My credit card keeps declining in Tonga and I have enough money on there and all international transactions are activated - what do I do?
If you’re in Tonga, best strategy is: bring plenty of NZD or AUD cash, use BSP ATMs in Nuku’alofa if you have a Visa, and always have a backup card. ATMs outside Tongatapu can be empty or offline. Pay for bigger expenses like hotels with card if possible, but assume daily life (taxis, ferries, markets) will be cash-only.
My Monzo Mastercard was useless in Tonga. Every BSP ATM I tried rejected it, even though Monzo confirmed it was active. I had to rely entirely on cash I brought from New Zealand. Exchanging AUD or NZD in Nuku’alofa was straightforward, but it was stressful having a non-working card. Outside the capital, ATMs are rare, so definitely don’t rely on one card only.
My Wise Visa didn’t work at first, but I managed to withdraw at the BSP ATM next to Friends Café in Nuku’alofa. The daily limit was around TOP 500. Later, I had better luck with my Revolut Visa at the BSP branch ATM near the Tanoa Hotel. Once I switched to Visa, things were fine. Cash is definitely the easiest way to get by, but hotels like Emerald and some tour operators accept card payments directly.
In Tonga, the only real banking network is BSP (Bank South Pacific). Their ATMs in Nuku’alofa sometimes reject foreign credit cards, especially Mastercards. Visa works more consistently. If your card keeps declining, visit the BSP main branch with your passport - sometimes they can process a cash advance at the counter. Carry some Australian or New Zealand dollars, since those can be exchanged locally and are widely recognized.