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Travel Money
Travellers cheques
These may be antiquated, but are still probably the safest way of taking
money abroad as the key feature of travellers cheques is that if you
lose them, they can be replaced. We would advise that unless you are
a particularly scrupulous at keeping records, don't take lots of denominations.
If you are unlucky enough to lose them, you will need to confirm each
cheque number to get them replaced. If you all of your cheques are for
the same amount, it will be much easier to keep track of which ones
you have cashed and which ones have been lost than if you take out a
selection of 10 's 20's 50's and 100's.
Travellers cheques can be purchased on-line here an delivered to your
home address the next day or a day you specify:
Click here
to purchase travellers cheques or foreign currency
Cards
The good news here is that the exchange rate that credit card companies
use is usually better than on cash. The bad news is that there are handling
fees of approx 3% on transactions - not to mention the really bad news
if you don't pay your monthly credit card bill...
The transaction fee on debit card transactions will be lower, but the
rate of exchange is often not as favourable the one used for credit card
transactions. You also of course need to have sufficient money in your
current account.
You should also be extra careful when using cards when travelling and
ensure that all transactions are done in your presence.
These days you can find ATM machines even in quite obscure places.
Click here
to locate your nearest ATM machine.
Cash
A small selection of $1, $5 and $10 US dollar bills will always be handy
as emergency money anywhere in the world. Especially handy if you run
out of local currency, can't find an ATM, on public holidays etc.
It is also advisable to arrive at your destination with some local
currency - this will reduce airport stress levels ! Click
here to order foreign currency online (securely delivered to your
home the next working day).
If you haven't organised this or are going to a country such as India
or Tanzania or Cuba, where money can't be obtained outside their borders,
don't worry, there will almost always be a bank or bureau de change
open on arrival. If not or if you can't face joining in the scrum, you
always have your emergency $ bills.
A final piece of advice re cash : keep it in good nick. In lot of developing
countries, notes that are torn (whether local or $US) are considered
worthless. This unwritten rule forms the basis for endless entertainment
in places like India, where everyone tries to the game is to off-load
their torn notes off onto each other.
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