Trying to plan ahead so any know if card payments are common at hostels in Kyrgyzstan or cash is king?
I backpacked across Kyrgyzstan, and card acceptance was almost nonexistent in hostels. The one I stayed at in Karakol said their terminal had “never worked.” Luckily, I’d withdrawn from an Optima Bank ATM before heading out. Even in Bishkek, where malls and restaurants take card, the budget hostels are still old-school. If you’re heading here, just plan to pay in cash and think of card as useful only for city dining or big stores.
Cash rules in Kyrgyzstan. My hostel in Bishkek literally had a “cash only” sign at the counter. Even in popular tourist areas, I couldn’t use my Visa. There are ATMs around Bishkek and Osh, but you’ll want to have enough som in your wallet. Kyrgyzstan’s tourism infrastructure is improving, but hostels are still far behind hotels in terms of accepting card payments. Don’t risk showing up without cash.
When I traveled Kyrgyzstan, every hostel I stayed in asked for cash. In Bishkek, one hostel near Ala-Too Square accepted only som, and in Osh I had to run to a nearby Demir Bank ATM. You’ll find cards accepted in some cafes, but not in hostels. Backpackers swap this tip often: get your cash sorted in Bishkek before heading out, because in Karakol or Song-Kul you won’t see a working card reader.
Kyrgyzstan is definitely more cash-oriented. My hostel in Bishkek near Osh Bazaar only wanted som, and they didn’t even pretend to have a card machine. The same story in Karakol - cash upfront. There are Demir Bank and Optima Bank ATMs in the cities, but they’re not always stocked or online. If you’re planning trekking trips in the mountains, make sure to withdraw enough in Bishkek, because in rural areas, cash is the only option.