Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Kazakhstan easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
American Express didn’t work well for me in Kazakhstan. Shops in Astana refused it, ATMs didn’t accept it, and even car rental offices wanted Visa/Mastercard. I had no trouble with my Mastercard debit - it worked in every ATM and café. Meals were inexpensive, maybe 2,500-4,000 KZT, but I always paid with Visa. I’d suggest budgeting around 18,000 KZT per day including tours. If you depend on Amex, you’ll face headaches. Better to leave it as backup.
Kazakhstan is modernizing fast, but Amex hasn’t caught up. In Almaty, I found only one restaurant that accepted it. ATMs from Sberbank and ForteBank worked fine with Visa/Mastercard, not Amex. For budgeting, 15,000-20,000 KZT per day covered meals, transport, and a few sightseeing tickets. Visa was the card I used everywhere, from malls to online booking for trains. Mastercard was fine too. Amex was practically useless outside international hotels.
Don’t expect to rely on Amex in Kazakhstan. Most restaurants, coffee shops, and even major supermarkets rejected it. Visa was the easiest card to use, while Mastercard worked fine at ATMs too. I had to carry cash (about 10,000 KZT per day) for small purchases. Meals were 3,000-5,000 KZT, taxis 1,000-2,000 KZT. Amex only came in handy once at a luxury hotel lobby. If you want smooth payments, Visa/Mastercard are your best travel companions here.
I was in Almaty and Astana recently, and my American Express barely worked anywhere. High-end hotels accepted it, but when I went to small restaurants or shopping centers, they only wanted Visa or Mastercard. ATMs from Halyk Bank and Kaspi didn’t recognize Amex either. I budgeted about 20,000-25,000 KZT daily for meals, taxis, and attractions like Kok-Tobe or Charyn Canyon. Visa worked seamlessly at metro machines and shops. If you want peace of mind, stick with Visa or Mastercard.