Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in US Virgin Islands or I have to give them cash
I just come from a stay at a hostel in Christiansted and paid cash because their FIFO terminal wouldn’t connect. They said they stopped accepting cards to avoid “internet issues.” They also mentioned major online booking platforms let you prepay, but the hostel still asked for cash security deposit on arrival. I kept about $50 extra cash handy, which really helped.
Hostels in the USVI are not like hostels in Europe - they mostly operate on cash-only models. I run a guesthouse, and while we have the ability to take cards via Square, I still ask international guests for upfront cash at check-in. The processing fees and unstable connections make card payments unreliable. If you're staying in hostels, plan ahead with $200-$300 in small bills.
Booked ahead at a small hostel near Magen’s Bay in St. Thomas. I asked about card payments via email and they said yes - but when I checked in in May, their terminal “was offline”. They accepted cash only. So despite booking online, I couldn’t use my debit card. My tip: assume cash-only, and double down if you’re not staying in a bigger hotel.
Stayed at a hostel in Cruz Bay, St. John this March - they technically had a card reader, but it “broke” when I tried to pay. I ended up handing over cash. Later I was told it’s common that locals don’t use cards much, so they disable the machine to avoid fees. Bring enough cash for the first few nights to avoid surprises.