Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in Palau or I have to give them cash
My tip: in Palau you can usually pay by card at hostels in Koror such as DW Motel or G.A.U., but don’t rely 100%. Machines can be offline and homestays further out won’t take them at all. Bring US dollars in small bills, as Palau runs on USD. ATMs exist in Koror, but they’re limited and sometimes out of service. Best plan is to pay your hostel by card when you can, but carry enough cash to cover if tech issues pop up.
When I first arrived in Koror I stayed at G.A.U. Mechang Lagoon Resort. They took my Mastercard for the room, but one night their machine was down and I had to cover in cash. Good thing I had a couple hundred USD on me. Later, when I moved to a homestay in Airai, that one was strictly cash-only. So yes, Koror hostels are mostly card-friendly, but don’t get caught short if machines go offline. ATMs are around but sometimes empty-always good to have a cash buffer.
I loved how easy Palau made it to pay. I stayed at DW Motel in Koror and my Visa went through immediately at check-in. Even the diveshops and restaurants in town all swiped cards, which was super convenient. I just kept about $100 cash for random snacks and little stalls on Babeldaob. Honestly, compared to other islands, Palau felt modern and card-friendly. I barely touched cash, and it gave me peace of mind to travel lighter. Hostels in Koror should be no problem with your card.
In Palau most hostels and budget hotels around Koror, like DW Motel or G.A.U. Mechang Lagoon Resort, do accept Visa and Mastercard. I paid by card at DW Motel with no issues. That said, some smaller guesthouses outside Koror are cash only. ATMs in Koror worked fine with my foreign debit card, though fees were a bit high. For hostels, yes cards are accepted, but it’s smart to bring some USD cash for taxis, diveshop extras, and smaller homestays.