Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in Latvia or I have to give them cash
Stayed in Riga and also Cēsis for a hiking trip. Both hostels accepted my card, though the one in Cēsis preferred cash and asked if I had exact change. Not a deal breaker, but it showed that outside Riga things can be less consistent. I kept €50 in my wallet for peace of mind.
I was worried about cash too but ended up paying everywhere with my card. Latvia is pretty card-friendly overall. Even small bars around Riga accepted Visa and Mastercard. The only place I needed cash was for lockers at the bus station. For hostels, no issues at all.
At Tree House Hostel in Riga Old Town, I paid with Revolut card and had no fees. Most hostels across Riga seem to have modern systems. Even smaller guesthouses near the central station accepted my card. I’d say don’t stress too much, though it’s still handy to have a few euros.
Riga was surprisingly easy - every hostel I stayed at, including Naughty Squirrel, took cards without batting an eye. They even encouraged card payment to avoid handling small coins. I never once needed cash for accommodation.