Traveling with an Amex - will I be able to use it widely in Slovakiaor should I carry a backup Visa/Mastercard?
Was hoping to rack up Amex points on my trip, but no luck. It only worked once - at the airport duty-free. The rest of the time, it either got rejected or staff said “Visa only.” I ended up withdrawing euros and using cash, or paying with my backup Mastercard. If you're traveling through smaller towns, don’t even bother trying Amex. Definitely bring a card that works everywhere.
I spent a month in Slovakia this spring and ran into lots of “Card not supported” messages when trying Amex. It worked fine at chain hotels and one high-end restaurant, but not for groceries, public transport kiosks, or small shops. Even ATMs at VÚB and OTP sometimes declined the Amex outright. Visa and Mastercard, on the other hand, worked everywhere. I’d say use Amex only as a backup - it’s not built for everyday payments here.
Amex didn’t work anywhere I tried - not even at a fancy café in the old town. Visa and Mastercard were fine everywhere. Even some ATMs didn’t recognize Amex when I tried a balance check. If that’s your only card, you’ll struggle, especially outside Bratislava. Carry something else or link it to a phone wallet, but don’t rely on it solo.
I had an Amex with me in Bratislava and Košice, but barely used it. Most restaurants, shops, and even some hotels didn’t accept it. Tried to use it at a local grocery and was told it wasn’t supported. Switched to my Visa and had no issues after that. You’ll want to carry a backup Visa or Mastercard - they’re much more widely accepted in Slovakia.