Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in Oman or I have to give them cash
Oman overall is good with cards, but budget hostels don’t always have reliable machines. In Salalah, the hostel owner flat-out told me “cash only.” In Muscat though, especially near Ruwi and the airport, card was fine. If you’re moving around the country, carry some rials. ATMs are easy to find in malls and petrol stations, but don’t expect one right outside every hostel.
Muscat hostels are modern and usually process card payments with ease. I stayed in Al Khuwair, and my card went through fine. The only issue was when their system was temporarily down - they asked if I could pay cash instead. Outside Muscat, especially smaller towns, it’s safer to carry cash. Rials are the standard, though US dollars sometimes work in emergencies.
I had no trouble paying by card in Muscat hostels like Nizwa Guest Inn and Wanderlust Hostel. But once I traveled inland to Nizwa, the hostel asked for cash at check-in even though they advertised card acceptance. Not a huge deal since ATMs were nearby, but I’d suggest having at least 50-100 OMR in cash for rural areas.
In Muscat, I stayed at a couple of hostels near Muttrah and Qurum and both accepted cards. However, when I went to Sur, the guesthouse insisted on cash. Oman is pretty card-friendly overall, but budget accommodation outside the capital often prefers rials in cash. ATMs from Bank Muscat and NBO were widely available in the city.