Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in Congo or I have to give them cash
Here’s what I learned: in Congo, especially outside Brazzaville, hostels and lodgings are almost always cash only in CFA francs. A handful of bigger hotels in Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire might take cards, but don’t count on it. ATMs are few. Best move? Bring some dollars or euros, exchange them for CDF in the city, and carry enough cash-kept things way smoother for me.
When I traveled across Congo, from Brazzaville to Pointe-Noire, almost every hostel I checked into wanted CFA cash. I did find ATMs that accepted my foreign debit card in Brazzaville, but they were few and sometimes empty. Swapped dollars at a bank early on and used that until I left. Hostels won’t usually run your card-go cash-heavy.
Had a blast exploring Congo’s rainforests! Stayed in a small hostel near the river in Pointe-Noire-you’ll need cash. Even cozy guest-houses in Brazzaville asked for CFA cash upfront. Only big hotels will take cards. But swapping USD or euros for CFA at banks in the capital worked smoothly, and cash made life so much simpler on the ground!
Just spent time in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire: hostels and guesthouses outside those cities rarely accept cards. Most lodging-even in budget stays-requires CFA franc cash. Some larger hotels in the capital may take Visa or Mastercard, but don’t rely on it. ATMs are limited, so I swapped dollars or euros at a bank in Brazzaville and carried enough CDF for your entire stay.