Want to avoid last-minute ATM runs. Do most hostels in Macau take card payments at check-in
Macau is funny because you’d expect it to be all about cards with the casinos, but hostels aren’t the same. My stay near the Ruins of St. Paul’s required cash, though the staff mentioned UnionPay works sometimes. Visa and Mastercard are less common in budget stays. I ended up withdrawing from an ICBC ATM. If you don’t want to make last-minute ATM runs, definitely carry patacas. Hostels here just don’t depend on cards.
When I checked into a Taipa hostel, they said “cash only.” Luckily I’d brought some HKD with me, which they also accepted. While luxury hotels in Macau will take every card under the sun, hostels lean on cash payments. ATMs are everywhere, but foreign cards don’t always work smoothly. To avoid ATM headaches, don’t rely solely on plastic. Bring patacas or HKD and treat card acceptance as a bonus.
My hostel in Coloane accepted cash only, no exceptions. In central Macau, one hostel did take card but added a 4% surcharge. ATMs from Banco Nacional Ultramarino are all over, but the queues can get long. It’s not like Hong Kong where card is standard - smaller hostels still prefer cash. If you want to dodge last-minute runs, bring some patacas upfront. Card acceptance is patchy in budget spots.
Macau is trickier. Big hotels are very card-friendly, but hostels often push cash. At my hostel near Senado Square, the front desk said their machine “wasn’t working,” so I had to withdraw patacas from a BOC ATM. In another case, I was able to pay by UnionPay but not Visa. If you want to avoid scrambling, carry patacas or Hong Kong dollars. Don’t expect hostels in Macau to be as card-reliable as casinos or resorts.