My credit card keeps declining in El Salvador and I have enough money on there and all international transactions are activated - what do I do?
El Salvador’s system isn’t as card-friendly as expected. I had rejections at two ATMs before finding one that worked in San Salvador. Resorts and big restaurants were okay, but beach bars and small eateries only wanted cash. Budget $45-60 per day for meals and activities. Always withdraw cash when you can, because international cards are unpredictable here.
Credit card rejections are common in El Salvador despite it being dollarized. Banco Agrícola worked best with my Visa. In smaller towns like Suchitoto or El Tunco, cash was essential-many places didn’t even have card terminals. Budget around $40-55 daily for food, buses, and sightseeing. I’d suggest always carrying cash and using cards mainly for hotels or larger purchases.
In El Salvador, my Mastercard failed at a couple of ATMs but worked fine at Scotiabank. Hotels and larger restaurants in San Salvador took cards, but local pupuserías and small shops only wanted cash. Expect $50 per day if you’re eating out and using buses or Uber. Don’t stress too much-just withdraw enough cash from a reliable ATM when you find one.
I was surprised when my card kept declining in El Salvador, especially since they use USD. Banco Agrícola ATMs worked for me, but others didn’t. Many small shops and restaurants preferred cash, even if they had card machines. Daily budget of $40-60 is enough for meals, buses, and attractions like Lake Coatepeque. Always keep cash on hand, because even in San Salvador card systems fail often.