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Master card and Visa
Feb
1
2012
Is Master Card and or Visa accepted in Ecuador? If visiting for a month isn’t it kind of risky to bring enough cash to last a month? What form of currency is recommended, traveler’s checks or what?
Answer #2
In better restaurants and shopping malls in the cities, both are accepted, as well as American Express.
Beware the car rental agencies and the like. Use a credit card, and it will costs 20% more. You use the card to guarantee, and then pay cash when returning.
Should you not know Ecuador, country and city, I suggest you rent or purchase a GPS. You’ll spend more time vacationing and less time wondering where the Hell you are.
Air conditioning is optional – I am accustomed to living in other tropical countries, so I do not need it.
Should you decide to drive in the wilds, 4WD is an absolute must, or you will disappear forever. There are still a few Jaguars, and you don’t want to be appreciated as a major food group.
Megalodon
Answer #3
Cash is king in Ecuador. However, to avoid traveling with bulky pockets bring $100 in cash and your regular PLUS network debit/ATM card from your local bank at home. I am with TD Bank in the US and in Canada, and both debit/ATM cards work fine with the major banks in Ecuador. If I withdraw cash from Banco de Pichincha ATMs in Ecuador there is not even a fee. Only use ATMs in shopping malls for safety.
Bring a VISA credit card only as a backup funding source, but don’t actually rely on using it, it is generally not useful and when you can use it, not always safe + some upscale places that DO accept VISA will have a surcharge of 20% if you use a credit card to pay. The very few occasions when VISA is useful are 1. to get you out of the country when you lose your debit card, since airlines accept it, 2. to avoid a cash security deposit when renting a car (but pay the final price in cash, or they will add the 20% surcharge I talked about), 3. as a backup ATM card (but more expensive to get cash with it), 4. in 4 star+ hotels or the more upscale resorts.
Don’t bring Mastercard, don’t bring traveler cheques, don’t bring banknote denominations bigger than $20.
The most popular credit card with the locals by the way is Diner’s Club, but only people belonging to the upper class would actually have one.
Jakob
Answer #4
Both credit cards are accepted in Ecuador,also you are able to use ATM cards in most of the cities in that way you will not carry cash, be sure to take some money when you go to small towns cause you may not find a bank branch with ATM, good luck.
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Answer #1
Do not bring Travelers checks…very difficult to use here. A debit card is by far the best where you can take money out as you need it. In the larger cities you will be able to use a mastercard and visa, but not in the smaller towns or areas. Do not bring large bills if bringing cash…20′s, 10′s, 5′s and 1′s, nothing larger is the best bet for cash.
larryp