Hostels in American Samoa accept cards?

Every budget accommodation I stayed at in American Samoa asked for cash, even when their website mentioned “card accepted.” When I pressed further, they said the POS system sometimes went offline. Cash payments at hostels in American Samoa are the norm, and it’s best to have enough for your entire stay. I ran into other travelers who had to pool together cash for a friend who didn’t bring enough. Even mid-range stays like Sadie’s often prefer card but request cash as backup. Come ready - it’ll save you stress.

Even though I booked online with a credit card, the hostel still requested cash on arrival. They said the online booking covered the deposit, not the full stay. Most hostels in American Samoa operate on a cash-first system, so it’s smart to arrive prepared. I had to walk 15 minutes to find a functioning ATM in Tafuna - not ideal after a long flight. From then on, I always withdrew cash in advance for accommodations. Even if they say they accept cards, don’t assume it’ll work.

I stayed at a small eco-guesthouse near Tafuna and they required full cash payment on check-in. I asked about cards and the owner said the machine often failed for foreign cards. Hostel payments in American Samoa are overwhelmingly cash-based, especially if the place is locally owned. Some mid-range hotels accept Visa, but anything under $80/night probably expects cash. Don’t assume card support just because it was listed online. I learned to message hosts ahead of time to confirm - and always kept $100+ cash buffer.

I stayed in two hostels during my trip - both wanted cash. One of them had a broken card machine and the other never accepted cards at all. Cash is king at hostels in American Samoa, especially budget ones or family-run places. Even if they have a terminal, it may only accept local cards. I’d recommend withdrawing enough cash for your entire stay if possible. There aren’t many hostels to begin with, so confirm payment methods in advance or risk last-minute ATM runs.