11 Money Tips for Niue© NiuePocketGuide.com
11 Money Tips for Niue

11 Money Tips for Niue

© NiuePocketGuide.com

Advice for Using Money in Niue

Currency and paying your way is an essential aspect of any exotic getaway and the same goes for Niue. What is the best payment method to use in Niue? What are the dos and don’t when it comes to money? We go through a few handy money tips for Niue in this guide!

Before we get into our money tips, bookmark the Niue Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Niue Cost? for its full budget overview or The Budget & Backpacking Guide to Niue for more advice.

1. Come with Cash

Although major credit cards and New Zealand debit cards are accepted in most places in Niue (more on that later), you will still need cash to pay some tour operators, as well as at the markets.

The local currency is New Zealand Dollars, so make sure you come to Niue with plenty of New Zealand Dollars, at least to pay for a few tours and make purchases at the market, as cash withdrawal on the island is limited. You may want to come with more cash if you want to avoid card fees applied by some vendors. For more information on currency, see What is the Currency of Niue? We also go into recommended spending money in How Much Spending Money Do You Need for Niue?

11 Money Tips for Niue(c) niuepocketguide.com

2. If You’re from New Zealand, You Can Pay with a New Zealand Debit Card

Card-loving Kiwis can rejoice, as most outlets in Niue accept New Zealand debit cards. You don’t have to worry about foreign exchange fees, so if you prefer to pay with your card when in Niue, there’s not much reason not to. However, we still recommend having some cash available as there is still the odd business that doesn’t accept card payments. Learn more in Can You Use Your New Zealand Bank Card in Niue?

11 Money Tips for Niue© NiuePocketGuide.com

3. Tell Your Bank You’re Going Overseas

If you do plan to use a debit or credit card in Niue, be sure to tell your bank that you are going overseas. Some banks are known to put security locks on cards when they detect “suspicious activity”, such as transactions overseas.

11 Money Tips for Niue(c) niuepocketguide.com

4. Check that Your Credit Card will be Accepted in Niue

You can forget Diners Club, American Express, Discover or whatever else. Businesses that do accept credit card payments only accept MasterCard and Visa. If you have another type of credit card, you’re going to have to consider an alternative payment method for Niue, such as what we list in What is the Best Way to Pay in Niue?

11 Money Tips for Niue(c) Pixabay

5. Snatching is Not a Concern in Niue

By this point in the article, you’re probably thinking that having plenty of cash for your stay in Niue is worth considering. However, for travelling to most countries, this is not advised for obvious security reasons. Niue, on the other hand, is one of the safest countries in terms of crime, where carrying a bulk of cash is not a major risk. As long as you take the usual commonsense precautions and do not flash your money around, you should be good. See How to Stay Safe in Niue for more information on crime.

11 Money Tips for Niue(c) niuepocketguide.com

6. Always Check Your Change

As lovely as the locals in Niue are, they are notorious for getting the amount of change wrong! Whether it’s too much or too little, there have been several instances when the Niue Pocket Guide team have received the wrong change when paying cash. We recommend always checking that you’ve received the right amount of change before chucking the coins into your wallet.

11 Money Tips for Niue(c) niuepocketguide.com

7. Don’t Bring Traveller’s Cheques

For those of you still using traveller’s cheques, don’t bother with such in Niue. There is nowhere on the island where you can redeem them, even at the bank. Consider one of the alternative payment methods for Niue, as listed in What is the Best Way to Pay in Niue?

11 Money Tips for Niue© NiuePocketGuide.com

8. Know Where You Can Withdraw Cash

There are no ATMs in Niue. If you need to withdraw extra cash while on the island, you will have to use the cashout (cashback) services of one of the local supermarkets, stores or the bank. You can withdraw New Zealand Dollars at Kiwibank, Swanson Supermarket, Niue Rentals and the Bond Store. Charges apply, typically between NZ$2-$5 per withdrawal and around 5% extra if using a credit card to withdrawal. Note that you can only withdraw cash with a MasterCard, Visa or New Zealand debit card.

11 Money Tips for Niue(c) niuepocketguide.com

9. Don’t Expect Many Options for Foreign Exchange

The only place where you can exchange currency in Niue is at Niue Rentals, located in Alofi North. They only exchange Australian and US Dollars. Due to the limited options available in Niue, we recommend exchanging currency for New Zealand Dollars before arriving in Niue.

11 Money Tips for Niue(c) niuepocketguide.com

10. You Can Tip if You Want to

Tipping is not expected in Niue, but it’s always appreciated. Feel free to tip as a gratuity for good service. We talk more about the subject in the Niue Tax & Tipping Guide for Travellers.

11 Money Tips for Niue(c) niuepocketguide.com

11. Be Aware of the Taxes

Taxes will not be a major concern for your holiday in Niue, but it’s always good to be consumer-savvy. There is a Niue Consumer Tax (NCT) on all goods and services in Niue of 12.5%. There is also an NZ$80 Departure Tax for each individual passenger, which is included in your flight ticket. Again, find out more in The Niue Tax Guide for Travellers.

11 Money Tips for Niue(c) niuepocketguide.com

More Money Tips for Niue

That’s it for our list of money tips for Niue. Now that you are a more savvy consumer, check out these guides to add to your wisdom:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in What is the Currency of Niue?

Author

Robin C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Niue Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. He is also consulting regularly with Niue Tourism to ensure content accuracy. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

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