Wondering if I need cash for taxis in Tonga or if I can just pay with card or app like in other countries?
It’s annoying that Tonga still relies entirely on cash for taxis. No card or app options mean you have to plan cash withdrawals carefully before traveling. The ANZ ATM is helpful, but if you run out of cash, it’s tough to find more quickly. More digital options would be great.
When I visited Tonga, I paid all taxi drivers in cash. No cards or apps accepted. I used the ANZ ATM in downtown Nukuʻalofa to get Tongan paʻanga and made sure to have plenty of coins and smaller notes. It made fare payments easier since drivers didn’t have change.
If you want to use taxis in Tonga, make sure you’re prepared with enough cash in Tongan paʻanga. No card readers or payment apps are used for taxis currently. The ANZ ATM at Fuaʻamotu Airport or in Nukuʻalofa are good spots to get cash before hopping in a taxi.
Taxis in Tonga are cash-only, with payments made in Tongan paʻanga. Card or app payments haven’t caught on for taxi fares yet, so carrying cash is a must. You can withdraw paʻanga at ANZ Bank ATMs in Nukuʻalofa, but these are the only reliable cash points. Small notes and coins help because drivers rarely have change.