Trying to plan ahead so any know if card payments are common at hostels in Indonesia or cash is king?
Bali was mixed for me. Selina in Canggu took my card for everything from stay to surf lessons. But when I moved to a quieter hostel in Uluwatu, they asked for cash even though they had a card terminal right at the desk.
I booked a bunch of my stays on Hostelworld and paid partial amounts online, but the balance almost always had to be paid in cash on arrival..
In Jakarta and Yogyakarta, I paid for all my hostel stays with my Mastercard and had zero issues. Most places had proper POS machines and even emailed receipts. That said, smaller hostels or family-run homestays still asked for cash, especially if I hadn’t booked online. My rule is to always message ahead and check. Also, don’t expect to use card for small purchases at hostel cafés or for quick tours.
Stayed at hostels in Bali, Gili T, and Ubud. Almost all of them accepted my debit card for the room payment but when it came to extras like laundry, scooter rentals, or even breakfast, they preferred cash. Some said their card machine was down, others openly asked for cash to avoid fees. I always carried some rupiah just in case because not every place was consistent.