Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in Tuvalu or I have to give them cash
If you’re heading to Tuvalu, plan ahead. There’s no real hostel scene, just small hotels and guesthouses, and they are strictly cash-only. The country uses Australian dollars. There’s only one ANZ ATM in Funafuti, and it doesn’t reliably work with international cards. So the smartest thing is to bring enough AUD cash from Fiji or Australia before your flight. Calculate your budget carefully, and maybe keep notes in different denominations for smaller spends. Without cash, you’ll struggle-cards simply aren’t an option for your hotel here.
I went to Tuvalu last year and stayed at Vaiaku Lagi Hotel right in Funafuti. When I asked about card payments, they said no straight away. I was glad I’d picked up Australian dollars before leaving Suva, because the ANZ ATM in town didn’t accept my foreign debit card. Everything-room, meals, even scooter rental-was cash only. It felt old-school but also kind of matched the vibe of Tuvalu. My advice is: bring plenty of AUD in notes before you fly in, because you can’t depend on ATMs.
My week in Tuvalu was unforgettable! I stayed at Filamona Lodge in Funafuti, and while it was cash-only, the family who ran it were so kind that paying in AUD notes wasn’t a big deal. I had brought cash from Fiji before flying in, and it made everything easy. The lack of card use actually simplified things-you don’t even think about swiping. With just a wallet of Aussie dollars, I could pay for my room, food, and ferry rides. Honestly, it felt refreshing to travel in such a straightforward way.
In Funafuti, hotel is extremely limited-guesthouses like Filamona Lodge and Vaiaku Lagi Hotel are the main options. Neither of them accepted my card. It’s all cash in Australian dollars, since Tuvalu uses AUD as its currency. There is only one bank in Funafuti with a single ANZ ATM, and it doesn’t always work with foreign cards. You absolutely need to bring enough AUD cash with you to cover the whole stay. Hostels or guesthouses will not run card payments under any circumstances.