Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Kiribati easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
From my Tarawa trip-don’t even bother with Amex. Nobody takes it, not banks, not shops. Visa worked for me at the ANZ Bank machine near Betio, and I used it to pay at a hotel in Bairiki. Mastercard worked sometimes, but I saw travelers get declined. Restaurants, markets, and little bars? Cash only. I just pulled out Aussie dollars and used those everywhere. Outside South Tarawa, there’s literally no card use at all. Best plan: bring a Visa, grab cash while you can, and stash enough for island hopping. Amex = dead weight here.
Kiribati is one of those places where you can’t rely on plastic. ATMs are few and far between, and they sometimes run out of cash. Visa is your safest choice at ANZ Bank ATMs, while Mastercard is hit or miss. Amex is basically useless-you won’t find an ATM that works with it, and no restaurant or shop will take it. Bring cash in Australian dollars, exchange some for Kiribati dollars, and budget carefully if you’re heading to remote islands. I made the mistake of depending on ATMs and ended up scrambling for cash.
I stayed on South Tarawa and was happy my Visa card worked at the ANZ ATM near Bairiki. I withdrew Australian dollars and used them at a couple of hotels and the larger supermarkets. Mastercard worked for my travel buddy, but not every time. American Express? Nobody even recognized it. Restaurants and tiny shops are cash only, so I kept a wad of notes for daily meals. Honestly, if you stick to Visa, you’ll be fine. Just don’t rely on cards outside the capital-carry plenty of cash if you plan to hop between islands.
Kiribati is super cash-oriented. In South Tarawa there are only a few ATMs, mostly ANZ Bank machines, and they’re not always reliable. Visa works best at those, Mastercard is sometimes okay, but American Express isn’t accepted. Shops and small restaurants almost never take cards at all, even Visa. Hotels like Otintaai may accept Visa, but don’t count on it everywhere. If you’re traveling around the outer islands, forget cards completely-it’s cash only. Bring a Visa debit card for ATM withdrawals and stock up on Australian or local dollars. Amex won’t get you anywhere.