In Joburg and Stellenbosch, my Amex worked at big-name restaurants and hotel chains, but local spots often said “not supported.” A few boutiques took ...

Had the same thing happen in Joburg at a Standard Bank ATM. No error message - it just kept the card. I went to the nearest branch the next day, and t...

I stayed in Cape Town for two weeks and used the MyCiTi Bus often - it’s one of the few public transport systems that doesn’t take cash directly or ca...

I used my no-FX-fee Mastercard at an Absa ATM inside Cape Town airport - much better deal than using the Travelex counter. The ATM gave me the option ...

I based myself in Johannesburg for a month and used Uber and Bolt exclusively. Payment through the app worked every time, linked to my Revolut card. T...

I budgeted R1,200 a day in April 2024 and it worked out well for a mix of mid-range comforts: Airbnb in Cape Town, museum visits, uBer rides, and two ...

In Durban and again at OR Tambo Airport, I saw that conversion screen and it threw me off at first. When you press “Accept,” the ATM applies Dynamic C...

Used cabs in Jeju and Seoul. Half the time I paid by card, but once in Gwangju, the driver flat-out refused and insisted on cash. It wasn’t a scam - h...

Riding the metro in Seoul is super smooth with a T-money card - mine cost ₩2,500 and I reloaded it in subway machines using cash. Most subway stations...