Dakar - Post Report Question and Answers
Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards for supermarkets and more upscale restaurants. ATMs are around and relatively safe to use. - Oct 2024
This is a cash heavy economy. You can safely use credit cards at the grocery store and fancy restaurants and even at the big chain resorts in Saly, but really nowhere else. ATMs are also not the most reliable and muggings have been known to occur. - Apr 2022
Credit cards are safe to use in hypermarkets, restaurants, cafes, and internationally-recognized chain stores, but not recommended in other establishments or in the local markets. It is best to use an ATM that is not on the street because muggings are commonplace, even during the day. - Jul 2020
You can use credit cards at the major grocery store chains and at the Radisson Blu and other major hotels. Most restaurants likely won’t accept them, and local stores certainly don’t. ATMs are not common and I would exercise caution. - Dec 2019
Every now and again I'll use credit cards at the main grocery store or at the American food store. Embassy has an ATM but it breaks down often it seems. - Dec 2018
This is more of a cash-carrying country, just be vigilant when using your card. - Dec 2018
Visa is fairly widely accepted, and ATMs are common. There are some fraud concerns, but they can be managed. - Jun 2017
You can use them at some of the larger grocery stores and at the hotels. We use our ATM card at the embassy instead of cashing checks. - Apr 2016
There's an ATM in the Embassy. I wouldn't any other ATM. Credit cards are rarely accepted outside of the major grocery stores. - Aug 2015
This is a cash based country. You could probably use your Debit/Credit cards at the larger grocery store chains, but everywhere else is cash only. There is a bank at the Embassy and only 2 ATMs are deemed as being safe (at the large hotels). - Aug 2014
ATMS are widely available. Credit cards are accepted in some places, but they have the old fashioned machines that print out your whole number and there is credit card pirating so....skip it if you can. - Apr 2014
Be careful. Some places will accept them, but many people end up getting their cards skimmed. - Jun 2013
I used lots of ATMs and never had problems, but I heard or people having issues with it. Most transactions are done in cash. - Oct 2012
Do not use them. Skimming is a big problem, except at some of the nicer hotels which have safe ATM's next to the front desk. This is a cash economy. - Mar 2012
some people do - but there are stories of numbers being stolen. User beware. We mostly used cash. No street vendors take plastic anyway. - Jan 2011
ATM's are popping up all over and I have yet ti hear of any problems during my tenure. - Feb 2010
It is probably OK - but we avoid using these here. - Feb 2010
I am not using any visa card. - Jan 2010
We never use our credit cards overseas due to having the images stolen twice. - May 2009
