Trying to avoid paying crazy ATM fees while traveling in Solomon Islands. Anyone found ATMs that are free for foreign cards? Would love specific banks or locations if possible.
For budget travelers, Bank South Pacific ATMs in Honiara are reliable and accept Visa and Mastercard. Fees were nearly SI$5, which was acceptable given the limited options. Daily withdrawal limits were enough for my spending. Outlying islands don’t have ATMs, so it’s best to get enough cash beforehand. Traveling with a prepaid travel card helped reduce overall fees.
The Bank South Pacific ATMs in Honiara are your best bet when you want to avoid crazy fees. Fees aren’t zero but reasonable, SZD 4-6 per withdrawal, and daily limits of around SZD 1,500 gave me peace of mind. Smaller banks or tourist spots’ ATMs tend to reject foreign cards or charge way more. Bring some USD cash if you plan to visit outer islands.
Using ATMs with a foreign card in the Solomon Islands isn’t always easy. I stuck to Bank South Pacific ATMs in Honiara, and they accepted Mastercard with manageable fees of about SI$7 per withdrawal. Daily limits were nearly SI$1,000. Cash is king everywhere but especially on other islands, so plan your withdrawals to minimize fees.
In Honiara, Bank South Pacific and Bank of the South Pacific ATMs are the go-to spots if you want to dodge big fees. I used my Visa card at BSP ATMs downtown and only paid about SI$5 per withdrawal, which isn’t bad here. Daily withdrawal limits were roughly $1,500 Solomon Islands dollars-enough for most travelers. Smaller islands won’t have ATMs, so stock up cash.