Want to avoid last-minute ATM runs. Do most hostels in Moldova take card payments at check-in
Moldova is slowly modernizing but hostels remain cash-oriented outside the big city. In Chișinău, I checked in with card, no problem. In Cahul, the hostel refused and wanted lei only. ATMs from Victoriabank were available, but I had to walk 15 minutes to find one. If avoiding ATM scrambles matters, keep some lei ready - you can’t depend on cards once you leave Chișinău.
I used card at a couple of hostels in Chișinău, no issues - they’re modern and expect international travelers. But when I stayed in Comrat, they didn’t even have a card reader. ATMs are there, but queues can be long. To avoid hassle, keep Moldovan lei with you. If you’re only staying in the capital, you can skip ATM runs, but elsewhere it’s still cash-first.
My Chișinău hostel was totally fine with card at check-in, but when I moved to Soroca, cash was mandatory. Moldova is still pretty cash-oriented outside the capital. ATMs exist but aren’t always functioning in rural areas. MAIB and Moldindconbank ATMs worked fine with my Revolut. To avoid last-minute runs, stock up on lei in the city, because hostels outside Chișinău won’t rely on cards.
In Chișinău, most hostels I tried accepted cards - my Visa worked at a hostel near Cathedral Park without issue. Outside the capital, though, it was cash-only. In Orhei, the hostel didn’t even have a machine. ATMs from MAIB and Victoriabank are reliable in cities, but smaller towns aren’t great. If you want to avoid ATM runs, cards are fine in Chișinău, but once you leave the capital, cash in lei is essential.