Wondering if ATMs and places in St Lucia like restaurants shops easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
I was in St Lucia last year for Jazz Fest, and money stuff was a mixed bag. I tried my Amex at a café in Castries-declined instantly. Visa debit worked at every ATM I tried (Republic Bank and Bank of Saint Lucia). Mastercard was fine at Rodney Bay Marina bars. Honestly, I’d only pull out Amex if you’re booking rooms at places like Sandals or Cap Maison. Day-to-day, locals want cash, and drivers especially prefer EC. I ended up carrying around 200 EC in small bills and topping up at ScotiaBank ATMs when needed. Stress-free that way.
Don’t count on American Express in St Lucia unless you plan to stick to resorts. I stayed in a guesthouse near Soufrière and not a single local place accepted Amex. Even some ATMs wouldn’t process it. Visa is king, Mastercard is fine too, but keep in mind some ATMs (like RBTT in Castries) add a small fee per withdrawal. I learned quickly that taxis, rum shacks, and souvenir stalls only wanted Eastern Caribbean dollars. My advice-withdraw EC at a bank-run ATM and have a backup card in case your first one doesn’t work.
I used my Mastercard debit card in St Lucia all the time, and it was super smooth. The ScotiaBank ATM outside Baywalk Mall in Rodney Bay worked fine, and I could also withdraw at Bank of Saint Lucia in Castries without issues. Most restaurants in Gros Islet and bars around Reduit Beach took Mastercard without hesitation. My Amex only went through at a fancy dinner at Sugar Beach Resort, so don’t rely on it everywhere. I’d suggest carrying a mix: Mastercard or Visa for most stuff, and a little EC cash for street food stalls and taxis.
When I visited St Lucia last December, I found that American Express was hit or miss. Some high-end resorts in Rodney Bay and Soufrière accepted it, but most everyday shops and mid-range restaurants didn’t. Visa and Mastercard were much easier to use at ATMs (like 1st National Bank in Castries or Republic Bank machines at Hewanorra Airport). I’d say bring a Visa or Mastercard for daily expenses, and just keep Amex for backup at hotels. ATMs generally dispense EC dollars, sometimes USD, so I grabbed a little of both.