Do they accept credit cards in Wallis? Sometimes, but not everywhere: the official tourism board says many shops lack card terminals, and there is no exchange office at either airport. Arrive with local currency in hand, treat cards as a back-up, and ask each place you stay how it takes payment.
Money ·
Do They Accept Credit Cards in Wallis? What to Carry
Do they accept credit cards in Wallis? Some hotels do, many shops cannot. Here is what the records say about cash, ATMs and exchanging money before you fly.
01
The short answer
Card payments in Wallis work in some places and not in others, and the records do not give a complete list. The most reliable statement comes from the tourism board: many shops do not have card terminals. That is why this guide leans towards cash, with cards as a convenience where a business tells you in advance that it takes them.
The sections below set out what is documented: the currency, where you can and cannot change money, how many cash machines there are, and which of the listed hotels say they accept cards.
02
The currency you need
The currency is the CFP franc, written XPF, which is pegged to the euro. The tourism board also warns that euros and dollars are hard to use in practice, so do not expect to pay in the currency you flew in with. Plan to hold XPF before you need it.
03
Change money before you fly
There is no exchange office at Hihifo Airport on Wallis or at Vele airport on Futuna, and the board's advice is to exchange before arriving. New Caledonia or Fiji are the places it suggests. Since airline listings show Aircalin services to Nouméa and Nadi, either can be a natural place to pick up francs.
Work out roughly what you will need for the whole stay, because topping up once you are there depends on cash machines and a single bank.
04
Cash machines and the bank
The only retail bank is the Bank of Wallis and Futuna. It has three cash machines on Wallis and two on Futuna, which is a small number for two islands. The records do not say which card networks those machines accept, so whether your Visa or Mastercard works is something to ask your own bank before you leave, including about overseas fees.
Do not plan to rely on a single withdrawal. Take what you can in advance and treat the machines as a way to top up, not your whole budget.
05
Cards at hotels and guesthouses
The official accommodation listings give some detail. Hotel Lomipeau, at Aka'aka near Mata'Utu, and Hotel Ulukula in Mata'Utu are both listed as accepting cards. Hotel Moana Hou, also at Aka'aka, is listed as cash or cheque only. The listings are undated, so confirm before you travel.
For the other places we know of, including the two hotels and the guesthouse on Futuna, the records do not state a payment method. There are no dedicated online booking sites for these properties, so you contact them directly. That conversation is the right moment to ask how they take payment and whether a deposit is needed.
06
What about Futuna?
If you are searching for cash only Futuna, the honest answer is that our records contain no statement about card use there. What they do show is that Futuna has two of the territory's five cash machines, and that there is no exchange office at its airport. Carry more cash for Futuna than you think you need, and agree payment for your hire car and any boat trip in advance.
07
A simple plan
Change enough money in Nouméa or Nadi for the whole trip. Keep a card as a back-up, not a plan. Ask each hotel how it takes payment when you contact it. Keep small notes for shops, and remember that card payments in Wallis are a matter of asking, not assuming. If you prefer French, the phrase to search for is carte bancaire Wallis.
Questions people ask.
- Can I pay in euros in Wallis and Futuna?
- The currency is the CFP franc (XPF), which is pegged to the euro. The tourism board says euros and dollars are hard to use, so plan to hold francs rather than relying on foreign cash.
- Is there a currency exchange at the airport?
- No. The tourism board says there is no exchange office at Hihifo Airport on Wallis or at Vele airport on Futuna, and advises exchanging money before you arrive.
- How many cash machines are there?
- The Bank of Wallis and Futuna, the only retail bank, has three cash machines on Wallis and two on Futuna. Check with your own bank that your card will work with them before you travel.
- Do hotels in Wallis take cards?
- Some do. Hotel Lomipeau and Hotel Ulukula are listed as accepting cards, while Hotel Moana Hou is listed as cash or cheque only. The listings are undated, so confirm directly.
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