Can I use a card to pay for taxis in Palau, or should I carry local cash?
Chatting with fellow travelers staying at the Palau Pacific Resort, it became clear that cash is the way to go for taxis here. Even some drivers who claimed they accepted cards ended up asking for cash when terminals failed. ATMs like those at Bank of Guam are good spots to get cash when you arrive. Having around fifty bucks in small bills is wise.
Palau’s taxis are pretty straightforward-they're usually cash-only. Most drivers I met near the Palau International Coral Reef Center didn’t have card machines. Card payments were mostly limited to hotel pickups or organized tours. I’d recommend withdrawing cash at local banks before arriving so you’re ready for small trips in town.
I was surprised at how few taxis in Palau accepted cards. Even around the Roman Tmetuchl International Airport, paying cash was the standard. While my Visa card worked at some resorts for shuttles, street taxis closer to Ngardmau Village mainly preferred cash. Budgeting some extra cash for taxi rides made everything hassle-free.
In Koror and Airai, taxis mostly expect cash payments in US dollars since the USD is Palau’s official currency. Card acceptance is quite rare except for some hotel shuttles or airport transfers. I usually carried around $50-$60 in small bills, which made paying easy and helped with tipping. If you’re staying at places like Palau Royal Resort, cash was still king for day-to-day taxi rides.