Trying to find out if Guyana widely accepts Amex cards in restaurants and shops and ATMs - any suggestions
My advice for Guyana: don’t count on widespread AmEx acceptance. Giftland Mall and a few upscale spots accept it, but most local shops and eateries won’t. ATMs outside banks or hotels are risky-many don’t work with foreign cards, and security can be a concern. Stick to hotel-based ATMs or bank branches if you need cash. Have Guyanese dollars or USD as backup plus another card-AmEx should just be a luxury fallback.
When I tried to pay with AmEx at my hostel near Regent Street, the clerk refused-it wasn’t linked. Later, I found out Giftland Mall takes it, which was handy. I also used an ATM inside the Pegasus Hotel lobby to withdraw cash safely. But local vendors, minibuses, and small shops don’t accept cards. Guyana is still mostly cash; bring USD or GYD and only try AmEx at trusted, high-end locations.
While Guyana leans heavily cash-based, I had no trouble using AmEx at Giftland Mall and once at a high-end restaurant in Bourda. Some big hotels accepted it too. However, I avoided street ATMs since crime is a concern-only used hotel-embedded machines like one at Pegasus Hotel. With that cautious approach, AmEx worked well for shopping and meals in the nicer areas.
In Georgetown, AmEx is accepted in just a few places-like Giftland Mall reportedly takes it. Hotels such as Pegasus or fancy restaurants sometimes will too. ATMs, however, are iffy-most banks aren’t linked, and only a few ‘safe’ ones (often inside hotels) might work. Generally, Guyana is still very much a cash society, so bring some USD or local dollars, plus a backup card.