Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in Brazil or I have to give them cash
Better to message ahead. Bigger hostels in cities usually accept cards, but in coastal or jungle areas it’s 50/50. I carried about R$200 just in case. Saved me more than once.
I paid with Mastercard at a hostel in Florianópolis, worked fine. But in Salvador, one hostel had an ancient POS machine that couldn’t read international cards. Had to pay cash there.
some accept cards but smaller hostels or pousadas in places like Paraty or Itacaré might ask for cash. i booked online and paid the rest in reais coz their machine was “offline”. keep some cash handy just in case, withdraw once a week at bradesco atm
Most hostels I stayed at in Rio and SP took card no problem. I used my Wise Visa at check-in and also for small stuff like towel rental. Just check if they add a small fee, some do.