Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in Solomon Islands or I have to give them cash
My advice: treat the Solomon Islands as a cash-only destination. Hostels in Honiara like Rekona Lodge or Pacific Casino Hostel don’t take cards. ATMs exist, mainly ANZ, but they can run dry or have queues. Withdraw enough cash in Honiara before heading out to the outer islands-Gizo, Munda, or Malaita-where there may not be a working ATM. Cards aren’t part of day-to-day life there, so have Solomon dollars ready for your hostel, food, and transport.
When I got into Honiara, I stayed at Pacific Casino Hostel. I asked if I could pay with card-they said no, only cash. Luckily I’d withdrawn SBD at an ANZ machine at the airport, because the city ATMs were all out that day. Later I went to Rekona Lodge in Gizo-same story, cash only. Honestly, after the first day I stopped even asking about card. The whole country is set up for cash, and once I accepted that, it was fine.
I had a great time in the Solomons, but you really need to be prepared for a cash-based setup. I stayed at Rekona Lodge in Gizo and it was cash up front, but the staff were so friendly that it didn’t feel like a hassle. I used my Visa debit to withdraw Solomon dollars from an ANZ ATM in Honiara before flying out to the islands. Once I had the cash, it was simple-hostels, ferries, food stalls, everything runs on notes. It felt refreshing, in a way, to just use cash.
In Honiara, hostels and guesthouses like Rekona Lodge or Pacific Casino Hostel are mostly cash only. Larger hotels may have card machines, but budget hotel does not. The Solomon Islands use SBD (Solomon Dollar) and ATMs in Honiara work with Visa debit or credit, though machines can run out of cash. Outside Honiara, there’s no card acceptance at all. So yes, bring cash-your hostel will not take cards. Think of your card only as a way to withdraw money from ATMs, not for paying your stay.