Trying to plan ahead so any know if card payments are common at hostels in Spain or cash is king?
I was traveling across Valencia and Granada earlier this month and stayed in budget hostels near the city centers. Most of them preferred card but did allow cash if needed. I used my Indian SBI Visa card to pay at check-in in Valencia and they didn’t blink an eye. But in Granada the guy at the desk gave me a discount for paying cash and said they get charged high fees for international cards. It worked out for me but made me realize not all hostels are the same. Best tip is carry both and confirm with the hostel before arrival.
I booked a bed at Oasis Backpackers in Seville and paid the deposit online with my Revolut card. When I arrived they asked for the rest of the balance and happily accepted my Canadian Visa credit card. They even had contactless which made it easy. Most people at the hostel were paying with card and they had signs up saying no cash accepted for bar or laundry services. I never touched cash my whole stay and used the same card for cafes and transport too. Seville felt really cashless overall especially in the tourist areas.
I just spent a week in Barcelona and stayed at two different hostels near El Raval. One was fairly modern and took my French Mastercard debit at check-in no problem. But the second one was a smaller place and told me their card machine was down so they asked for cash. They said it happens often and advised me to always carry at least some euros just in case. I ended up having to run to a nearby Santander ATM to get the money. So yes card payments are common but not guaranteed at every hostel in Spain especially the more independent or older ones.
I stayed at Toc Hostel in Madrid this June and they took my Visa card for everything right at check-in. They had a proper POS terminal at reception and also let me pay with Apple Pay linked to my UK debit card. I didn’t need to use cash at all during my stay not even for towel rentals or printing tickets. A few other travelers at the hostel were using Mastercard and Revolut with no issues. Hostels in Madrid seem very card friendly now especially the newer or chain-style ones.