Want to avoid last-minute ATM runs. Do most hostels in Wallis and Futuna take card payments at check-in
If you’re heading to Wallis and Futuna, go prepared with enough CFP francs. Auberge Tanoa and any guesthouse you'll find-especially outside major hotels-will not swipe your card. With no ATMs and limited banking infrastructure, cash is king. Bring what you need for lodging, food, and transport before entering the islands, and travel will stay get-under-your-skin smooth.
When my ferry landed in Wallis, I checked into a guesthouse in Mala’efo’ou and tried card-no dice. They smiled and said ‘cash, please’. I realized quickly I should’ve brought CFP. I wished I had grabbed funds earlier, but luckily I did. From then on, outsourcing payments to authentic, local-style-cash-only stays, beach walks, café time-all were smooth. Cards weren’t part of the rhythm here.
I lodged at Auberge Tanoa-it was charming, wifi, and great vibes, but cash-only. It made things feel more intimate, talking payments in franc rather than swiping a screen. In MataʻUtu there’s no ATM nearby, so I brought enough CFP from New Caledonia. The experience feels richer when you're dealing in cash-it gave me a deeper sense of place.
In Wallis and Futuna, the vibe is very low-key and cash-based. Auberge Tanoa in MataʻUtu, for instance, takes only cash or cheque at check-in-no cards. There are no reliable ATMs, especially on Futuna. Visitors must bring enough CFP francs or euros with them. Cards are more for booking online or big hotels, but for actual stays you'll want cash in hand.