Trying to find out if Jersey UK widely accepts Amex cards in restaurants and shops and ATMs - any suggestions
Use Amex in Jersey only for select hotels or large retailers. For daily expenses - groceries, café meals, bus tickets, and smaller shops - Visa/Mastercard is far more reliable. ATMs don’t work with Amex, so bring an alternative card for cash withdrawals. Expect to spend about £50-80 per day depending on activities, and most of that won’t go on Amex. Carry Amex as a backup but plan your trip with Visa as your main option.
Jersey was tough with Amex. Nearly every shop and pub I visited refused it. Even the ATM near my hotel wouldn’t take Amex, which was frustrating. I had to switch to Visa for everything from buying sandwiches to paying for the ferry. It felt like carrying Amex was pointless. I budgeted around £70 a day, but none of it could go on Amex. If you’re traveling to Jersey, don’t bother relying on it - Visa or Mastercard is essential.
I stayed in St Helier, and my hotel happily took Amex. But when I went to small cafés along the harbor or tried paying for local bus tickets, no luck. Shops and ATMs all leaned toward Visa and Mastercard. My Visa debit worked perfectly, even in smaller villages. Jersey isn’t huge, but cash and Visa made everything smoother. Amex only worked for my hotel and one upscale restaurant. If you’re visiting Jersey, bring a backup card and some cash for daily use.
In Jersey, American Express isn’t as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard. Larger hotels, chain restaurants, and some luxury shops in St Helier may take it, but most smaller cafés, pubs, and local stores won’t. ATMs on the island are geared toward Visa/Mastercard, so Amex withdrawals are not reliable. If you’re budgeting £15-20 for a meal or £5 for a bus ride, plan on using another card or cash. Amex can handle big hotel bills but is unreliable for daily spending on the island.