Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Moorea French Polynesia easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
American Express is very limited in Moorea. Resorts took it, but once I rented a scooter or bought food from roulottes (local food trucks), they asked for Visa. ATMs also didn’t support Amex. Daily spending was around 20,000 XPF for meals, transport, and activities. Cash was useful for markets. Amex is basically for resorts, nothing more. Visa and Mastercard are the real travel cards for Moorea.
Moorea is paradise, but don’t depend on Amex. Resorts accepted it, but local shops, snack bars, and diving operators asked for Visa. ATMs in Vai’are didn’t process Amex either. I budgeted about 18,000-22,000 XPF daily, including meals, ferries, and excursions. Visa was reliable everywhere, and Mastercard was fine too. Amex was only a backup for my hotel bill. If you want to enjoy Moorea stress-free, Visa is your best option.
My Amex worked at my resort in Moorea, but when I went to local food trucks or tried booking a lagoon tour, it was rejected. ATMs only allowed Visa/Mastercard. Daily costs ran high - about 20,000 XPF including meals and excursions. Visa was much smoother for both shopping and withdrawing cash. Amex may be okay for resorts, but it’s useless for exploring local Moorea life. Bring Visa or Mastercard to avoid headaches.
On Moorea, American Express was only useful at big resorts. Local restaurants, pearl shops, and grocery stores mostly refused it. ATMs also didn’t process Amex, but Visa and Mastercard worked without a problem. Meals on the island cost 2,500-4,000 XPF in casual places, and boat trips or snorkeling excursions added another 8,000-10,000 XPF daily. I budgeted around 18,000 XPF per day. Amex was too limited, while Visa was perfect everywhere.