Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Wallis and Futuna: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
Honestly, in Wallis and Futuna, the ATM in Mata Utu was super straightforward and had a substantially better rate than the airport’s money exchange. If you’ve just landed, take out enough for the week from the ATM. The airport counter isn’t a rip-off but it’s definitely not as good for your wallet, especially for anything more than a small amount.
My advice - avoid the airport currency exchange if you want to save a few bucks. I withdrew cash straight from Banque de Wallis et Futuna's ATM and saw a better rate on my bank statement later. There’s only a couple of ATM spots on the island, though, so don’t leave it until the last minute or late in the evening when they’re closed.
Just got back from Wallis! I compared both rates and the ATMs always gave me a better deal, even with their small transaction fee. The airport exchange counter in Mata Utu pretty much always had a worse rate - plus it sometimes charged an additional flat fee. I’d go for the ATM if you can, especially if you use a travel card like Revolut or Wise.
From what I found, ATMs with Banque de Wallis et Futuna in Mata Utu gave me a much stronger exchange rate than the airport exchange desk. The airport counter charged higher margins and sometimes ran low on local CFP francs. There's usually only one main ATM in town, so hit it early and get what you need to save on costs.