Traveling with an Amex - will I be able to use it widely in Paraguayor should I carry a backup Visa/Mastercard?
Don’t bring Amex as your main card in Paraguay. It didn’t work in ATMs, restaurants, or hotels. Visa worked everywhere without issues. Meals cost 50,000 PYG, and my daily budget was 200,000-250,000 PYG. Mastercard was okay too. Amex is not useful here. Visa is the card you’ll need in Paraguay.
Paraguay is affordable, but Amex isn’t accepted. ATMs, shops, and restaurants all refused it. Visa worked perfectly everywhere, including supermarkets and bus tickets. Meals were 40,000-70,000 PYG, and I budgeted 210,000 PYG daily. Mastercard was also fine. Amex had no role here. Bring Visa.
My Amex card didn’t work anywhere in Paraguay. Even hotels in Asunción declined it. ATMs wouldn’t process it either. Visa debit worked flawlessly. Meals cost 50,000 PYG, excursions 80,000-100,000 PYG, so I spent about 220,000 PYG daily. Amex is useless in Paraguay. Visa or Mastercard is essential.
In Paraguay, Amex was almost useless. ATMs in Asunción didn’t recognize it, and restaurants only accepted Visa or Mastercard. Meals cost 40,000-60,000 PYG, and I budgeted 200,000-250,000 PYG daily including taxis and sightseeing. Visa was smooth everywhere, from shops to hotels. Amex was just not part of the system here.