. You’ll need to bring USD and change them officially or through local exchange. Expect to pay your hostel in cash-card payments are almost impossible, especially outside Ashgabat. Don’t depend on machines or cards at all.