Want to avoid last-minute ATM runs. Do most hostels in Uruguay take card payments at check-in
Hostel in Punta del Este let me pay with card, but added a 5% “bank fee.” Another in Montevideo said they’d take a card only if it was a Uruguayan debit. In general, cash is safer - even if they accept cards, there might be limits, extra fees, or excuses. I now message the hostel the day before and ask directly: “Can I pay by card at check-in?” Saves the hassle.
Don’t count on it. Hostel in Colonia told me over email “we accept cards,” but when I got there, they said their POS was “offline” and pointed me to the BROU ATM five blocks away. It’s common - they’ll let you book with a card but settle in cash. If you don’t want to run around on check-in day, bring enough cash for your first few nights and maybe confirm again the day before arrival.
From my recent stay at a coworking hostel in Montevideo’s Palermo district, I can say: some do accept cards, but many prefer cash and give you a discount if you pay that way. The manager told me card processors charge high fees, so hostels often “prefer” cash even when machines are working. So while some accept it, if you're planning hostel payments in Uruguay, bring enough cash to avoid awkward surprises at the desk.
I stayed at four different hostels in Uruguay this past March - Montevideo, Colonia, and Punta del Diablo. Only one of them accepted card, and even then, the machine was “down.” Everyone else insisted on cash at check-in. They let me reserve online with a card, but on arrival, it was pesos only. So yes, to avoid scrambling for an ATM, assume cash-only for hostel check-ins, even if they list card acceptance on booking sites.