Cotonou - 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?
At grocery store and restaurants, yes. - Oct 2024
No. We use credit only at Erevan. - Feb 2020
I only use cc at the hypermarket; never had a problem. Most of the other large stores selling foreign goods also take cards. Most of the rest of the economy is cash-only. - Aug 2018
I use cash. - Jan 2017
I have not. There are ATMs, but I don't know people who use them. - Oct 2015
We regularly used the ATMs with no problems, but the exchange fees add up. We were advised to only use credit cards at Erevan and the large hotels. - Jun 2015
I did not use my plastic for the two years I was there, but I've heard of people who did. - Aug 2014
The ATM machine has malfunctioned more than once, which can be a pain when you need to get money out. I'd stick with the Embassy service just in case this is still a hassle in years to come. - Jul 2013
I try to get money at the embassy but have had no issues with local ATMs the several times I've used them. There are a few around town. I don't think I've ever used a credit card. There are maybe one or two places that might take them. This is really a cash economy. - May 2013
It's a cash economy. But of course there are ATM's here, and you can use them. - Mar 2013
I cash checks at the embassy. I'm told that the ATM machines at the better hotels are ok. Benin is a cash economy. Credit cards are accepted at a few of the nicer hotels and at Erevan, the one and only big box store in Benin. - Dec 2011
